SHIERE MELIN
PROFILE
Graphic designer/illustrator with a strong aesthetic, refined creative skills and passionate confidence backed up with scientific know-how. This translates to accurate, educational, and compelling visuals, audiences that get it and, thus, client success. Excels at brand creation and continuity. Maintains excellent and effective executive, communication and presentation skills. Outstanding interpersonal skills and is a dynamic team builder driven to uphold client and colleague relationships. Ability to interpret project needs, develop logical work flow and manage project progression; select and provide direction for creative subcontractors and vendors, including directing photo shoots; prepare files appropriately for print production and over-see press checks (web and offset). Accustomed to performing in deadline-driven environments and making the most of any budget. Client history includes national corporate profiles, government agencies, small businesses and start-up companies.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Brand management and creation
• Graphic design, layout, template development
• Mac OS platform, familiarity with PC
• Adobe InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Photoshop CC, Muse CC, and Acrobat CC, Quark Xpress, MS PowerPoint, MS Word
• Document preparation for press, press-checks
• Vendor coordination
• Effective oral and written communication skills
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Develop new brand concepts, manage existing corporate branding
• Logos, business cards, letterhead, 2nd sheets, envelopes, mailing label, thank you notes and envelope, paper pads, banners, flags
• Illustration, traditional and digital media
• Infographics, charts, graphs
• Photography, photo retouching, photo shoot management, DSLR camera
• Front-end web design
• Postcards, brochures, flyers, sell sheets, white papers, annual reports, advertisements,
• PowerPoint presentations
• Folders, insert sheets, support materials, envelope
• Direct mail, media kits, community outreach and events, invitations, banners, posters, branded promotional items, displays
• Product boxes and container labels
• Indoor and outdoors signage
• Vehicle wraps and decals
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BluBlaze Creative, Milwaukee, WI | Arvada, CO 2002 to present
Owner, Independent Contractor, Graphic Designer and Illustrator
Develop graphic design and illustration for marketing and promotional print and web collateral. Specialize in multi-piece branding campaigns.
Top accomplishments:
CIVICA MANAGEMENT
An association management company manages nonprofit membership and meetings, plans and coordinates conferences, performs finance and billing, creates and updates website and social media, sells on their behalf, and handles content and inbound marketing.
• Develop, design and produce invitations, posters, signage, brochures, signage and events programs for conferences and events
• Modified corporate logo
• Designed business cards and note cards
SPARK POLICY INSTITUTE
Spark Policy Institute develops innovative, research-and community-based approaches to help their partners solve complex societal problems that defy easy solutions.
• Front-end web design for corporate website
• Developed concept, design and digital illustrations for corporate holiday greeting cards.
• Developed concept and designed annual report for Colorado’s Early Development Council including numerous infographics
VOYAGER SOPRIS LEARNING
Partners with school districts to meet and surpass goals for student achievement. Owners and developers of a suite of instructional and service solutions that is research and evidence based, proven to increase student achievement and educator effectiveness.
• Illustrated 8 full color posters that clarified difficult English language concepts for 3-5th graders
• Illustrated over 100 black/white spot illustrations
ARVADA COLTS
The Arvada Colts are an elite summer collegiate and amateur baseball team based in Arvada, Colorado. The Colts compete in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League and are a member of the National Baseball Congress.
• Developed team branding including logo mark and word mark, color palette, font and typography
• Team jerseys, team roster and schedule, banners and team pennant
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NEW BERLIN
Primary and secondary school district in New Berlin, Wisconsin
• Developed corporate/campaign identity logo and variation applications including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, note cards, paper pads
• Designed font and typography styling and color palette
• Designed customized PowerPoint presentation, recruiting brochures, newsletter and template, building signage, banners, vehicle wraps and decals, promotional items, staff clothing, water bottle labels, flags, award certifications
BASALI´ DERMAL INSTITUTE
Skin and hair care product line developer and aesthetician school in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
• Designed over 100 product labels and packaging
• Designed all branding components including grid graphic, font and typography styling, color palette
• Illustrated botanic elements, watercolor
• Researched and proposed all product containers
• Developed and designed advertising launch campaign, including banners
• Designed corporate suite including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, appointment cards
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
• Graphic Designer at Cramer Krasselt, a major advertising agency in the Midwest
• Graphic Designer for marketing at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a newspaper in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Graphic Designer for The Write Source/ Houghton Mifflin, a team of teachers, writers, and designers committed to bringing high-quality teaching materials
EDUCATION
Foundation Certificate of Botanic Illustration | Denver Botanical Gardens School of Botanical Arts & Illustration
Master of Fine Arts University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Medical and Biologic Illustration
Bachelor of Science University of Wisconsin-Madison | Art, Zoology