About

I am a non-traditional designer with over 15 years of agency and in-house marketing experience. Evolution is important for designers, I am continually upgrading my skill set to meet today’s challenges. I believe we need to create an idea that drives results through multiple platforms, including: branding, print, out-of-home, PR, broadcast, interactive, and motion. I have lead teams, forged relationships, presented to clients around the country, collaborated in marketing strategy, directed and executed projects from concept to completion. I have a passion for creating brand identities and developing integrated design solutions.

Resumé

IMPAQT
Pittsburgh, PA  –  March 2007 to present
Creative Director

Manage the creative services for the entire company including conceptualization and production of all print, video, and online elements.

• Unified a disparate corporate identity, and implemented a company wide system for branded documents.
• Directed a website improvement project.
• Directed and produced a multitude of videos used to promote IMPAQT.
• Developed an email management solution for client relations, lead generation programs.
• Influenced the company to redesign the extranet that resulted in improved navigation, interface consistency, and usability.
• Proposed and implemented internal social collaboration space that shares all internal and external content and reports on marketing efforts.
• Created an information graphics system that is used in marketing and sales.
• Wrote simplified messaging that communicates several IMPAQT solutions and processes, which are used in concert with the information graphics system. These messages have standardized IMPAQT’s messaging company wide.
• Convinced leadership to present Search as a part of a holistic approach, rather than a stand-alone solution.

Mullen
Pittsburgh, PA  –  December 2004 to March 2007
Associate Creative Director
Art and creative direction for local and national clients.

• The Alleghenies – Created a brand identity which included: logo, collateral design system, website, and advertising campaign.
• United Concordia – Created an ad campaign with the goal to recruit the US Military as a client. The campaign was successful in helping to land the US Military as a client.
• Eastman Chemical – Created brand identity and advertising campaign for Perennial Wood. The initial concepts were used to test in focus groups in 5 key markets around the country. The whole project included: logo, photo direction, wearables, print ads, marketing materials, and POS materials.
• Eaton Electrical – Created a brand identity for a new program called Eaton Certified Electrical Technician. Project included: logo, wearables, marketing materials, stationary, and photo direction.
• First Commonwealth Bank – Brand invigoration project. The goal of this project was to rebrand the local bank as a regional bank with more to offer. We spruced up the color palette, tweeked the logo, and redesigned the marketing materials.
• Frontiers Travel – Frontiers is a high-end destination travel agency that offers guided hunting and fishing trips. We created a new ad campaign targeting customers for each type of trip.

Clients: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Eaton Electrical, Eastman Chemical, Frontiers Travel, Froedtert Hospital, The Alleghenies Tourism Council, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, United Concordia, First Commonwealth Bank, XM Satellite Radio, and PPG Corporation.

PMI
Pittsburgh, PA  –  May 2003 to December 2004
Art Director
The creative lead in the multimedia department of PMI. Art and creative direction of projects including: brand identity, ad campaigns, new business pitches, video productions, direct mail and interactive.

• Redesigned PMI’s brand identity, which included: logo, stationary, marketing collateral, interactive interfaces, and website.
• Davis & Davis Gourmet Foods – Developed brand identity that included: logo, color palette, packaging, and website.
• Kennywood Entertainment – Kennywood is the regions premier amusement park and historical landmark. We redesigned the website with a goal to bring the visual experience of the park to the web.

Mullen
Pittsburgh, PA  –  April 2000 to May 2003
Art Director

• Tonys Frozen Pizza –  *Addy Finalist *Omni Internet Silver Award. A popular past time of Tonys target audience is going to the mall, so we recreated that experience with Tonys Pizza Mall. Storefronts were created to house interactive games and various Tonys promotions.
• SpyKids 2 / Tonys Cross Promotion – *Addy Award *Omni Internet Silver Award. I directed the development of this project. The goal was to recreate the experiences and objects that are present in the movie.
• EPA Energy Star – The Cool Change website was targeting two audiences; consumers and contractors. One of the restrictions we had was to fit within the EPA website template. The site included an interactive home that would give tips on how you can save money in your home using Energy Star products.
• Mellon Financial – When the financial giant Mellon sold off it’s consumer side of the corporation, they needed to redesign their website. The design chosen was a combination of my design, and another’s design. I took the reins of the project and designed the rest of the site and was tasked with gathering and approving hundreds of images that populated the rest of the site. We went on to develop designs for various projects for Mellon Financial.

Clients: Pennsylvania Travel & Tourism, Community Technical Assistance Center, EPA, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mellon Financial Corporation, Neuralware, Schwann’s Consumer Brands, Schwebel’s Bread, Unisys, Wine Market Council, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Wilson Golf, and The Wood Promotion Network.

Carnegie Science Center
Pittsburgh, PA  –  April 1997 to 2000
Associate Designer
Responsible for the evolution of the CSC brand identity, collateral design and website. Coordinated and managed all vendor services.

• Redesigned the CSC brand identity.
• We worked with famed artist Burton Morris to create unique artwork for our designs.
• Took over the Webmaster reins and worked with a local agency to redesign the website.

The Renaissance Group, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA  –  January 1994 to March 1997
Designer
Logo design, corporate identity, package design, point-of-sales, freestanding insert design, print ads, illustration, coupon design.

• Tagamet HB –  I was the finishing designer on the initial launch of Tagamet HB. I also created the graphic standards manual.
• GlaxoSmithKline – I edited and redesigned various packaging for GSK consumer products: Tums, Vivarin, Gaviscon, Nature’s Remedy, Citrucel, Econtrin, Nicorette, and more. Created point-of-sales materials for various products.
• Pepper’s Eyewear – Designed a product catalogue and directed a model and product photo shoot.

Education

Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA –  2000-2002

Masters of Science in Multimedia Technology
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro, PA –  1989-1993
BFA in Applied Media Arts, Communication Graphics

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Proficient in both Macintosh and Windows environments. Print & Interactive Design, Brand Identity, Design Systems, Creative Direction, Art Direction, Illustration, Website 2.0 Development, DHTML, Style Sheets (CSS), Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, Elgg, Search Engine Optimization, Paid Search, Google Certified, Email Campaign Development,  Social Media Integration, Flash, Photography, Videography, Motion Graphics.

Software

Adobe CS3: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects. Apple: Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Motion. Cleaner, Toast, and QuarkXPress

Honors and Activities

• American Advertising Award
• AIGA One Show Award
• Silver Omni Internet Design Award
• Graphic Design USA Award
• AIGA Design Show Pittsburgh
• Exhibition of Western Pennsylvania Printing, Best of Show
• Judge – Erie Ad Club Awards
• Frequent speaker at high school and college career days
• Judge at local university design contests
• Founding Board member of the West Allegheny Arts Advocacy Council
• Family, oil painting, backpacking, adventure racing, ice hockey, environmental advocate, mandolin.

Full portfolio can be seen at www.coroflot.com/erikschutzman

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