Mike Nickells
Graphic Designer / Project Manager
Kansas City, MO, USAWork Experience
The Kansas City Star
Promo / Special Sections Graphic Designer
At my current position I am responsible for creating advertising for The Kansas City Star newspaper along with projects and events that The Star puts on. I design and art direct the creation of special sections printed in The Kansas City Star for such events as annual festivals like Ink's Middle of the Map Festival, The Country Club Plaza Art Festival, SantaCaliGon Days, along with many more. I also design one time special sections for special anniversaries of Kansas City institutions and new buildings or renovations to major sites, for example I worked with The Kansas City Royals on a section celebrating the Re-Grand Opening of Kauffman Stadium after they completed major renovations to the park. Other responsibilities include installation and booth design for events that The Kansas City Star sponsors such as the Arts@Work Chalkboard installation that was up in Union Station during the Art Exhibition or promotional booths for The Kansas City Star at such events as The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Fan Fest in 2012. This position entails a great variety of creative projects as needed, I have designed everything from highway billboards to scoreboard graphics down to buttons and rubber stamps.
2005
- Present
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Education
University Of Missouri-Kansas City
MA, Studio - Graphic Design
2003
- 2007
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Kansas City Art Institute
Bachelor's Degree, Illustration/Graphic Design
1994
- 1997
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
St. Louis Community College
Associate's Degree, Fine/Studio Arts
1992
- 1994
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Awards
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
2nd Place MAMA Award for Best one time special section
2013
Missouri Ad Manager Award
3rd Place MAMA Award Best one time special section
2013
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
2nd Place MAMA Award for Best newspaper produced insert
2013
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
3rd Place MAMA Award for Best single house ad
2013
Missouri Ad Manager's Award
1st Place Award for Most creative use of spot color
2012
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
3rd Place MAMA Award for Best regularly running section
2012
Missouri's Ad Manager Association
Honorable Mention MAMA Award for Best newspaper produced insert
2012
Missouri Press Association
3rd Place MPA Award for Best newspaper self-promotional campaign
2011
Missouri Press Association
2nd Place MPA Award for Best newspaper self-promtional campaign
2010
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
1st Place MAMA Award for Best classified sedtion
2008
Missouri Ad Manager's Association
3rd Place MAMA Award for Best tabloid section
2008