Becki Kozel

Designer + Illustrator

Brooklyn, NY, USA
Designer specializing in brand development, graphic design, and exhibition design. Classically trained as an illustrator with a strong fine arts background and animation skills. Former cheesemonger and fromagier. Outer space and hip-hop enthusiast.

Work Experience

Bad Collective

Co-Founder/Managing Partner/Creative Director

Co-founded this small, women-owned creative firm in 2018. As creative director I have honed a distinct vision of fearless design, bold and colorful creative, and high-touch finishes. We are proud to partner with brands and fellow agencies who share an unconventional and uncompromising vision and voice.
July 2018 - New York, New York, United States

Freelance

Art Director, Designer, Illustrator

Experience in multiple disciplines including art direction, design and illustration for digital and print media, brand development, exhibition and event design, and animation.

Clients include Google, YouTube, Wacom, Thrillist, Kikkoman, Seattle Art Fair, the MTA, Delta, Citibank, MAS event + design, John Wayne Enterprises, Gaylord Hotels, StarChefs, AirSea Packing, Art Market Productions, Overlook Press, My Main Man Pat, Forum Gallery, Eyes Made Quiet, and more.

Recent Highlights:

PIXELBOOK LAUNCH
GOOGLE
Featured illustrator in press materials for the launch of Google's new all-in-one laptop. Produced sixteen illustrations for a video installation at the press launch event and appeared in video interviews and demonstrations of illustrating with the Pixelbook and pen.

COOK YOUR CULTURE
2017 INTERNATIONAL CHEFS CONGRESS
Art directed and illustrated this annual cookbook featuring presenters at the largest culinary and restaurant industry event in the nation.

2017 CREATOR SUMMITS - NEW YORK AND BARCELONA
YOUTUBE
Illustrated portraits of well-known YouTube personalities, displayed on the presenters stage at these conferences.

JOHN WAYNE: THE GENUINE ARTICLE
Designed and produced this traveling exhibition studying the life and legacy of John Wayne through a presentation of photos and artifacts from his estate.
January 2013 - January 2019 New York, United States

StarChefs

Design Director

Heading the design department at this legendary food industry publication, I rebranded, redesigned, and laid out three issues of Rising Stars magazine; and redesigned and produced assets for the accompanying awards ceremony and gala. Since my departure as an in-house employee I have returned to create the visual identity of the 2017 International Chefs Congress, art direct and illustrate the ICC cookbook, and guest design several issues from 2017-2021.
January 2017 - August 2017 New York, United States

Art Market Productions

Senior Graphic/Brand Designer

Developed branding for several annual art fairs including a complete rebranding of Texas Contemporary, Market Art + Design, the Miami Project, and the upcoming Art on Paper fair.Established thorough and intelligent branding systems built to tell the unique story of each fair while complimenting a variety of exhibitor artwork. Created logo, type, color, and geometry systems inspired by the fairs surroundings and content and established unique identities for each fair that compliment each other.

Designed digital and print advertisements for everything from trade publications to national news outlets.

Designed signage, marketing materials, trade show materials,fair guides, floorplan graphics, and location maps for six fairs including Art Market San Francisco and the Seattle Art Fair.

Designed and coded marketing emails for all six fairs.

Developed animated schematics, floorplans, and maps for Miami Project.

Created animated and static ads for social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook.

Designed interactive sellsheets, sales decks, and infographics for 6 art fairs and the upcoming Guest Code tech fair.

Collaborated with developers to update and improve the UI of the Exhibitor Management System and created an “offline” version--an interactive PDF exhibitors could download to their desktops

Worked side-by-side with the show architect to integrate concepts of the fair branding in to the physical design of the fair

Worked with guest design firms Gensler, Olson Kundig, and Kartell to unite their VIP lounge designs with the overall fair aesthetics

Consulted with fair curators on show layout and content to better stay consistent with the show’s theme or vision

Created and maintained strong relationships with vendors and contractors

Traveled with the production team and supervised various production projects including signage construction and install
January 2015 - January 2017 New York, United States

IDR Consultants

Brand Designer

Developed the sleek look and modern, streamlined feel of this technical services firm.

• Worked hands-on with a team of designers and web developers to create a consistent and unique client experience that maintains IDR’s unique aesthetic.
• Created and managed marketing materials & other corporate collateral (owned and managed content)
• Designed and oversaw website development
• Designed logos consistent with company mission
• Completed total rebranding project including a complete overhaul of the IDR aesthetic three months ahead of deadline
August 2013 - May 2015 New York, United States

Education

Fashion Institute Of Technology (FIT)

BFA in Illustration

Magna Cum Laude
August 2011 - May 2015 New York, New York, United States

Languages

English (Native),
Italian (Beginner),
Spanish (Beginner),

Awards

Awwwards

Audience Award - The John R Hamilton Collection

2021

Ad Age

Editor's Pick - Facebook's Happy Haunting

2020

Skills

Acrobat, Acrylic, Adobe Aftereffects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop, AfterEffects, Animation, Art History, Basic Web Development, Branding, Branding System Development, Cartooning , Character Design, Comics, Concept Art, Copy Editing, Digital Photography, Email Design, Environment Design, Excel, Film Photography, Gouache, HTML, Illustration, Illustrator, Indesign, Ink And Brush, Motion Graphics , Oils, Painting, Pen And Ink, Photography, Photorealist Painting, Photoshop, Portraiture, Powerpoint, Print Layout, Procreate, Proofreading, Prop Design, QuarkXpress, Retouching, Sequential Art , Storyboarding, Surface Pattern Design, Typography, Visual Development, Watercolor, Web Layout,