Mike Nickells

Graphic Designer / Project Manager

Kansas City, MO, USA

Work 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