Chris Szostek
cszostek (at) gmail [dot] com
www.szostekdesign.com
My creativity, dedication, and quick learning skills will make me an asset to any team or project. I have handled projects of various sizes and styles. I am looking for a position as an in-house creative or as a long-term freelance agent.
Education
The Illinois Institute of Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Multimedia and Web Design, 2002
Northern Illinois University
One year Focus in Fine Arts
& Traditional Design
Elgin Community College
Associates Degree in
Visual Art 1999
Technical Skills
Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier, Dreamweaver, Quark, In Design, Drupal, Final Cut HD, Microsoft Office Suite.
MAC & Windows.
Traditional Skills
Airbrush, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Illustration and Sketching, Life Drawing, Oil Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Video Art, Storyboarding, Typographic Design.
General Work History.
Signs Now in South Elgin
I am the director of design at a sign shop. We make everything from basic landscaping signs out of cut vinyl to banners, indestructible park signs, vehicle wraps and any other sign beyond neon. My designs won the 2007 contract for pole banners around South Elgin as well, I have designed signs for East Avenue Park in South Elgin that will be up for the next 20 years. Every day presents me with a new project and a new challenge.
Digital People Creative Staffing.
Assignment History
Black Dot, magazine publishing services.
Pre-press, assembly, imaging, and data security.
Freelance Work History
Orange Alert.
Orange Alert (or, What to Wear During an Orange Alert) is a Chicago based arts and culture blog. In 2009 I moved the site away from blogspot and onto its own server re-designed the new site via Drupal.
Orange Alert Press.
Orange Alert Press is an independent publisher; the first release was Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine by Ben Tanzer. I handle the book layout and design as well as promotional media.
The Deli Chicago.
I am a part time contributing writer and editorial artist.
Real Dropzone.
Real Dropzone is a software package being developed for “drop zones” to help them streamline the process of online registrations and pre-payments as well as internal office management in the skydiving community. I created the logo and identity for the software and worked hand in hand with the developer on the graphics and layout of the website.
Negative Gain Productions.
-NGP+ or Negative Gain Productions is a Chicago area record label. I've worked with Cruciform Injection doing live video coverage and promotions. I've also worked with DEFCON. Designing the debut CD as well as handling their web site, t-shirt design and promotional materials.
Precious Possessions.
I was the lead for the graphics end of this company, everything from graphic design for print and web to content management of products being sold. As well I was the liaison between the company owner and the web developers based in Chicago and the Ukraine. preciousltd.com the sister site is marketeersamerica.com of which I handled the complete graphic development.
In 2008 I a drawing of mine was published on the opening page of the Dresden Dolls book The Virginia Companion.
