Résumé

Gregory T. Holkan

Graphic Designer/Illustrator

www.gregholkan.com

Experience

Bioworld

October 2020-Present

Product Designer — Heroes & Villains

Heroes & Villains is a consumer-facing brand that sells tasteful merchandise aimed at adult pop culture fans.

Duties

  • Package design – Create engaging packaging for direct distribution to customers
  • Product Design – Create and execute concepts for merchandise across a range of categories, including, but not limited to: t-shirts, cut and sew apparel, water bottles, journals, throw blankets, baseball caps, knit beanies, hoodies, fleece, joggers, and socks.
  • Trend Research – Research trends for graphics and merchandise silhouette for different product types and categories to inform design decisions
  • Prepress – Prepare files for production on DTG press or at a factory
  • Materials Research – Find different materials and suppliers for projects
  • Illustration – Create custom illustrations based on licensed/generic characters and concepts
  • Marketing – As needed, assist marketing team with creation of relevant assets that match the tone of the merchandise being offered

Bioworld

May 2017-February 2020

Packaging Designer/Product Designer

Bioworld creates merchandise for some of the world’s most amazing brands.

Duties

  • Package design – Create engaging packaging for distribution to mass retailers
  • Die Line Creation – Create die lines for packaging sent to manufacture
  • Product Design – Create concepts to sell merchandise to retailers that will resonate with the market
  • Trend Research – Research trends for different product types and categories to inform design decisions
  • Prepress – Prepare files for the manufacturer
  • Materials Research – Find different materials and suppliers for projects
  • Factory Communication – Work with manufacturer representatives to execute packaging designs
  • Product Design – Created product for hard lines including journals, pens, pen cups, and associated office supplies; Created product for soft lines including travel pillows and blankets

Goliath Games, LLC

October 2014-May 2017

Senior Graphic Designer

Goliath Games creates and sells board games and skill & action games for mass market and specialty retailers.

Duties

  • Package design – Create engaging packaging for distribution to mass retailers
  • Illustration – Work in a variety of styles as needed depending on the project: cartoony, orthographic, etc.
  • Logos – Concepts developed for products for both sales and production
  • Instruction manuals – Includes developing concepts tied into the product requiring a manual
  • Game Components – Includes game boards, dice, spinners, etc.
  • Catalogs – Designed for use as sales tools throughout the year
  • Prepress/Packaging for Production
  • Tradeshow graphics

 

Engility

January 2014-September 2014

Multimedia Designer

Engility provides services to Federal, State, and Municipal government. (DRC merged with Engility in January 2014)

Duties

  • Flash development – Create Flash-based animations, interfaces, and graphics as needed.
  • Website design – as needed, design and code HTML/CSS for web-based projects.
  • Photography/Videography – Capture photos or video footage for use in training materials.
  • Illustration – Create illustrations as needed for training materials, communications, or other projects.
  • Logo design – for different projects and initiatives, create logos and icons

 

Dynamics Research Corporation (DRC)

March 2012-January 2014

Multimedia Designer

Dynamics Research Corporation provides services to Federal, State, and Municipal government.

Duties

  • Flash development – Create Flash-based animations, interfaces, and graphics as needed.
  • Website design – as needed, design and code HTML/CSS for web-based projects.
  • Photography/Videography – Capture photos or video footage for use in training materials.
  • Illustration – Create illustrations as needed for training materials, communications, or other projects.
  • Logo design – for different projects and initiatives, create logos and icons

 

The Morrison Group

March 2011-March 2012

Graphic Designer/Illustrator

The Morrison Group serves the convenience store industry, furninshing customized cups, point of purchase displays, logos, branding, fixtures, and other items related to coffee, cappuccino, and cold beverage sales. Clients include Valero, Conoco Phillips, Citgo, and Neighbors Coffee.

Duties

  • Create/Design point of purchase displays including menu boards, marquees, posters, danglers, pump toppers, wobblers, etc.
  • Create/design art for cups, mugs, napkins, t-shirt bags, etc.
  • Work collaboratively with the Art Department to create graphic solutions for clients, across a range of media.
  • Present ideas to clients.
  • Work with sales staff to create solutions for clients.
  • Work with R&D to develop new products for sale.
  • Client communication

Ingenux/Custom Software Lab

December 2009-January 2011

Design Manager

Ingenux is an award-winning web and software development company with offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Duties

  • Website Design/Layout
  • Print Design/Layout (includes brochures, banners, tradeshow displays, business cards, etc.)
  • Logo Design
  • Branding
  • Color Management (Includes conversion to and from PMS spot colors)
  • File Prep (includes prepping files for use in different media, evaluating files submitted by clients for minimum requirements, etc.)
  • Illustration/Character Design (initial roughs, turnarounds, etc.)
  • Photo prep including retouching, special effects and compositing
  • User Interface design
  • Creation and sale of work change orders
  • File maintenance • Vendor communication
  • Client communication

 

Seed Technologies

August 2009-November 2009

Print Designer/Web Designer

Seed Technologies is a Tulsa-based web design and programming company.

Duties

  • Print design
  • Photo prep including retouching, special effects and compositing
  • Web Design/Development using HTML, CSS, and Drupal
  • File maintenance
  • Vendor communication
  • Client communication

 

Directing Design

January 2006-July 2009

Print Designer/Web Layout Artist

Directing Design is a small, two person design studio specializing in graphic, web, and branding solutions for small business.

Duties

  • Print design including logos, stationery, brochures, and advertisements
  • Photo prep including retouching, special effects and compositing
  • Large format design including banners and trade show booths
  • Web Design/Development using HTML, CSS, and Drupal
  • File maintenance • Vendor communication
  • Client communication Achievements
  • Redesigned yearly project to consume 50% less paper, resulting in an increase of profit for the company and a reduced impact on the environment
  • Created job tracking/proposal system for internal use
  • Redesigned company website, coding CSS and HTML myself

 

Oklahoma City Community College

June 2005-Spring 2008

Adjunct Faculty, Graphic Communications

Oklahoma City Community College is a local community college focused on helping the community and stimulating the local economy. Classes taught include Photoshop I and Cartooning.

Duties

  • Wrote lesson plans
  • Created tests and assignments, evaluating same
  • Offered criticism of students’ work

 

Lucas Color Card/Globe Ticket

July 2005-December 2005

Print Designer/Prepress

Duties

  • Print design including event tickets, coupons, parking permits, and special give aways
  • File prep for production on press
  • File maintenance
  • Bindery
  • Press checks
  • Client communication

 

Century Martial Arts, Inc.

March 2005-July 2005

Large Format Print Technician/ Designer & Illustrator

Duties

  • Production of large format printing utilizing a MacDermid Colorspan Gator Solvent Inkjet Printer
  • File prep for printing
  • Communication with vendors to order supplies
  • Illustration
  • Logo design Achievements
  • Designed core set of illustrations for Lil’ Dragon, company IP targeting children

 

Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

August 2004-February 2005

Graphic Artist I

Duties

  • Print design including logos, stationery, brochures, and advertisements
  • Photo prep including retouching, special effects and compositing
  • Large format design including banners and trade show booths.
  • File maintenance
  • Vendor communication
  • Bindery
  • Client communication Achievements
  • Redesigned state magazine, “Business Crossroads,” creating template

 

Quik Print of Oklahoma City

August 2003-July 2004

Customer Service Representative

Duties

  • Created Job Estimates for Clients
  • Ran Copies, Performed Bindery
  • Delivered Printed Materials to Clients
  • Prepress Overflow
  • Prepped/Converted Documents for Customers
  • Designed Logos, Brochures, Business Cards

 

S&S Textiles

March 2003-July 2003

Art Department Internship

  • Created original artwork
  • Prepped art files for production
  • Created vellum positives
  • Maintained archives

 

Education

Oklahoma City Community College

Graduated May 2005

AAS Graphic Communications

 

Skills

Operating Systems

Apple Macintosh OS X, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 8, Windows 10, Ubuntu Linux

Programs

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Bridge, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint

Web Design

HTML, CSS

Background

Figurative Illustration, Technical Illustration, Editorial Illustration, Bindery, Prepress Offset Printing, Prepress Silkscreen Printing, Typography, Materials Research