Christopher Howell
Creative Director / Designer
Clarksburg, MD, USA
301-639-0739
be.net/ChristopherHowell
I see my position as a career and a passion, not as just another paycheck. I'm a 35 year old web/print designer located in frederick, MD with 14+ years of experience.
Although I'm based in Clarksburg I work with people from all over the world. I specialize in Website Development and Graphic Design and the software/hardware essential in this field. In addition to a solid knowledge of design techniques, I also possess expertise in printing procedures and cutting-edge application technologies. My superior design skill, creative ability, vast printing knowledge and background of software applications and techniques have led to a number of successful pieces.
Although I'm based in Clarksburg I work with people from all over the world. I specialize in Website Development and Graphic Design and the software/hardware essential in this field. In addition to a solid knowledge of design techniques, I also possess expertise in printing procedures and cutting-edge application technologies. My superior design skill, creative ability, vast printing knowledge and background of software applications and techniques have led to a number of successful pieces.
Work Experience
ACS Creative, Inc.
Creative Director / Designer
Oversee and manage the design execution for all of the major accounts at ACS Creative Maryland. As a leader in the creative environment, I foster open collaboration among ACS Creative’s talented design team to produce the best products for our clients. My determination to learn and succeed is evident in my work and ability to inspire ACS talent. As a designer/developer myself, I'm drawn toward a techy-creative style. When it comes to my work, I consider myself an expert at hand-coded HTML, CSS and Javascript, as well as a genius at concept design.
I've worked in both the agency environment and as an in-house designer in the corporate world where I've honed my skills assisting clients in creating a wide variety of sales collateral, packaging and marketing materials for both commercial sector and government agencies. My expertise in both print and multimedia graphic design has allowed me to produce tightly integrated and creative design solutions for both web and print.
My skills include:
Responsive HTML and CSS based, semantically-correct, website design and development. Javascript/JQuery development. Offset and Digital Print design and production. Trade-show design, production and implementation. New looks for packaging, branding, brochures, and website. Email Marketing Campaign design and implementation. E-commerce design, planning, implementation and deployment. Branding and Logo development. Online PPC marketing planning and implementation. Adaptive website design for mobile and tablet platforms. Php, ASP.NET and Database driven website development.
I've worked in both the agency environment and as an in-house designer in the corporate world where I've honed my skills assisting clients in creating a wide variety of sales collateral, packaging and marketing materials for both commercial sector and government agencies. My expertise in both print and multimedia graphic design has allowed me to produce tightly integrated and creative design solutions for both web and print.
My skills include:
Responsive HTML and CSS based, semantically-correct, website design and development. Javascript/JQuery development. Offset and Digital Print design and production. Trade-show design, production and implementation. New looks for packaging, branding, brochures, and website. Email Marketing Campaign design and implementation. E-commerce design, planning, implementation and deployment. Branding and Logo development. Online PPC marketing planning and implementation. Adaptive website design for mobile and tablet platforms. Php, ASP.NET and Database driven website development.
December 2006
- Present
Germantown, Maryland, United States
Automated Precision Inc.
Marketing Director / Designer
New looks for packaging, branding, brochures, and website. Marketing Campaigns directed at leading Engineering companies. Press Releases to increase Internet presence for search engine ranking. Marketing timelines, Lead Handling abilities and Ad tracking. Flash and Database driven website design.
December 2005
- December 2006
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Z-Tech Corporation
Senior Graphic Designer
Design concepts for publications, brochures and conference materials. Work primarily with QuarkXPress, Creative Suite and Macromedia products. Handle all creative material that comes into company including in-house material. Work closely with clients to develop new and creative ideas for design. Enhanced the work environment by aiding in print production.
February 2004
- December 2005
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Rockville Printing And Graphics
Graphic Designer
Produced artwork, logos, brochures, promotional and corporate material. Work daily with QuarkXPress and all Adobe software. Maintain excellent relationship with all Clients and Co-Workers. Engage in design, layout and production of graphic materials, maintain, update and manipulate graphic materials, recreate and reproduce graphic materials, color correct materials in preparation for the printing process, maintain hardware and software for graphic designing and prepress operations, communicate with clients to ensure accurate graphic and print production. Job duties require use of the following: QuarkXpress, Adobe Creative Suite 2 (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat Professional), Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Office, Extensis Suitcase, Mac and PC platforms.
November 2002
- February 2004
Rockville, Maryland, United States
Signature Book Printing
Graphic Designer
Pre-press, post-press, rip, trapping and platemaking techniques. Work closely with Clients to ensure a clean professional product . Developed new procedures for handling client files and workflows.
September 2001
- November 2002
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
ESchool News
Graphic Designer
Monthly newsletters, marketing and conference brochures and eSchool Newspaper. Worked daily with all Adobe applications, QuarkXPress and PDF utilities.
December 2000
- September 2001
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Aspen Publishers (Wolters Kluwer)
Marketing Analyst/Designer
Maintained Client/Product database (Vista Database). Marketing graphics for book covers, contents and posters.
December 1998
- December 2000
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Education
Frederick Community College
Frederick Community College, Associates, Business Administration
July 1995
- July 1998
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Montgomery College
Montgomery College, Specialized, Print Design
February 1997
- June 1998
Germantown, Maryland, United States
I-Tech
I-Tech, CompTIA A+ certification, A+ certification
The A+ certification demonstrates competency as a computer technician. CompTIA A+ certification is a vendor neutral certification. It requires two tests to be passed: the A+ Essentials exam and a choice of one of three elective exams. CompTIA is vendor neutral but leans towards Microsoft operating systems, although some Apple questions do appear on newer exams.
October 1998
- June 1999
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Skills
Adobe,
Adobe Acrobat,
Adobe Photoshop,
Advertising,
Brand Management,
Brochures,
Coda,
Computer Hardware,
Creative Suite,
CSS,
Design,
Design Software,
Final Cut Studio,
Flash,
Fonts,
Graphic Design,
HTML,
Illustrator,
Indesign,
Jquery,
Logo Design,
Macintosh,
Marketing,
Microsoft Office,
Microsoft Publisher,
Newsletters,
Packaging,
PC Platform,
Pdf,
Posters,
Pre-press,
Print Production,
Publicity,
Quark Xpress,
SDK,
SEO,
Software ,
Transmit,
Typography,
Web Design,
Web Development,
XHTML,
Recommendations
“Chris is an exceptional designer and project manager. He has been great to work with on all phases of development. Chris can think and work abstractly and at a high level, without losing sight of critical details that make a difference.”
David Buonomo, President, Blue Atlas Interactive
“Christopher is a very creative graphic/web designer. He was very client focused on what we wanted and delivered great work that exceeded our expectations. I strongly recommend Chris and would definitely use his services again for future work.”
Ben Skyles, ProSource360
“Chris and ACS Creative designed our great, new web site. We loved the results and have received so many compliments! Chris is wonderful to work with. I highly recommend Chris and ACS Creative.”
Sherri Ledner , Cost Reduction Analysts
“By far Chris has been and continues to be one of the best service providers I have worked with. From the beginning of our business relationship with Chris, his work has been outstanding. He is always reliable and goes out of his way to work with us on short deadlines and last minute projects. I have complete faith in him to the point that I am usually able to just say, "just do your magic" and he does, without fail. With all that we have going on right now, it's a breath of fresh air that we have someone like Chris on our side that we can rely on 100% to always provide superb and timely services.”
Jennifer Svensson, Owner, VertiGO Solutions, VertiGO Recover, Yippity
“For the past 2-3 years Chris has handled multiple projects for us in graphic design and web design. From a full rebranding of the company in 2008 to the development of a new website, he's done wonders in providing a fresh look and created a fluency in our company brand and promotion. He has an ability to take our ideas and consistently develop a finish product that conveys those ideas.”
Kristina Terry, South River Restoration
“Chris is a talented graphic designer who knows CSS well. He is a good listener and knows how to translate client concepts into visual design.”
Brook J. Gillespie, Software Architect, Personal Computer Express, Inc.
“Chris is a quality professional. A pleasure to work with. Understood our needs, and delivered.” John Bedker, Loudoun Consulting
“Chris produced excellent work while helping to move the project away from inherent flaws that may interfere with the final goals, he has been an asset to the project.” January 6, 2010
Margaret Murphy, SAMHSA, WDRC
“Chris did a great job redesigning our web site. the work speaks for itself: www.hsrl.org
He was very attentive to the specifics of our field and was able to incorporate our materials in a creative and effective fashion.”
Serge Rousselle, SAMHSA, WDRC
“Chris has a real 'eye' and understanding for what clients want, even when they don't! He is extrememly easy to work with and we deeply value our relationship with him. Not all web projects are created equally, but we can always count on a project with Chris to succeed.”
Samantha Isom, Willetts Systems
“Christopher was a tremendous asset to getting our website redesigned and up and running.”
Mark Gandee
“Chris did a great job designing my website. The process was completely new for me and Chris took the time to explain how everything would come together. He took an idea from concept to reality and made it very easy and worry-free.”
Kathleen O'Connor
“Chris worked as the lead graphic designer supporting the project that I managed for the Administration for Children and Families. This project supported over 40 conferences, workshops and outreach activities per year, all of which required a graphic theme to support the specific messages of the individual activity but one that tied into the central theme of the program within the agency. The design and concepts that Chris developed were innovative, eye catching and delivered the message! Chris was able to develop concepts with very little input from the client and in very short deadline. I have missed working with him! I can't recommend him highly enough!”
Michele Dillon, Project Director, Z-Tech Corporation
David Buonomo, President, Blue Atlas Interactive
“Christopher is a very creative graphic/web designer. He was very client focused on what we wanted and delivered great work that exceeded our expectations. I strongly recommend Chris and would definitely use his services again for future work.”
Ben Skyles, ProSource360
“Chris and ACS Creative designed our great, new web site. We loved the results and have received so many compliments! Chris is wonderful to work with. I highly recommend Chris and ACS Creative.”
Sherri Ledner , Cost Reduction Analysts
“By far Chris has been and continues to be one of the best service providers I have worked with. From the beginning of our business relationship with Chris, his work has been outstanding. He is always reliable and goes out of his way to work with us on short deadlines and last minute projects. I have complete faith in him to the point that I am usually able to just say, "just do your magic" and he does, without fail. With all that we have going on right now, it's a breath of fresh air that we have someone like Chris on our side that we can rely on 100% to always provide superb and timely services.”
Jennifer Svensson, Owner, VertiGO Solutions, VertiGO Recover, Yippity
“For the past 2-3 years Chris has handled multiple projects for us in graphic design and web design. From a full rebranding of the company in 2008 to the development of a new website, he's done wonders in providing a fresh look and created a fluency in our company brand and promotion. He has an ability to take our ideas and consistently develop a finish product that conveys those ideas.”
Kristina Terry, South River Restoration
“Chris is a talented graphic designer who knows CSS well. He is a good listener and knows how to translate client concepts into visual design.”
Brook J. Gillespie, Software Architect, Personal Computer Express, Inc.
“Chris is a quality professional. A pleasure to work with. Understood our needs, and delivered.” John Bedker, Loudoun Consulting
“Chris produced excellent work while helping to move the project away from inherent flaws that may interfere with the final goals, he has been an asset to the project.” January 6, 2010
Margaret Murphy, SAMHSA, WDRC
“Chris did a great job redesigning our web site. the work speaks for itself: www.hsrl.org
He was very attentive to the specifics of our field and was able to incorporate our materials in a creative and effective fashion.”
Serge Rousselle, SAMHSA, WDRC
“Chris has a real 'eye' and understanding for what clients want, even when they don't! He is extrememly easy to work with and we deeply value our relationship with him. Not all web projects are created equally, but we can always count on a project with Chris to succeed.”
Samantha Isom, Willetts Systems
“Christopher was a tremendous asset to getting our website redesigned and up and running.”
Mark Gandee
“Chris did a great job designing my website. The process was completely new for me and Chris took the time to explain how everything would come together. He took an idea from concept to reality and made it very easy and worry-free.”
Kathleen O'Connor
“Chris worked as the lead graphic designer supporting the project that I managed for the Administration for Children and Families. This project supported over 40 conferences, workshops and outreach activities per year, all of which required a graphic theme to support the specific messages of the individual activity but one that tied into the central theme of the program within the agency. The design and concepts that Chris developed were innovative, eye catching and delivered the message! Chris was able to develop concepts with very little input from the client and in very short deadline. I have missed working with him! I can't recommend him highly enough!”
Michele Dillon, Project Director, Z-Tech Corporation