Michael Christoff
4785 Beaucroft Court, Columbus OH 43231
(614) 337-1472 red.aardvark.design@gmail.com

O V E R V I E W :

Ten years of hands-on graphic design experience. Created brand identity, conceptual design, print, trade show graphics and electronic media. Major accomplishments include:
• Managing the design and production of printed projects,including publications,
brochures, ads, presentations, and event materials.
• Establishing and maintaining a graphics department for a private telecom
security company.

P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E :

3/2006–Present The McGraw-Hill Companies, Columbus, OH Designer
• Developed attractive, contemporary, functional and market appropriate design
solutions to projects of pre-K through 12th grade publishing material.
• Developed & reviewed production templates, cover files, and written
documentation to ensure that the approved design was accurately and efficiently
conveyed to page production sources and film houses.
• Designed high level mock-ups and prototypes to communicate design ideas.
• Stayed current on industry trends, competitor’s products. Researched and implemented
new techniques in user interface design.
• Consulted with team leaders about testing template builds on multiple OS and
browsers for display and style issues.

11/2005–3/2006 Ryan Partnership, Columbus, OH Freelance Designer
• Supported the Nestlé and Bank One/Chase teams through concept, initial design
and layout, and revision stages of ad campaigns.
• Communicated directly with account and creative team members on the following
projects: Nestle Confections and Baking FSI’s, Elmer’s Glue/Daytona NASCAR
Race, WONKA Egg Hunt Ad Campaign and SIMON Mall/WONKA Easter
installations.

6/2004–9/2005 OSU University Development, Columbus, OH Designer
• Worked with Development officers, faculty, deans, administrators and staff to
promote University development priorities through print and new media.
• Assisted and coordinated the consistency of design elements for campaigns in the
colleges, general University campaigns, and projects, programs and events
pertaining to fund-raising.
• Consulted with printers and mailing services on job specifications and
requirements to produce high-quality, cost-effective print and direct mail
materials.

7/2000–8/2003 SecureLogix Corporation, San Antonio, TX Designer
• Art-directed, designed, and produced print and electronic marketing material,
including brochures, sales sheets, brand identities, direct mail, advertisements,
splash screens, user guides, CD art, trade show and web graphics.
• Designed all projects in-house. Responsibilities included estimating, scheduling,
and routing materials through outside vendors, shipping, and final billing.
• Extensive knowledge of offset printing and prepress methods and technologies,
4-color press checks and blueline proofing.
• Project management, including maintaining client relations, allocating staff
resources, and overseeing the design process to produce marketing materials on
time and under budget.

7/1997–7/2000 Sunrise-Hallmark Greetings, Bloomington, IN Designer
• Designed and illustrated digital imagery for a variety of products including
greeting cards, gift bags, stationery, journals, newsletters and calendars.
• Detailed production duties included trafficking, flightchecking, color correction,
creating collage art, loading to disk, creating PDF files, and using FTP.
• Developed and maintained intranet web site.

E D U C A T I O N :

BS, Visual Communications
Minors, Architecture and Art Histories and Photography
The Ohio State University, 1997

S O F T W A R E & H A R D W A R E P R O F I C I E N C I E S :

• Adobe Creative Suite, FLASH, DreamWeaver, Proficiency with Industry Standard Tools for Web Design, Scanner Equipment, CD Duplicators, Traditional Black and White Photography, and Digital Camera
equipment