Chris Szostek
cszostek [at] gmail dot com
www.szostekdesign.com
My creativity, dedication, and quick learning skills will make me an asset to your company. My experience as a designer has given me the ability to handle projects of various sizes and styles. I look forward to joining your company as an in-house creative or as a long-term freelance agent. I am very interested in relocating out of the midwest.
Education
:
The Illinois Institute of Art | Bachelors Fine Arts Multimedia/Web Design 2002
Elgin Community College | Associates Degree in Visual Art 1999
Skill Set:
experienced in both Mac & Windows formats.
Traditional Illustration
Axure
Illustrator CC
Photoshop CC
WordPress
Photography
Dreamweaver
Quark
In Design
Flexi Sign Pro
Microsoft Office
Sign Design & Production
Flatbed Printing
Bootstrap
HTML
CSS
Freelance & steady Work History
Dragon Eye Designs 2015
Graphic design for game cards & packaging.
Manticore Arms 2015
I led Manticore through a rebranding phase. Product photography and design of a new catalog, business cards & new website elements.
Real Sensible, Inc 2014
Graphic design & Web Design, Project Management.
As a growing software development & tech company I have worn many hats at Real Sensible, Inc.
My primary roles were graphic & web designer, project manager & all around office monkey.
I kept track of my traveling staff, logged trouble tickets from clients, handled our marketing materials etc.
American Science and Surplus 2013~2014/2015~current
I have volunteered at American Science & Surplus for special events for a few years, they hire me on for holiday help & I stayed on for a bit longer. At Science & Surplus my focus was/is on customer service, hand made sign design, inventory, unloading weekly trucks, filling store transfers, pricing & art booths at special events. American Science & Surplus has truly been one of the best companies I have worked with.
Cadence 2013-2013 (contract position for a short job)
Graphic design & flatbed printing for a trade show.
Prove It, LLC 2013
A WordPress site & blog for a food science company.
Ino and Sons Construction 2012
A WordPress site for a construction company.
Bruce Harris & Associates 2011-2012
Using Axure I create rapid prototypes of web application concepts. This greatly reduces development time and allows for faster turnaround for client change requests. (for examples please go here)
pvfymca 2011
Redesigned the YMCA website with Drupal. This project brought multiple YMCA sites in the area under one domain making it easier for YMCA staff to communicate with members.
Northwest Suburban Montessori School 2010
Redesigned website with Drupal to be more of a community and allow parents as well as potential members to get a sense of the day to day activity in the classroom.
Tukaiz 2012
WordPress content editing.
Ocean Tomo 2011
Finding solutions for Drupal site functions Ocean Tomo
Gogo! 2011
I helped with the rebranding of two Drupal sites blog.gogoair & pr.gogoair
Signs Now, South Elgin IL 2007-2010
Graphic Designer of multiple types of large format media including signs, banners, vehicle wraps, and wall graphics. Additional responsibilities included customer service, primary contact for customer request and quoting. Larger clients included Elgin Community College and South Elgin Parks and Recreation.
South Elgin Chamber of Commerce selected my design for pole banners in 2007. South Elgin Parks and Recreation selected my design for East Avenue Park Walking Trail indestructible signs.
Digital People Creative Staffing 2006-2007
Black Dot, magazine publishing services. Pre-press, assembly, imaging, and data security.
Real Dropzone 2006
Logo design and identity for the software graphics and layout of the website.