Melissa Stolberg     web designer

CV

Profile

Skilled multidisciplinary designer with many years of experience gained in San Francisco and Dublin. Projects include corporate identity, interactive educational media and complete design solutions for clients in all sectors. Strong knowledge of print, experience in web, cd-rom and video. Creative yet organised. Seeking role in-house with a medium to large company as a web designer.

Technical Skills

  • Hand-coding XHTML and CSS
  • Design and illustration software (Quark, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
  • Web software (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, BBedit)
  • Print preparation
  • Video editing software (After Effects, Premiere, Avid)
  • Office software (Microsoft Office, FileMaker)

Professional Experience

Freelance Designer – Dublin (9 /2003 – present)

Key responsibilities were meeting clients, advising on marketing materials, designing print or web solutions and managing the print process for clients such as Tecbrand, Generator Marketing, Banks Love and Creidim House.

  • Advised clients on paper cost, print methods and print solutions
  • Researched and negotiated with printers for clients
  • Developed entire marketing suite including branding for a charity which helped generate PR and subsequent funding

W1 Design – Dublin (3/ 2002 – 6/ 2003)

Senior Graphic Designer

Independent multidisciplinary design firm producing marketing materials (print, web sites, cd-roms).
Key responsibilities were building relationships with clients, enabling them to realise design needs and project managing from design to final print.

  • Designed brochure that secured corporate sponsorship for The Point's VIP club
  • Re-branded Bon Secours Hospital, increasing GP and patient inquiries and business
  • Designed identity and fund-raising materials for Solas, Ireland's first autism diagnosis centre for children
  • Systematised print preparation, avoided printing problems and saved time and money
  • Introduced new software which improved quality of output
  • Presented technical print information to staff and interns which improved overall company efficiency

PeopleSoft, Inc. (now Oracle) – San Francisco, California (8/ 1999 – 11/ 2001)

Senior Graphic Designer

Major global business software producer for major clients such as HP and Walmart.
Key responsibilities were designing marketing material for B2B software to niche audiences, brainstorming with writers and designing companion web sites to print material or events.

  • Distinguished by CEO for design quality
  • Designed flyer for trade show attendees that increased traffic to Peoplesoft trade booth by 40%
  • Taught print designers web skills, cutting cost of web outsourcing
  • Introduced new software to expand in-house capabilities
  • Brainstormed tag-lines and themes of marketing materials with writers and clients, fostering atmosphere of inclusion

Center for Science Education, Space Science Laboratories, University of California at Berkeley – Berkeley, California (2/ 1998 – 7/ 1999)

Media/Web Senior Illustrator

NASA project which promotes space science to educators and children.
Key responsibilities were producing and maintaining web sites, cd-roms and printed material for educators and children.

  • Designed the visual component of a department funding pitch to NASA which secured further funding
  • Created cartoon characters as a teaching aide for a children's education project
  • Updated web techniques which made sites easier to navigate and view
  • Introduced new software to increase visual impact

Sidewalk.com – San Francisco, California (6 month contract in 1997; company then sold to competitors)

Designer

Subsidiary of Microsoft that produced a daily “what’s on” web site for San Francisco.
Key responsibilities were improving visitor “click-through” rates by keeping visual interest high through design and updating the site’s graphics

  • Improved visitor “click-through” rates with photo choices and designs
  • Supported a variety of editorial departments, minimising the need for specialist contractors

Townsend Street Productions – San Francisco, California (2/ 1995 – 6/ 1997)

Animator/Design Assistant

Independent “below the line” marketing company promoting gaming companies to the trade sector.
Key responsibilities included design support for marketing materials through computer animation, video editing and web design.

  • Provided support services for producers of different media types, reducing need to outsource or hire contractors
  • Edited video wall for Comdex Conference and Electronic Arts Trade Conference in Las Vegas, raising the profile of our client to games stockists

Multimedia Dojo – San Francisco, California (6 month contract in 1994)

Art Producer

Independent contractor producing media and graphic components for gaming companies.
Key responsibilities were producing artwork within a team for strict deadlines.

  • Introduced a system to speed image processing, increasing output

Amazing Media Games Company – San Francisco, California (1/ 1993 - 3/ 1994)

Digital Video Editor/Compositor

Independent gaming company producing concepts, designs and games for larger computer gaming companies.
Key responsibilities were video editing, animation and art production.

Qualifications

BA - Film and Video, graduated with College Honours
University of California, Santa Cruz, 1992

References available upon request

I am legally able to work in Ireland without a permit or paperwork, as I am married to an Irish citizen.