I am Colin D. Pritchard

Art Director + Designer + Web Developer

About me

Colin D. Pritchard

I’m a creative thinker that solves communication problems using innovative design + branding. For the past 22 years, I’ve created hundreds of designs for print, web, packaging, and more.

I’ve worked for both design agencies and corporations as well as owned my own design firm.

Industries I've done work for include:

Publishing
Manufacturing & Industrial
Music & Entertainment
Food Service & Restaurant
Real Estate
Technology
Printing
Automotive
B2B & B2C
Retail

Portfolio

Kuriyama Fire Products website

Viva Vintage website

Define True Love website

Triangle Dies & Supplies website

Fatal Funnel Films website

Hofmann Fluid Power website

Kuriyama of America website

Military Hire website

Ackland Art Museum website

Five Star Audio Visual website

Blue Sky Church website

Autism Society Illinois website

Ideal website

Saffron Technology website

Kuriyama brochure

Cadillac of Naperville ad

Portillo’s ad

Carsten’s ad

Kuriyama product catalog

LBP Manufacturing product catalog

AGA Digital corporate collateral

LBP Manufacturing brochure design

Triangle Dies & Supplies brochure design

Tyndale House brochure

Fatal Funnel Films corporate collateral

LBP Manufacturing corporate collateral

Triangle Dies & Supplies catalog design

Portillo’s bilingual flyers

KKC Tech logo

Magic Maid logo

Baby Pea Records logo

Aurora Dental Group logo

A New January logo

Gjovik GMC logo

Fatal Funnel Films logo

LBP Manufacturing logo

WriteBrain Media logo

Career Highlights

2014–Current

Art Director -
Cygnet Midwest

Work as art director, design manager, designer (print, web, and UI/UX), and front-end developer. Manage multiple web, identity, and print projects for dozens of clients, with demanding turnarounds. Lead a team of both on-site and off-site designers, by managing workflows, providing art direction, and mentoring. Work with multiple developers for web and app development. Interface with client teams daily to complete projects and brainstorm successful solutions.

Increased sales leads by redesigning and recoding company website, which also improved responsive functionality and speed.
Developed new revenue stream through creation & management of client web hosting solution. Oversee dozens of client sites, DNS settings, databases, and web application installations.
Improved team performance by advocating for adoption of project management platform.

2012–2014

Art Director -
Stevens & Tate

Worked as art director, designer (print and web), and front-end developer. Managed multiple print, identity, and web projects for several clients, with short timelines and tight budgets. Managed a team of off- site freelancers through project life cycles. Worked closely with account executives, copywriters, and web department to complete projects successfully.

Interfaced daily with print vendors, fulfillment houses, videographers and other creative vendors for pricing and completion of projects.
Helped launch new line of consumer appliances with creation of product identity.
Recoded company website into modern web standards using HTML5 and CSS3.

2011-2012

Web Designer -
Sun-Times Media Group

Managed web development project workflow and Jira system for web department. Provided guidance for developers on best practice UI design and front-end coding. Worked closely with other developers to launch new web site features on multiple web sites.

Successfully redesigned and redeveloped Monster co-branded pages for 40 publication web sites.
Redesigned Homes/Real Estate web site.
Troubleshot and solved Yahoo BOSS v2 bug on RogerEbert.com

2010-2011

Lead Marketing Creative -
Sun-Times Media Group

Managed creative project workflow for marketing department as well as two other designers. Provided art direction, graphic design, copy writing, and web design for many projects as well as major company initiatives. Responsible for proofing and submitting advertising for daily and weekly publications.

Reorganized department's workflow and processes in order to increase efficiency and cut down on errors.
Refreshed identity of beleaguered auto portal, ToDrive.com, by redesigning brand, creating new print and web advertising campaign as well as redesigning web site.
Spearheaded creation of completely new classified filler ads for Sun-Times Media network of 40 publications.
Redesigned and streamlined online classified ads wizard for all publications that allowed customers to easily purchase print and online classified ads.

2006-2010

Principal & Creative Director -
Rocket No. 9, LLC

Oversaw all details of the business as owner and primary designer.

Completed and managed projects from conception to launch.
Managed sales, client contact, subcontractors, developers, and more on a daily basis.
Worked on web design and development, print design, and illustration, overseeing all aspects of projects.
Designed and coded many web sites for a wide range of clients.

2004-2006

Lead Graphic Designer -
LBP Manufacturing, Inc.

Worked as graphic designer, art director, and department co-manager.

Spearheaded creation of corporate style guide that detailed logo usage, tagline usage, color palette, typography, etc.
Created new concepts for marketing and branding initiatives. Carried these across multiple mediums and usages to help make marketing and branding a success.
Brought new life into product lines by reinvigorating visual identities. Created new logos and supporting identities for a dozen product lines.
Relaunched stalled product sellsheets with a cohesive family redesign that bolstered company’s complete product line. Redesigned product catalog into an easier to use and easier to read version which complemented the corporate identity.
Established departmental guidelines and rules for server usage, file set-up, and workflow. Guided both new and seasoned designers on proper file set-up and new workflow.
Managed other designers, assigning work, scheduling time, and providing art direction.

Education & Awards

2013

Leadership Training For Managers

Dale Carnegie Chicago

1999

BFA, double major in Visual Communication & Illustration

Northern Illinois University

1991