With a strong rooting in fine arts and an extensive background in editorial and sales related media, there is much creativity and insight being brought to the table here. Largely self-taught in the field of multimedia and web. Picked up a ton of stuff along the way. Perpetually seeking new grounds to tread upon. Always up for a challenge!
I have been working in the creative industry for over 16 years, my experience spanning all the way from traditional fine arts to digital media and web design. Started out illustrating characters for a popular series of Canadian educational activity books for grade school level children, moved on to creating graphics for internet-based games, dove into web design and multimedia, spent a number of years designing for both the editorial and promotional departments of a monthly Canadian entertainment magazine, then moved ahead to become Art Director at a Canadian marketing firm. In the background, since 2004, I've run my own solo creative studio from home, Illifinitogo Creative, which is my current occupation. Through recent years, I've had the opportunity to create a number of interactive Flash-based teaching tools and informative presentations for the YMCA and other reputable Canadian organizations. I have dipped my toes into many different pools in the graphics and digital world and have taken some time recently to narrow my focus on my strengths and passion: CREATIVE. Drawing. Designing. Art Directing. I have also come to the realization that I'm getting a bit lonely over here, so I'd love to find a studio where I can work with a dynamic creative team again. In the meantime, I am still available and happy to take on independant freelance projects, so don't hesitate to shoot me an email!
BORN:
Budapest, Hungary - 1975
CURRENT:
Art Director and Sole Proprietor of graphic design studio, Illifinitogo Creative.
OBJECTIVE:
Currently pursuing contract, part-time, full-time and freelance work as an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. Qualified to be an Art Director, though, seeking full-time position with the right studio at any level, intermediate to senior.
NOTABLE FREELANCE PROJECTS:
Atlantic Records
» CD packaging for Cheri Dennis, "In and Out of Love" album
Creative development and production
» Digital art for Estelle, "Shine" album
Digital Production on album's cover art and booklet.
Cadence A Capella Band
» Full creative development and branding for popular Canadian A Capella band - including cd package art, web design, promotional material (press kit, business cards, etc.)
NatureClean
» Created and produced online advertorial multimedias to promote NatureClean's new line of Treehouse Bath Products for kids.
Powersmiths
» Art Direction, Creative Development and Flash Production on a series of 10+ Flash animated interactive presentations about green solution systems.
SFPY (Strengthening Families for Parents and Youths) Non-Profit Organization
» Developed new identity, plus numerous brochures for various campaigns by the organization.
YMCA
» produced full-length interactive teaching tool geared at 8 to 10 year olds
for Youth Gambling Awareness Program (August 2007)
» designed and produced a 15-second animated spot ad for Youth Employment
program (summer 2006)
Elgin Theatre / Visa
» designed and produced the Visa-sponsored program for the Elgin Theatre for
the past 3 consecutive Toronto International Film Festivals (2004, 2005, 2006)
Bell Canada
» designed and executed interactive Flash maps for North American
BENG data look-up
Opera Atelier
» designed and produced the programs for 2 shows: Actéon and Dido and
Aeneas (2005), Don Giovanni (2004)
The National Post, Toronto Fashion Week
» designed and produced 5-page insert for Canadian newspaper, the National Post, for 2 consecutive
years, Spring 2004 and 2005
Cottage Life and Explore Magazines
» developed promotional material such as in-magazine ads/contests, media kit,
sales sheets
Chapters / Indigo
» Active Minds Workbooks - many various illustrations and character design
PAST JOB EXPERIENCE:
Art Director
M Marketing Inc.
49 Ontario Street, Toronto, ON
February 2007 - June 2007
Worked on both the creative and production sides of a number of promotional material ranging from email newsletters for Sears Canada, microsites for the likes of Sears and Visa, multimedias, POP material, website design, print design and concept work for numerous pitches.
Promotions Designer
Inside Entertainment Magazine, Kontent Group Inc.
134 Peter St., 3rd flr, Toronto ON
September 2002 - January 2007
Responsible for creating promotional material for magazine: sales mock-ups,
contests, ads, online material such as newsletters, sales sheets, banners, buttons
and some flash-animated promos. Regular tasks included conceptualization,
layout, photo research, production, pre-press, working with sales reps to bring
ideas to fruition.
Graphic Designer, Editorial
Inside Entertainment Magazine, Kontent Group Inc.
134 Peter St., 3rd flr, Toronto ON
April 2002-September 2002
Worked creatively with a small Art Team in coming up with concepts and layouts
for monthly issues of the magazine. Regular tasks included conceptualization,
layout, photo research, production, pre-press.
Art Director
IGSS (Internet Gaming Software Solutions)
33 Hazelton Ave., Toronto ON
December 1999-June 2002
Led a small team of graphic artists, designed web sites, print material and
online game interfaces, and created belly-glass artwork for gaming machines. Also acted as a liason between graphics team and technical team, kept track of progress and pace of design team in order to ensure that team would meet deadlines efficiently.
Gallery Director
Zinc Gallery
330 Dundas St. West, Toronto ON
April 1997-June 1998
Responsibilities included heading media relations and gallery promotions,
development of concept and design for gallery's promotional materials, and
curating gallery shows
In-house Graphic Designer
WEAVE Inc.
330 Dundas St. West, Toronto ON
July 1997- December 1999
Responsible for creating full-page monthly promotional ads for
Klublife Magazine and for developing assorted printed media
Mural Artist
WEAVE Inc.
330 Dundas St. West, Toronto ON
April 1998-June 1998
Designed and executed murals for facade and interior walls of building
Gallery Assistant
Painted City Gallery
234 Queen St. East, Toronto ON
April 1996-January 1997
Responsibilities included assisting in framing and hanging of artwork, assisting
with media relations and gallery promotions, speaking with clients/visitors
about the artwork on display
Mural Artist
Assistant to David Robinson, independant mural artist
summer 1997
Assisted in the execution of a large memorial mural on the facade Toronto's Fire Fighters Association building, 39 Commissioner Street
EDUCATION:
July 1998-April 1999
International Academy of Design
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Computer Graphics diploma
September 1994-July 1997
Central Technical School
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Post-Secondary Fine Arts Program
Fine arts diploma with honour roll standing
received various academic awards for sculpture and design
September 1989-May 1994
Micheal Power/St. Joseph's Highschool
High School Diploma with honour roll standing
strong focus on visual arts and sciences
COMPUTER SKILLS:
» perfectly literate on both MAC and PC os's
» Adobe Creative Suite up to most current (CS5)
» multimedia and decent understanding of AS2
» Junior to intermediate level CSS and HTML 5 coding
» Microsoft Office
» Desktop Publishing: Indesign and QuarkExpress
» whizz at Illustrator and Photoshop
SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS:
» outside-the-box creative thinker
» spontaneous brilliance when black ink in hand
» very strong illustration and design skills
» experienced with both editorial and advertorial
» storyboarding and character design experience
» creative and efficient worker
» happy working hands-on in production
» experienced in client presentations and pitches
» strong work ethic
» excellent strategist and conceptual thinker
» keen observer and problem solver
» outspoken and well-versed
» reliable and motivational team leader
» committed to meeting deadlines with quality work
» thrives in a creative team environment
» perpetually eager to learn and evolve
» always keeping current with digital and design trends
LANGUAGES SPOKEN:
» English: completely fluent, both written and verbal
» Hungarian: fluent, written and verbal
» French: basic (though, limited), written and verbal
RANDOM NOTABLES
» mother of an incredible 10 year old son
» rad longeboarder
» demon on a bicycle
» does not like to sit in one place for a long time
» proactive intolerance of fads and trends
» does not own a single pair of high heels
» recycles everything
» never drove a car in her life
» lived in Budapest, Hungary for 4 years
» draws thumbs with legs
» closeted photographer
» has a thing for stickers, tiny things and little old ladies
» has a 6'7" tall twin brother
» incapable of telling a lie
» loves Brooklyn, NY with a passion
» can beat her son at 1-on-1 basketball any day
» will never buy something if it's being sold to her
» adores brussel sprouts
» doodles on just about everything