Chris Kilpatrick | the versatile designer

As a design student I participated in a multi disciplinary approach and received training in graphic design, photography, studio arts, and business. Additionally, I have held real world positions in print design, web development, and video production. Below is a brief outline of my experience in each area.

WEB DEVELOPMENT

I currently work with The Team Advertising & Publishing in the position of Graphic Designer and Senior Web Developer. I am responsible for all digital properties of The Team and their State-by-State Gardening brand.

From 2006 to 2009, I held a web design position for Optical Fire Studios, LLC. While in this position I was responsible for designing website layouts as well as programming the basic HTML and CSS structure of new websites. On some projects my coding responsibilities included the integration of php and the setup and integration of mySQL databases.

Responsibilities:

• Website Design        • (X)HTML & CSS Coding        • CMS (Expression Engine)        • PHP Coding
• mySQL database management        • Flash ads and other misc web elements

VIDEO PRODUCTION

During the summer of 2005, I was a video intern at Pine Cover Christian Camps. My responsibilities included working on a team to shoot and edit weekly highlight videos. We worked 80+ hour workweeks on a very fast paced schedule. Our last shoot each week was at 11:00PM on Friday night and the final edited project had to be output, burned to dvd, duplicated for each camper, labeled, and ready to hand to the campers by breakfast Saturday morning. Additional responsibilities at Pine Cove included working with the director on promotional & recruiting videos.

From 2006 to the present I have been working in the capacity of video producer for Optical Fire Studios. My responsibilities at Optical Fire include directing on location shoots, editing or overseeing the final edit, and authoring dvds.

Video Production Skills Used in Video Positions:

• Manual Videography with Prosumer Cameras (Canon XL & GL series, and Sony VX series)       • Final Cut Pro Editing        
• Green Screen Shoot & Aftereffects Editing      • DVD Authoring in DVD Studio Pro       

GRAPHIC DESIGN

In 2004 I held a part time job as a graphic designer at Access Communications (Internet 8). My responsibilities included designing new websites, maintaining the websites of our current clients. Additionally I worked on overflow print work from other projects such as recreating clients logos in vector & designing direct mailers. While at Optical Fire I worked on several branding campaigns, as well as creating graphics to be used in various web projects. For The Team Advertising & Publishing, I worked in the print division before moving full time to web & new media. My print responsibilities for The Team included working with clients to create advertisements running in the print edition of our magazines.

Design Software Knowledge:

• Photoshop      • Illustrator      • Flash       • Indesign       • Dreamweaver       • QuarkXPress

PHOTOGRAPHY

While at Louisiana Tech I studied photography in addition to my graphic design curriculum. I have training in B&W film development and darkroom printing as well as digital manipulation of digital photography.

Photography Skill:

• SLR photography       • Digital Manipulation       • Color & Spot Correction       • Film Development & Darkroom Printing
• Prepping digital files to be sent to a printer 

BUSINESS

I am interested not only in the art of graphic design, but also the business side that allows artists to make a living in this industry. I currently have 90 of 120 hours (quarter system) towards a bachelors in Business Administration. I served for three years on the executive board of directors for the Association of Business, Engineering, and Science Entrepreneurs (ABESE). I additionally worked in a management capacity at Optical Fire Studios. [read more]

STUDIO ART

Louisiana Tech University prides itself in its focus on core artistic skills for all art students. All first year students are required to take multiple hands on drawing, painting, and design classes. All work completed during the first year of study is conducted by hand. Our professors emphasize the importance of sketching in generating new ideas. Precise and meticulous craft is required on all design presentation. This strict emphasis on design basics before introducing technology results in a stronger understanding of core design principals.

Studio Skills:

• Screenprinting       • Bookbinding      • Charcoal Illustration       • Oil Painting