D A N I E L  M c D O N A L D

artbrooklyn.danielmcdonald@gmail.com

www.artbrooklyn.com

CV Link

   P R O F I L E

Accomplished creative professional instructor/designer with multi-faceted background encompassing teaching, art direction and hands-on print production. Broad artistic perspective with keen sense of color and design. Detail-oriented with strong planning, organizational and problem-solving abilities. Excellent communicator and team leader who is able to guide groups toward organizational objectives and tight deadlines. Proven success in building relationships and working effectively with diverse groups on all levels.

S E L E C T E D   A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S

Art Director Designer

·       Develop a brand image for advertising, corporate identity and graphics package, for a historic restoration company, that does architectural arts and conservation for public and private buildings nationwide.

·       Worked very closely with the Design Director/Architect and creative team doing color consultation and fabrications for the interiors of four new Juan Valdez Cafes in Philadelphia. I designed and hired the copywriter for the copy of the new menu boards.

·       IPG, designed collateral for Defran Systems, Inc., a certified minority women owned business.

·       As Art Director for F. Schumacher & Co., collaborated with marketing to create concepts and design advertising for numerous in-house brands for fabric, furniture, floor coverings and wallpaper, focusing on to-the-trade luxury goods and consumer advertising.

·       Re-vamped company’s image to a more upscale and contemporary, enhancing visibility and competitiveness in the marketplace. Updating showrooms and trade show displays.

·       Advertising consistently ranked #1 by design committees.

·       Provided art direction for marketing needs of corporate showrooms including design of invitations, hang tags, brochures, posters, and business cards.

·       Worked on the re-design of Waverly website, making it more user-friendly with corresponding increase in traffic. Liaised with copywriters and fabric stylists in coordinating design and copy for monthly updates.

·       Served as Senior Art Director for The Stock Market/Corbis, an international stock photo agency, designing print materials: catalogs, publications, promotional collaterals and packaging. Also provided design direction for company website. 

·       Held role of Deputy Design Director for Welsh Publishing Group which specialized in client-based licensee and custom publishing. Art directed and designed for Disney publications, United Feature Syndicates, and Torand Productions, Inc., a Spelling Entertainment Company.

·       Freelance Design Consultant, successfully completed design projects for corporate clientele including:

     The New York Times - Art directed the Living Section

     Gruner & Jahr USA Publishing- Developed prototype for section of Family Circle Magazine Family Entertainment Guide

     Macmillan/Mc Graw - Hill Publishing- Designed specials section spreads for music textbooks.

     K-111 Magazine Corporation- Served as design consultant for American Baby magazine’s custom publishing: First Year of Life, Toys R Us, Gerber’s As Your Family Grows by L. Nielson.

     Fairchild Publishing- Served as designer for M, W, DNR, and HFD.

     New York Magazine- Handled designs for a trial magazine project for TV Guide.

     BMT Communications, Inc., - Re-designed flagship publication, Convenience Store News.

     National Retail Federation- Art directed Stores Magazine, advertising supplement for MasterCard.

     International Council of Shopping Centers– Designed ICSC Fall Convention and Trade Exposition and Professional Development Opportunities catalog package.

     Advanstar Communications Inc. - Re-designed special issue of American Salon magazine.

     Cahner’s Publishing- Implemented all new designs for Publisher’s Weekly, and Broadcasting & Cable International magazine.

     Sundberg & Associates- Design consultation.

     Ad Council– Designed brochure for the United Negro College Fund.

Print Production Manager

·       Managed all facets of print production process, including pre-press, printing, and distribution, for
F. Schumacher & Co., ensuring quality control and high quality printing. Products included advertising for brands Schumacher, Patterson, Flynn & Martin, Decorators Walk, Greeff, Gramercy, Rosecore, Waverly, Village, and FSC Wallcoverings,ad insertions, brochures and ancillary materials.

·       Introduced and implemented formal procedures and processes, including archiving systems, to streamline marketing/design workflow. Utilized FilemakerPro to schedule and track projects, facilitating completion within established time frames.

·       Secured competitive bids, selected, and negotiated cost-effective contracts with printers, photographers, illustrators, color re-touchers and other vendors, significantly cutting costs.

·       Conducted press checks to review and approve color releases for scanning, correcting, and retouching.

·       Played lead role in preparation of both national and international advertising insertions, ensuring all materials received prior to deadline.

·       Coordinated both design and production of direct mail seasonal newsletters distributed to the trade.

·       Orchestrated the design and production of annual “price books,” a critical marketing tool distributed to client base. Trafficked data from IT to printer.

E M P L O Y M E N T   B A C K G R O U N D

Faculty / Faculty Related Positions

·       1987 - Present  Parsons The New School for Design, Open Campus, Continuing, Professional & Pre-College Education, Part-Time Associate Professor, developed and taught courses in “Color Theory”and“Pastel Drawing.” I also teach the “Color Theory” course online.

     “Color Theory” - Utilizing Joseph Albers approach to color, the course explores the 

     dynamic interaction of color

     and its practice for artists and designers.  

     “Pastel Drawing” - Course incorporates color exercises to capture light and 

     explore techniques.

     Painting Instructor, Prospect Heights Senior Service, NYC CDF.

     Color Theory Instructor Consultant for Brooklyn Quilters Guild.

·       2007 - 2012  440 Gallery, Park Slope, Brooklyn. Member, exhibited at and participated in theme shows juried by outside curators. I did all the marketing materials for the gallery.

·       2009 - 2010 Kingsborough Community College, CUNY, Substitute Lecturer, full time faculty, taught 4 courses, “Introduction to Graphic Design & Advertising,” “Design I” and 2 computer software classes. Taught design and color concepts, hands-on and with software in graphic communications field.

Design Consultation Projects

Evergreene Painting Studios Inc., developing a new brand image and graphics package. NFCGC Enterprises (NY), LLC for Juan Valdez Cafes, other clients for creative design and production services are: Ad Council, F. Schumacher & Co., Glenn Mohr Productions, Integrated Printing & Graphics, Sundberg & Associates.

O T H E R

Awards  Received awards of excellence from various design guilds including Society of Publication Designers, Art Direction, and Communication Arts.  Memberships ACT-UAW, Local 7902, P3, Partnership in Print Production.  Technical Skills teach on-line long distance learning; Blackboard and Canvas, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, Filemaker Pro, MS Word, Excel.

Art Work Exhibitions & Memberships  Painting, Printmaking & Ceramics — Member at Clayworks on Columbia and Emeritus at 440 Gallery. Exhibit at Kentler International Drawing Space, Brooklyn Art Space, Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY. New Century Artists, Chelsea, NY. Norman B. Leventhal, Map & Education Center at The Boston Public Library. Currently working on several editions in silk screen and etching mediums, besides clay projects. Exhibitions throughout New York Metropolitan region & LA. Currently, Volunteer at The Brooklyn Museum Education Department and Artsgowanus.org. Art studios located in Brooklyn.

E D U C A T I O N

MA - Art  Hunter College, New York, NY  Thesis: 
“Early Twentieth Century Art and Its Impact on Graphic Design

BA - Art  CUNY Queens College, Flushing, NY

AAS - Graphic Arts/Advertising  Farmingdale State College, SUNY, Farmingdale, NY

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