RÉSUMÉ
I am a team leader, graphic designer, and animator who can unify, expand, and modernize a company’s visual identity.
EMPLOYMENT
since 2020
Senior Art Director
Flimp Communications
My primary role at Flimp is to art direct, design, and animate as the lead of a Creative Team involved with the creation of microsites, 2D explainer videos, and the design systems used to speed them through production. Each of my team’s deliverables is intended to help our customers’ employees understand their benefit options in a friendly and approachable way. In addition to creating storyboards and using After Effects to animate, I also teach and critique the basic principles of graphic design and motion design to my subordinates and creative contractors. I also assist the Marketing department, and I help manage the feature set of Flimp’s proprietary Web design software.
2019-2020
Owner & Sole Designer
Steven Gray Design LLC
Continued all the Web design, print design, brand creative, animation, and illustration tasks that I performed while serving at NORDEN41 Design agency. Clients included global corporations such as Advanced Energy, Stateless (communications infrastructure), and Emerson Process Management.
2013 – 2019
Senior Graphic Designer & Creative Director
NORDEN41 Creative
Performed graphic design tasks for both print and Web while serving as co-owner of the design agency under its founder. Designed logos, typography, and visual brand identities for startups. Created client explainer videos from start to finish. (Conceptalized, script-wrote, designed, and animated. Edited music and coached narrators.) Art directed any sub-contractors when needed; helped coach other staff. Helped team design responsive, CSS-customized WordPress sites. Designed and developed CSS-coded email templates for use in clients’ campaign software and ensured MS Outlook compatibility. Also designed static pieces including infographics, event displays, themes for events, webinars, brochures print ads, headers, photorealistic mockups diagrams, slides, templates, etc. Performed pre-press tasks.
2003 – 2013
Senior Graphic Designer and Design Team Manager
Level 3 Communications
Coached and art directed the two designers who reported to me while designing and maintaining the corporate visual identity. Designed print ads, online animated ads, event themes, event booth graphics, Powerpoint slides, network maps, templates, icons, posters, direct mail pieces, email templates, and network diagrams. Art directed agencies to maintain consistent branding. Managed print vendor and installer relationships. Met with internal clients to ensure alignment with corporate brand while writing and redesigning the corporate brand design guide.
1999 – 2003
Marketing Writer
Level 3 Communications
1992 – 1997
Copywriter & Tech Journalist (Topic: Design Software)
Quark, Inc.
EDUCATION
1988 – 1992
Bachelor of Arts
University of Northern Colorado
Awarded Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 (GPA 3.48).
TESTIMONIALS
Matt Bargell Founder / CEO, NORDEN41 Creative
I’ve known Steve for more than 25 years and he is a true renaissance creative with a mastery of several skills. For the last six years at NORDEN41, Steve and I collaborated on numerous graphic design and animation projects for high profile companies. Regarding his approach to client projects, Steve takes the time to thoroughly understand the key audience, the project’s goals and the call-to-action before he works up a sketch or pushes a pixel. He then executes designs with unrivaled attention to detail that are visually impactful and “on brand.” From a purely business standpoint, Steve is a workhorse and revenue generator. From a personal standpoint, he’s a great guy, a good friend, and continually cracked up the team with his kooky impersonations and offbeat sense of humor.
Christina Liebman Director of Global Marketing & Digital Strategy at Advanced Energy
Steve led my design team during my tenure at Level 3. Together we worked on hundreds of programs and campaigns including re-branding the company and launching the corporate identity. We won several awards from both the BMA and the AMA for our work together. I can say without a doubt that he is one of the most talented designers I have had the pleasure of managing. He constantly looks for new and creative ways to bring messages to life through design and inspires his team to do the same.
Mark Mitton Chief Marketing Officer at 9th Wonder Agency
I had the pleasure of working with Steve for many years. I have the most respect for him as a person and as a design and branding professional. He’s a true creative…but he also has a sharp grasp of big picture context and strategy. He’s also the rare designer that is an excellent copywriter too.
Jon Snyder Senior Copywriter at 9thWonder
What impresses me most about Steve is his continued growth as a graphic artist, especially when it comes to conceptualizing the messages that copywriters (like me) want to get across. Bring your ideas to Steve and stand back, he’ll find a way to bring your thoughts to life in ways you never dreamed!
REFERENCES
Matt Bargell
Design Manager
(former boss + former coworker)
linkedin.com/in/mattbargell
boobamboosh@gmail.com
Christina Liebman
Marketing Executive
(former boss + former client)
linkedin.com/in/christinaliebman
christinaliebman@gmail.com
TOOL PROFICIENCY
Expert in Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, WordPress, and basic HTML / CSS design code. Also proficient in Marketo, the Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Audition & recording gear, surf guitar, the Yamaha A5000 sampler, Canon 5D DSLR cameras, and Outlook-compatible email template creation.
