CV
View a selection of my graphic design work at: www.behance.net/kelseykimmel
Raised on Whidbey Island, WA
Lives in Bellingham, WA
Passionate, dynamic, energetic.
Enlivens environments & inspires action.
Receptive, inquisitive, versatile.
Completes tasks with care & integrity.
EXPERIENCE
Heavy Light Works / Langley, WA
Production Artist (April 2021 - January 2022)
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Build & maintain website with Squarespace: www.heavylightworks.com
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Collaborate with owner & Rysing Tide to create & define Heavy Light Works identity, brand voice & marketing strategy: integrate content & verbiage into every site page to reflect brand
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Ideate strategies & initiate projects to grow business: incorporate rentals to increase sales, conceptualize merchandise with Adobe Photoshop & edit 75+ photos & content to expand website
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Catalogue neon artwork, develop shipping strategy & itemize components with Google Sheets
Glass Tube Bender (April 2021 - January 2022)
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Conceptualize & design 5+ bending templates by hand & with Adobe Illustrator: measure, cut & mark glass to accurately & effectively bend to pattern
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Shape, bend & join glass with burners & hand torch: fuse electrodes & 5mm tubing to piece for processing
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Operate crossfires & manifold: with guidance, monitor gauges & temperature to ensure successful bombarding & processing
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Design, build & assemble neon housing with various materials, methods & tools
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Reviewed professional publications to maintain professional & technical knowledge
Heavy Metal Works LLC / Langley, WA
Fabricator (April 2021 – December 2021)
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Custom fabricated 10+ commercial/residential structural & cosmetic steel projects: used power & hand tools to cut & prep metal, welded components in shop & on site
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Comprehended 2D & 3D models: used spatial reasoning, accurately calculated & measured dimensions for layout & construction
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Documented & communicated process to clients & colleagues
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Adhered to safety practices
Painter / Langley, WA
(April 2019 - Present)
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Work independently as a freelancer: project manage & communicate directly with 6+ clients
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Inspect & evaluate surfaces/area to estimate time frame: meet painting goals within/under estimation
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Employ color theory: collaborate with & guide clients to choose color that aligns with & meets their vision
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Determine medium & technique for best results
Whidbey Island Painting Inc / Freeland, WA
Painter (February 2018 – March 2019)
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Collaborated with 20+ home/business owners to honor & meet their vision
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Prepped surfaces for painting: removed fixtures/obstructions, cleaned surfaces, ensured masking thorough & precise
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Repaired/drywalled damages & defects
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Maintained tidy workspace for methodical & efficient process
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Painted with keen & discerning attention: used rollers, brushes & sprays to apply paint
Star Store / Langley, WA
Mercantile Creative Director (April 2016 – January 2022)
Assistant Manager (April 2017 – January 2022)
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Created/designed large scale props/displays, two still featured today
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Merchandised clothing & dry goods to embody Star Store brand: contributed to team effort to exceed YTD sales, consecutively
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Collaborated with managers to select, orient, train, counsel & monitor 10+ rotating employees
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Established positive rapport with potential and actual customers: engaged with customers to market merchandise & adapted communication strategies to best suit individual needs
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Composed policy & procedure guide to maintain master order forms used for buying & inventory: updated digital masters & conducted inventory to replenish merchandise
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Reviewed professional publications to maintain professional & technical knowledge
Roots Landscaping and Restoration LLC / Langley, WA
Administrative Assistant (October 2018 – October 2020)
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Built & maintained website with Squarespace: www.rootslandscapingandrestoration.com
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Designed 2019 holiday card & 3 bluff revegetation plans with Adobe Photoshop
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Initiated & established TSheets time tracking software to seamlessly integrate clocked hours to payroll & invoices, still used today
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Coordinated with accountant for 10+ active/rotating jobs: created & prepared invoices & estimates, categorized expenses, documented receipts, processed payroll, monitored & automated cash flow transactions with Quickbooks Online
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Streamlined communication between clients, employees & employer: structured systems for team collaboration & job efficiency
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Collected & synthesized data/notes from client consultations: anticipated project requirements & translated onto shared digital platform for estimates & reference
Ecological Restorationist (October 2018 – October 2020)
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Trained new climbers: practiced rope safety procedures
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Evaluated/assessed slope character prior to restoration: noted geographic location, terrain/soil composition, indicator species, groundwater, erosion
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Bio-structural erosion control: removed invasives, installed geo-technical materials to prevent erosion, revegetated with natives to fortify/strengthen critical areas
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Comprehended bio-structural engineering principles & applied on site, as needed
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Engaged with professional resources & contemporaries regarding shoreline management & health
Landscaper (October 2018 – October 2020)
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Created, sculpted, planted & installed rain gardens, water systems & other landscapes to enhance beauty to a given setting
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Developed native & ornamental plant vocabulary for planning, design & client communication
Claremont Graduate University Communications Office / Claremont, CA
Graphic Design Assistant (2011-2013)
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Upheld brand standards across all projects & revamped Brand Standards Manual
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Designed fliers & enhanced templates to publicize Graduate Student Council (GSC) meetings/events
University of Redlands Office of Marketing & Strategic Communications / Redlands CA
Contract Graphic Designer (2012-2014)
Creative Team Graphic Design Intern (Summer 2011)
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Maintained brand standards across all projects & departments: attended press-checks to ensure print quality
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Sustained digital asset library of 14,000+ images
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Designed print collateral & presented concepts/designs to in-house clients: booklets, brochures, posters, invitation packages
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Provided graphics for web & social media campaigns
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Illustrated bulldog mascot used on promotional items
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Drafted conceptual sketches for alumni magazine cover shoots
FREELANCE
Foothill: a journal of poetry / Claremont, CA
Volunteer Design Editor (2011-2017)
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Designed 7 issues, Foothill Vol.2 No.1 - Foothill Vol.6 No.1: compiled poems, revised content & layout, prepared files for print & web: arts.cgu.edu/foothill-journal/
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Collaborated with PhD English students & facilitated communication between artists & editors
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
Pomona College / Claremont, CA
Teaching Assistant, Advanced Topics in Contemporary Art (Fall 2012)
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Fostered critical thinking/experimentation
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Counseled students: guided ideation, process & critique
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Presented powerpoint lectures on contemporary artists
EDUCATION
Claremont Graduate University / Claremont, CA
- MFA Studio Art (2013)
University of Redlands / Redlands, CA
- BA Studio Art emphasis Graphic Design (2011)
SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS/HONORS
American Advertising Federation Silver Award / Redlands, CA
- Alumni Travel Brochure (2013)
Foothill: a journal of poetry / Claremont, CA
- Featured Cover Artist (Spring 2013)
The Claremont Journal of Religion / Claremont, CA
- Featured Cover Artist (Spring 2013)
Claremont Graduate University / Claremont, CA
- Claremont Graduate University Art Fellowship (2012)
SKILLS
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Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Bridge, Lightroom, After Effects (beginner), Premiere (beginner)
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Operational & safety knowledge of a variety of metal, glass & woodworking power tools, machinery & equipment
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Quickbooks Online
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TSheets Time Tracking Software
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Microsoft Office
TRAVEL
December 2007 – January 2020
Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan
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Budgeted, planned & executed two, 3-week travel plans independently
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Swiftly adapted to fast-changing environments/cultures
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Interacted/negotiated with people across cultural & language boundaries
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Enhanced problem-solving skills as a solo, female traveler in completely new environments
Japan
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Immersed in Japanese culture & art through a school sponsored event with WWU Art Department
Galapagos Islands / Ecuador
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Taught English to Galapagueños students
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Explored ecosystem: impart importance of conservation/sustainability for environment’s lasting health