I currently live and work in Fresno (Clovis), CA as a graphic artist. I hold a full-time position at Northside Christian Church and run a part-time freelance business on the side. In December of 2008, I graduated from CSU Fresno with a B.A. in Graphic Design. Eventually, I would love to move closer to the central coast with my beautiful wife and escape the heat of the valley. Each day I'm trying to dig deeper into my career.
The way I approach design isn't much different than most designers but, it is very different than most people I interact with. Nowadays, it is extremely easy for someone to get their hands on a design tool like Photoshop, call themselves a designer, and create hideous work; but this is definitely not recommended by me. Would you ask someone picking up a straightedge for the first time to shave your face? Absolutely not, you would look for someone who was classically trained to shave a beard.
The same idea works for graphic design. You want someone who is trained in typography and knows how to arrange information in a way that makes it more compelling and effective. I am a trained designer. This person should have a strong design process and be well versed in designing for multiple applications. Your designer should know that using 10 different typefaces on a single poster isn't typically the right thing to do and that kerning is very important. I am your designer. A designer should be able to back up and defend any decision made throughout the design process and come out with a creative solution that meets the needs of the intended client or audience. I am a graphic designer.
Upon graduation, I received an award for interactive design excellence in recognition for my web design work while attending Fresno State.
I am also a proud recipient of a Local Gold Addy and a Regional Silver Addy Award in the student portion of the competition.
While I don't design just to win awards, I do strive to create award worthy design, every time.
African Dinner & Variety Show Ticket - Front
At Northside, I was given the project to design a ticket for this variety show fundraiser. I used a rough chipboard texture and transparency to make it look like translucent inks were used. I feel like the angles and heirarchy in the content help give this a unique and modern look.
A local startup came to me in need of an identity. I toiled away in my little dark cave and came up with a logo that is bold, fun, and easy to remember. The colors have a kidlike quality that help to focus the target demographic. I also got the opportunity do some of the photography for this project, which was a first.
Designing wine labels for three different regions of the world can be quite a challenge. For this solution, I used characteristics from the featured regions to come up with intriguing designs that would fit within their target demographic. The "Haka" Wine Label was awarded the 2009 Addy Award.
The House: Clown Asylum Banner
I was given a project to design some print pieces for a Halloween event at NCC. The event consisted of a house full of clowns that would frighten people as they walked by. I set the mood by using dark grunge mixed with scratches of bright color. All the applications ended up with a demented feel that worked great.
2009 Graphic Design Senior Show Poster
After a small contest between fellow classmates, my design was chosen to represent the 2009 Senior Graphic Design Show. I used the theme of the show which was "Visual Voices" to come up with my concept. I recorded my voice saying the words "visual voices" and made a design element from the waveform.
When I design an ad, I try to come up with a hook to make the viewer interested. With these ads, I used common skateboarding tricks to help strengthen the brand and make the consumer want to be a part of the brand as well. I also used the logo as if it were graffiti on the sidewalk for a unique feel.
Northside Junior High Youth group went on an eye-opening journey into downtown Fresno to see exactly how impoverished the valley can be. From what I heard, they were all astonished at what they saw. For the brochure, I had to make it seem like Onserf, CA was a real place with poverty problems.
I was asked to design fresh promotional materials for the DCAC while cultivating a new identity for their organization in tandem. I chose to implement "an orange on sidewalk" theme to represent the environment that the DCAC provides to its participants. Mine was selected as one of the top 5 designs in the class.
While working at Northside, I have learned the value of making a decision and running with it. A lot of time, we are very rushed to get designs out because each ministry overlaps events. Through all the chaos, I feel like I can still come up with some successful designs.
The FAF came to my class and assigned us a project that entailed multiple graphic pieces for an Honor's Luncheon. I wanted to represent the Advertising industry with type in this design. My typographic solution was chosen by the FAF and was to be utilized as the primary design for that event.
These are a few posters that I have designed over the years. These were done while attending Fresno State. I feel like these show a different side to my design aesthetic since they are more illustrative in nature.
When I get the chance to design a logo I am like a little boy on Christmas morning. I like to get right into the research and start getting ideas flowing. I like to begin with a great deal of sketches. Sketches help me get a lot of ideas out so that I can get to the really "beefy" ones.
I love the interaction of color in a logo and how colors can bring meaning to the brand. I enjoy exploring unique typography in my logos. When it comes down to it though, I will always produce something that makes my client happy. The restrictions are what make designing logos exciting.
When I discovered CSS, it changed my life. I would like to thank my high school Office 2000 teacher for turning me on to the web. Since then, I have been toiling away trying to learn as much as I can about the internet and how I can utilize it as a professional resource to better myself as a designer. I recently did a short internship at Hundred10 to gain some knowledge about web design and user experience.
In December of 2008 I graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in graphic design. While attending CSU Fresno I learned the craft of graphic design and refined my creative problem solving abilities. I now have the knowledge and confidence to take on any design situation.
I am experienced in many different software programs and a few internet languages. Some of my software knowledge includes: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Flash, Adobe Dreamweaver and Adobe Fireworks. My website building knowledge includes: XHTML, CSS and enough JavaScript and PHP to get me by.
While I went to school I was also busy doing part-time freelance work. Because of this freelance work and the work I did in school I was able to build a pretty strong portfolio for someone right out of college. Because of the strong portfolio I obtained during my education I was able to secure my current job at Northside Christian Church. While working for Northside, I have learned the careful balancing act of handling multiple projects at one time. I have also been given opportunities to design projects from the concept phase all the way into completion.
During my last semester at CSU Fresno I designed a wine label that was later entered in the 2009 student portion of the local Addy Awards. My "Haka" wine label was awarded a gold in the local portion of the competition and a silver in the state portion.
At my senior graphic design show I was given an award of excellence in the area of Interactive Design for all the work I did while in school.
In November of this 2009 I was the winner of the Fresno Design Alliance: Iron Design Challenge 5. My logo was chosen by a non-profit to represent their company. I also received the "Designer's Choice" award by being voted favorite by my colleagues.
If you are in need of some award worthy graphic design, please don't hesitate to shoot me an email. I work my butt off every day to improve upon myself as a designer, so won't you please give me something to design?
City: Fresno - Clovis, CA
Phone: 559.281.0648
Email: cm@chrismdesign.com
