Michele Italiano Perla
www.linkedin.com/in/micheleperla
West Boylston, MA, USAWork Experience
Italiano Perla Design
Graphic Designer
• Specialized in book, editorial, collateral, social media and website design, delivering successful design projects to clients including Reader’s Digest, Hyperion Books, Disney, Anna Maria College and Clark University.
• Nurtured and maintained internal and external client relationships.
• Executed the concepts, designs and production of print, collateral, advertising, packaging, social media, identity systems and brand development for clients in the publishing, performance, non-profit and higher education industries.
• Produced exceptional quality work for clients on a tight budget and a tight deadline.
• Clients include: Anna Maria College Admissions Department, Chandler House Press, Ballet Arts Worcester, Disney Books by Mail, Hyperion Books, Reader's Digest Trade, Tatnuck Bookseller, Weekly Reader Corporation, and Western Publishing.
• Nurtured and maintained internal and external client relationships.
• Executed the concepts, designs and production of print, collateral, advertising, packaging, social media, identity systems and brand development for clients in the publishing, performance, non-profit and higher education industries.
• Produced exceptional quality work for clients on a tight budget and a tight deadline.
• Clients include: Anna Maria College Admissions Department, Chandler House Press, Ballet Arts Worcester, Disney Books by Mail, Hyperion Books, Reader's Digest Trade, Tatnuck Bookseller, Weekly Reader Corporation, and Western Publishing.
1998
- Present
Massachusetts, United States
Assumption College
Visting Professor
Design for the Web
Graphic Design Internship Course
Typography
Introduction to Graphic Design
Graphic Design Internship Course
Typography
Introduction to Graphic Design
August 2013
- Present
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Weekly Reader
Group Art Director
• Responsible for new product development and the Children’s Book Clubs, including products in testing and early launch stages.
• Worked closely with product managers to ensure on-target messaging and creative approaches consistent with product objectives.
• Managed the design staff, focusing on the need for strong interpersonal team building both internally and with outside vendor resources.
• Led, managed, and coached the art department staff to create innovative design strategies.
• Supervised multiple project details including design, quality control, schedules and budgets.
• Served on the portfolio design review committee to evaluate and recommend candidates for design positions.
• Worked closely with product managers to ensure on-target messaging and creative approaches consistent with product objectives.
• Managed the design staff, focusing on the need for strong interpersonal team building both internally and with outside vendor resources.
• Led, managed, and coached the art department staff to create innovative design strategies.
• Supervised multiple project details including design, quality control, schedules and budgets.
• Served on the portfolio design review committee to evaluate and recommend candidates for design positions.
Middletown, Connecticut, United States
Reader Digest Publishing
Creative Director Trade Publishing
• Reporting to the Editorial Director, delivered, commissioned and directed the design details of book development.
• Worked with editorial team to established clearly defined design direction, marketing criteria.
• Managed outside (sometimes International) creative talent for book development, insuring the creative process was on-target and meeting the established marketing goals.
• Directed multiple project details including quality control, schedules, costs and design.
• Developed internal systems to establish procedures to track and monitor the flow and approval stages of editorial, design and production. At any given time, 10-20 books were in production and these organizational and production systems were the key to meeting schedules and budgets.
• Worked with editorial team to established clearly defined design direction, marketing criteria.
• Managed outside (sometimes International) creative talent for book development, insuring the creative process was on-target and meeting the established marketing goals.
• Directed multiple project details including quality control, schedules, costs and design.
• Developed internal systems to establish procedures to track and monitor the flow and approval stages of editorial, design and production. At any given time, 10-20 books were in production and these organizational and production systems were the key to meeting schedules and budgets.
New York, New York, United States
Education
Rochester Institute Of Technology
MFA, Graphic Design
Rochester, New York, United States
College Of The Holy Cross
BA, Visual Arts
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Rhode Island School Of Design (RISD)
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Summary
• Skilled Freelance Art Director with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design.
• Creative and intelligent problem solver with consistent success managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Expert organizer with the keen ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and employ problem-solving skills to meet goals and objectives.
• Effective and creative project leader with the ability to be imaginative, organized and precise with the execution.
• Passionate educator of graphic design in higher education.
• Specialized creator in edutainment, product development, and branding in the publishing industry for Reader’s Digest and Weekly Reader Corporation. Worked as Creative Director of Book Development at Reader’s Digest Trade.
• Reliable leader, with a strong work ethic, integrity and dedicated to working hard to complete the job.
Specialties:• Art Direction
• Project management
• Graphic Design
• Book and editorial design
• Higher Education
• Non Profit fund-raising, management and leader
• Time Management
• Event planning
• Proficient in Quark, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
• Solid understanding of photography, illustration, print process and typography
• Skilled in maintaining Social Media marketing vehicles
• Budget Management and Development
• Creative and intelligent problem solver with consistent success managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Expert organizer with the keen ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and employ problem-solving skills to meet goals and objectives.
• Effective and creative project leader with the ability to be imaginative, organized and precise with the execution.
• Passionate educator of graphic design in higher education.
• Specialized creator in edutainment, product development, and branding in the publishing industry for Reader’s Digest and Weekly Reader Corporation. Worked as Creative Director of Book Development at Reader’s Digest Trade.
• Reliable leader, with a strong work ethic, integrity and dedicated to working hard to complete the job.
Specialties:• Art Direction
• Project management
• Graphic Design
• Book and editorial design
• Higher Education
• Non Profit fund-raising, management and leader
• Time Management
• Event planning
• Proficient in Quark, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator
• Solid understanding of photography, illustration, print process and typography
• Skilled in maintaining Social Media marketing vehicles
• Budget Management and Development