Matt Mitchell - Freelance Graphic Designer
817.991.6052
Experience:
30 years experience in the Graphic Arts Industry
Biography:
At a young age I was always doodling and drawing. In school, art was my most important subject, but I always complemented it with math, knowing that art and design is not only creativity, but mathematical as well.
At 15 I began training in the Graphic Arts by attending a vocational school outside of my high school curriculum. During the two year course, I trained in art design, typesetting, photography and darkroom, pre-press stripping and platemaking, press operation, and bindery and finishing procedures.
After graduation I worked for a printing company operating a printing press. As the years went on I continued to operate various priting presses and also kept up to date with the latest pre-press operations. Around the age of 25, desktop computers had become a normal part of the printing process. I received my first computer, a Mac IIci, as a gift and began learning everything I could about computers and specifically design software.
After several years of training myself at home I was finally able to get a position as a typesetter/designer. The printing company I was employed at grew rapidly, always implementing the latest technology. Later I would be the lead pre-press postition where I continued to work for some time. I believed that this would be my long term career but later evolved into a management position.
I managed a printing company that grew to 100+ employees overseeing the day to day department operations, customer interactions, computer systems, etc., but I always stayed up to date with the latest design software available. After several years, and perhaps because I was a bit burned out with management duties, I began freelance designing and have never looked back.
With my extensive knowledge of the printing industry I am able to design and meet all printing requirements. And, because of my pre-press knowledge I am often also called upon to "fix" files not created by me to meet those requirements.
Over the years I have also designed and launched many websites. Many of the websites I design are not specifically for marketing purposes but also perform many functions needed in todays market such as ecommerce. I currently host an estimated 45 sites which I have also designed. Please see my websites section for samples.
I provide freelance graphic design services for any/all types of media. My clients are able to utilize my skills for anything they may need at any level of their business progression. Beginning with branding and logo design I then provide stationary, print publications, website, textiles…anything and everything design related.
Thank you for taking the time to read my bio and please contact me should you have any questions. Below is a list of software, etc., that I am proficient in and please keep in mind that I have used many of these programs from their first development or version. This list is not complete but highlights the most used. If you don't see something listed, just ask, I have probably utilized it.
Software Proficiency:
Adobe Software:
• InDesign
• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• Acrobat Professional
Micorsoft
• Excel
• Word
• Publisher
• Power Point
Quark XPress
Corel Draw
Free Hand
Web/Internet
• HTML
• CSS
• DNN (DotNetNuke)