Robert Freda: Graphic & Web Designer, Critical Thinker.

Profile

Accomplished senior graphic designer/art director specializing in merging technical quality with artistic appeal. Demonstrates a deep commitment to quality and professionalism ensuring projects exceed client expectations. Possesses a business-centered multidisciplinary skill set which includes print and web design, marketing communications, brand strategy, and project management. Talented creative professional with superb conceptual ability, strong leadership, communication skills, and flexibility to stay ahead of emerging trends.

Experience

Feb 2008 – present
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR | COMVERGE, INC. | EAST HANOVER, NJ

Successfully led the design, production, and delivery of several multi-million dollar marketing campaigns (10+) from concept to completion. Assisted in all aspects of deliverables including aesthetic, photo shoots, video production, web development, and segmentation analysis, while adhering to existing brand guidelines.
Collaborated with copywriters and creative service managers to refine and develop both B2B and B2C marketing strategies for Smart Grid, Energy Efficiency, and Demand Response program enrollment growth. Current contributions have directly led to over one million enrollments—an industry first.
Initiated, managed, and developed innovative design solutions (direct mail, web, and e-mail campaigns) for major gas and electric utilities nationwide that have consistently yielded response rates in excess of 8% (far higher than the industry standard of 1%).
Performed lead role in the initial development of re-branding Comverge’s corporate identity; integrated new aesthetic and conceptual design to corporate collateral (including white papers, case studies, annual reports and trade show booths).
Helped establish and refine a process that focused on strategy, quality, and reducing costs as a founding member of Comverge’s marketing department.

Aug 2007 – Feb 2008
CONSULTANT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER | SMITH DESIGN | GLEN RIDGE, NJ

Led the design, production, and delivery of new design themes for marketing, packaging, and collateral materials for clients such as Arquest, Barton’s, DCI Cheeses, Good Humor, Spinmaster, and Unilever.
Supplied aesthetic and conceptual direction during the development of web-based marketing elements and other online interfaces.

May 2007 – August 2007
CONSULTANT / GRAPHIC DESIGNER | r-PAC INTERNATIONAL CORP. | NEW YORK, NY

Selected and arranged photographs, type, illustrations, and color for marketing, packaging, and other collateral materials for clients such as Bourghese, Bratz, Disney, Target, and Walmart.
Created mechanicals; proofed blue lines and color keys during pre-production stage.
Initiated and managed the creation of new design strategies for marketing, packaging, logos, and other collateral materials for client-based print and online projects.

July 2005 – July 2006
GRAPHIC DESIGNER | SML: GLOBAL APPAREL BRANDING & PACKAGING | HILLSIDE, NJ

Supplied aesthetic and conceptual direction during the development of print, woven, and packaging elements for clients such as Abercrombie, American Eagle, Armani Exchange, Brooks Brothers, Disney, Nautica, Sean John, and Target.
Consulted with client representatives to develop and refine layouts.
Developed and proposed fresh compositions and formats for newly introduced collateral that graphically communicated brand attributes and strengths.

Skills

TECHNICAL SKILLS: Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop), Keynote, QuarkXPress, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Ability to work in both Mac OSX and Windows operating environments.

WORKING KNOWLEDGE: CSS, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Flash, and HTML.

CREATIVE SKILLS: Art Direction, brand development, corporate identity, concept development, graphic design, web design, e-mail marketing, social media, user experience, photo retouching, copywriting, storyboarding, multimedia presentations, tradeshow graphics, and prepress and print management.