Freelance Graphic Designer at Self-Employed

Raúl Peña

Grand Rapids, MI

raulraul.com

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About

As a designer, I’m motivated by a good cause, the pursuit of beauty, and the development of interesting ideas. I have many years of experience working at digital and marketing agencies, as an in-house designer, independently in my freelance practice, and as a design professor.

My work has been said to have a lot of heart. It has also been described as logical or cerebral. I believe that when it comes to graphic design, this is the right blend: can we evoke, move or inspire without emotion?… convey complex ideas clearly without judicious reasoning? And aren’t these the very goals of graphic design?

I want you to get your message across and to have an impact. Let’s use our brains and hearts, together.
Education
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Graphic Design
  
  University of Illinois at Chicago
  
  2010 - 2012
- Certificate Summer Poster Workshop
  
  The Basel School of Design (FHNW HGK)
  
  2011 - 2011
- BFA Graphic Design
  
  Eastern Michigan University
  
  2005 - 2010
- Web Design
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  2008 - 2009
  
  Took courses on Web Technology
- A.A.S. Graphic Design
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  2001 - 2003
- Architecture
  
  Universidad de Los Andes
  
  1996 - 1999
Experience
- Freelance Graphic Designer
  
  Self-Employed
  
  Jun 2009 - Present (15 years 5 months)
  
  Designer specializing in logo design, branding, print and web design, accessible web design, book design, and and Squarespace template customization. Clients have included Northwestern University, Girls Who Code, Ithaca College, Tift Merritt, S. Fischer Verlag (Germany), The Ann Arbor Film Festival, Christen Lien, Bella Voce, Magnanimous Media, among others.
- Senior Art Director
  
  Lipman Hearne
  
  Jun 2020 - Apr 2024 (3 years 10 months)
  
  Worked as part of a team in the ideation and execution of campaign brands, corporate identities, higher ed institutional websites and more. Clients included the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Columbia University, and Saint Peter’s University, among others.
- Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
  
  Grand Valley State University
  
  MI
  
  Aug 2016 - Apr 2020 (3 years 8 months)
  
  Taught introductory to advanced courses in Graphic Design and Typography. Other responsibilities include course development, academic advising, scholarly activity/research, and service contributions to the department.
- Senior Designer
  
  Razorfish
  
  Apr 2014 - Nov 2014 (7 months)
  
  Worked, as part of a team, on a large digital campaign for Motorola and other large companies. Concept Development / Visual Design / Branding / Digital Banner Design (motion and static) for desktop and mobile screens.
- Senior Designer
  
  SapientNitro
  
  Chicago, IL
  
  Jul 2012 - Sep 2012 (2 months)
  
  Worked as a visual designer, and as part of a team, in a large Web Design project for Hyatt Hotels. Visual Design / User Interface Design / Branding
- Contract Instructor
  
  Street Level Youth Media
  
  Jul 2012 - Jul 2012
  
  Taught a week-long youth workshop (ages 8–14). The course focused on music visualization as an introduction to basic elements of graphic design.
- Graduate Instructor
  
  University of Illinois at Chicago
  
  Aug 2011 - Apr 2012 (8 months)
  
  While completing my MFA at UIC, I taught an introductory Graphic Design course to first year undergraduate students.
- Contract Designer
  
  SapientNitro
  
  2012 - 2012
  
  Worked as a visual designer, and as part of a team, in large and small interactive projects.
- Graphic Designer
  
  Otherwise Incorporated
  
  2010 - 2011 (1 year)
  
  Worked as design contractor during the spring of 2010 and the summer of 2011.
- Graphic Design Instructor
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  Jan 2010 - Jul 2010 (6 months)
  
  Taught an introductory Graphic Design course, as well as a course on Adobe Illustrator.
- Graphic Designer
  
  Zingerman's
  
  Dec 2003 - Jun 2009 (5 years 6 months)
  
  Print and web designer. Designed and hand-coded websites using XHTM/CSS. Was Responsible for conceptualization, design direction and production of a wide variety of projects, ranging from newsletters and catalogs to packaging and illustration. Prepared graphics for print. Worked directly with printers.
- Graphic Design Contractor
  
  Ann Arbor Film Festival
  
  Jan 2007 - Aug 2008 (1 year 7 months)
  
  Designed the organization’s logo and the promotional material for the 45th and the 46th festivals.
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot

@rauldesign, member since 2007
- Following 53
- Followers 40

Raúl Peña

Assistant Professor - Educator, Communication Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design

Systems Administrator, Visible Futures Lab (VFL)