Charles "Blake" McWhirter
Art Director | Interactive Designer | Motion Designer
Studio City, CA, USA
818.642.0441
www.iblakestudio.com
To date, my professional role includes creating interactive content, digital marketing, and UI/UX innovation. Throughout my career, I have brought the disciplines of broadcast design and interactive strategies to every project. Here are a few highlights:
• Constant vigilance to consumer trends, and new creative agendas
• Proficient in-depth knowledge of technology and innovation
• Documentation and communication meaningful to a team
• Creative approach to concept and design presentations
• User-centric design principles and testing
Hopefully, we can have a conversation about future interactive projects. I am always looking for new and creative approaches to digital media. My desire is to engage in team-building with a productive and informed creative process. Thank you for taking the time to review my resume and portfolio.
I am sure we can create meaningful and profitable products together.
Thank you for your consideration,
Blake McWhirter
PORTFOLIO LINKS
• http://www.iblakestudio.com
• http://www.cargocollective.com/studioblake
• http://www.behance.net/studioblake
SOCIAL LINKS
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/blakemcwhirter
• http://www.youtube.com/user/studioblake
• https://twitter.com/studioblake
• Constant vigilance to consumer trends, and new creative agendas
• Proficient in-depth knowledge of technology and innovation
• Documentation and communication meaningful to a team
• Creative approach to concept and design presentations
• User-centric design principles and testing
Hopefully, we can have a conversation about future interactive projects. I am always looking for new and creative approaches to digital media. My desire is to engage in team-building with a productive and informed creative process. Thank you for taking the time to review my resume and portfolio.
I am sure we can create meaningful and profitable products together.
Thank you for your consideration,
Blake McWhirter
PORTFOLIO LINKS
• http://www.iblakestudio.com
• http://www.cargocollective.com/studioblake
• http://www.behance.net/studioblake
SOCIAL LINKS
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/blakemcwhirter
• http://www.youtube.com/user/studioblake
• https://twitter.com/studioblake
Work Experience
Walt Disney Studios
Senior Visual Designer
UX Design, Visual Design and Art Direction for e-commerce sites direct to consumer transactional platforms. Created design documentation and production design, with style guides and production assets. Also integrated collaborative design tools for the department.
February 2016
- September 2016
Glendale, California, United States
Studioblake
Creative Director
Creative freelance consultancy, with a focus on entertainment and content design.
January 2000
- Present
Studio City, California, United States
Walt Disney
Production Designer
Multi-disciplined UI/UX Design and Visual Design. Creating concept presentations and articulation of new interactive experiences. Providing creative support for multiple development teams.
March 2015
- August 2015
California, United States
Twistory Entertainment Studios
Art Director
Choreographing storytelling with technology. Producing the executive messaging and product presentation. Articulating over-arching principles across multiple design concepts and productions. UI/UX design and documentation standards applied across studio, as well as business tool development and standards. Workflows, Wireframes, and Rapid Prototypes are provided in a more timely and organized manner, with creative requirements defined. “Mobile First” design principles applied to applications and websites.
• Branded Merchandise and Media
• Brand Interaction and Design Guidelines
• Game Design and UI/UX Design
• Studio and Product Identity
Projects:
Belle’s War: Mobile Game Design, UI/UX Documentation
Pinwheels: Mobile Game Design, UI/UX Creation and Documentation, Concept Workflows
Shinjuku Pulse: Mobile Game Design, Concept and Game Play Workflows
Ouch! Couch: Promotional Materials and Merchandise Concepts
• Branded Merchandise and Media
• Brand Interaction and Design Guidelines
• Game Design and UI/UX Design
• Studio and Product Identity
Projects:
Belle’s War: Mobile Game Design, UI/UX Documentation
Pinwheels: Mobile Game Design, UI/UX Creation and Documentation, Concept Workflows
Shinjuku Pulse: Mobile Game Design, Concept and Game Play Workflows
Ouch! Couch: Promotional Materials and Merchandise Concepts
February 2014
- December 2014
Santa Monica, California, United States
Technicolor
Senior Visual Designer
Multifaceted design management and creative lead to branding efforts and product design. Extremely diverse design disciplines implemented to control company re-branding efforts across multiple platforms. Promoted collaboration across departments and multiple countries with overall branding effort. Created and executed design process to accommodate “Agile” software development. Instituted the “toolkit” method of design with great success.
Interface design for web, desktop, television, mobile, and tablets.
• Brand application to user interface design
• Design research and style guides
• Interface design and production
• “Tool-kit” method for “Agile” developers and designers
• Rapid prototyping
Projects:
Branding Guidelines
Interface Style Guides
User-Centric Experience Design
Set Top Box UI
iPad and iPhone Application UI
Web and Mobile Application UI
The King's Speech: iPad Application
M-GO: Branding and UI Design
Technicolor
6040 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Interface design for web, desktop, television, mobile, and tablets.
• Brand application to user interface design
• Design research and style guides
• Interface design and production
• “Tool-kit” method for “Agile” developers and designers
• Rapid prototyping
Projects:
Branding Guidelines
Interface Style Guides
User-Centric Experience Design
Set Top Box UI
iPad and iPhone Application UI
Web and Mobile Application UI
The King's Speech: iPad Application
M-GO: Branding and UI Design
Technicolor
6040 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
December 2009
- July 2013
Burbank, California, United States
Disney Consumer Products
Interactive Design | Art Direction
Created a strategy with brand managers and designers to implement online brand and product style guides. Designed and executed the Disney Consumer Products Immersive Brand Strategy web application. Coordinated with brand strategist and information architect to communicate the details of the brand strategy to multi-national brand managers and executives.
• Creative Design and Development
• Art Direction and Production Design
• Concept Presentation
• HTML and Flash Applications
• Interactive Collaboration (Confluence + Omniture)
Projects:
Disney Immersive Brand Strategy
Princess: Immersive Style Guide
Baby Disney: Immersive Style Guide
Winnie the Pooh: Immersive Style Guide
Pirates of the Caribbean: Immersive Style Guide
Preschool Immersive Style Guide
Disney Consumer Products
1201 Flower St.
Glendale, CA 91201
• Creative Design and Development
• Art Direction and Production Design
• Concept Presentation
• HTML and Flash Applications
• Interactive Collaboration (Confluence + Omniture)
Projects:
Disney Immersive Brand Strategy
Princess: Immersive Style Guide
Baby Disney: Immersive Style Guide
Winnie the Pooh: Immersive Style Guide
Pirates of the Caribbean: Immersive Style Guide
Preschool Immersive Style Guide
Disney Consumer Products
1201 Flower St.
Glendale, CA 91201
April 2007
- December 2009
Glendale, California, United States
NBC Agency / Avatar Labs
Interactive Design Consultant
Freelance and long-term project assignments had initiated growth and experience. Surprisingly former employers (studios) offered projects immediately during my time consulting. Rich Media, Microsites, and Social Network Projects were plentiful and varied in scope. Consulting project concept and design became more comprehensive and creative with each new project.
• Design Collaboration
• Client and Agency Creative Direction
• Interactive Design and Development
• Asset Management and Production
• Rich Media Advertising
Projects:
Heroes: MySpace Site Design
Heroes: Interactive “Comic Book”
Prime Time Programming: Rich Media Advertising
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rich Media Advertising
NBC Agency
3000 West Alameda Ave.
Burbank, CA 91523
• Design Collaboration
• Client and Agency Creative Direction
• Interactive Design and Development
• Asset Management and Production
• Rich Media Advertising
Projects:
Heroes: MySpace Site Design
Heroes: Interactive “Comic Book”
Prime Time Programming: Rich Media Advertising
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rich Media Advertising
NBC Agency
3000 West Alameda Ave.
Burbank, CA 91523
September 2006
- April 2007
Studio City, California, United States
Warner Bros. Online
Senior Interactive Designer
Created and executed award winning theatrical websites and viral marketing projects. From “Concept to Creation” all projects assigned were designed and directed by myself with a staff of up to 10 designers and developers. All who worked with me on the creative direction and production design enjoyed, and learned from the process.
• Creative Direction
• Art Direction and Design
• Interactive Production Design
• Collaborative Concept Creation
• Technical Research and Direction
Projects:
Harry Potter: Theatrical Websites
Harry Potter: International Websites
The Batman Television Series: Website
Superman Returns: Viral Marketing Website and Rich Media
Scooby-Doo: Theatrical Website
Must Love Dogs: Theatrical Website
Shaolin Showdown Television Cartoon: Website
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Interactive Marketing
Ecks vs. Sever: Interactive Marketing, Websites
16 Blocks: Interactive Marketing, Websites
Warner Bros. Online
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
• Creative Direction
• Art Direction and Design
• Interactive Production Design
• Collaborative Concept Creation
• Technical Research and Direction
Projects:
Harry Potter: Theatrical Websites
Harry Potter: International Websites
The Batman Television Series: Website
Superman Returns: Viral Marketing Website and Rich Media
Scooby-Doo: Theatrical Website
Must Love Dogs: Theatrical Website
Shaolin Showdown Television Cartoon: Website
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Interactive Marketing
Ecks vs. Sever: Interactive Marketing, Websites
16 Blocks: Interactive Marketing, Websites
Warner Bros. Online
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
January 2000
- September 2006
Burbank, California, United States
Adrienne Weiss Corp
Art Director
Entertainment venue conception and design. High concept design and strategy presentations. The project work here required extensive research and ideation. Focus on architecture, branded spaces, and events.
• Broadcast Motion and Station Identity
• Promotions Graphic Design and Animation
• Television Show Identity, Set Design, Production Graphic Packages
• Concept and Design Direction for Local Show Productions
Projects:
XS: Brand Development, Concept Presentations and Design Briefs
Playboy Retail: Space Planning, Design Guidelines and Style Guides
• Broadcast Motion and Station Identity
• Promotions Graphic Design and Animation
• Television Show Identity, Set Design, Production Graphic Packages
• Concept and Design Direction for Local Show Productions
Projects:
XS: Brand Development, Concept Presentations and Design Briefs
Playboy Retail: Space Planning, Design Guidelines and Style Guides
July 1998
- January 2000
Los Angeles, California, United States
WGNO-TV
Art Director
Broadcast motion graphics with the emphasis on experimentation between analog and digital techniques. One of the most exciting design/production environments ever experienced. Design efforts were applied across various media and production methods. Local and community television programming art direction and identity design were to date some of the most fun and compelling. The inspiration from this job still fuels what has proceeded.
• Station Identity Design
• Station Brand Environment
• Program Graphics Packages
• Set Design and Lighting
• Broadcast Promotions Graphic Packages
• Print and On-air Advertising
• Sales and Promotion Collateral Materials
• Motion Graphics and Animation
Projects:
WGNO TV: Brand Identity and Station Environment
Saints Sideline: Graphics Package
N.O. It Alls: Title and Motion Graphics
Ceasefire: Title and Motion Graphics
Morgus the Magnificent: Title and Motion Graphics
Real New Orleans: Title and Motion Graphics
Call to Action: Title and Motion Graphics
Cooking with Soul: Title and Motion Graphics
WGNO Television
1 Galleria Blvd., Suite 850
Metaire, LA 70001, CA 90028
• Station Identity Design
• Station Brand Environment
• Program Graphics Packages
• Set Design and Lighting
• Broadcast Promotions Graphic Packages
• Print and On-air Advertising
• Sales and Promotion Collateral Materials
• Motion Graphics and Animation
Projects:
WGNO TV: Brand Identity and Station Environment
Saints Sideline: Graphics Package
N.O. It Alls: Title and Motion Graphics
Ceasefire: Title and Motion Graphics
Morgus the Magnificent: Title and Motion Graphics
Real New Orleans: Title and Motion Graphics
Call to Action: Title and Motion Graphics
Cooking with Soul: Title and Motion Graphics
WGNO Television
1 Galleria Blvd., Suite 850
Metaire, LA 70001, CA 90028
August 1984
- May 1998
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Education
Wenatchee Valley College
transferred
general studies, art history, art, print making
August 1978
- June 1979
Wenatchee, Washington, United States
University Of Washington
transferred
general studies, art, drafting
June 1977
- June 1978
Seattle, Washington, United States
Ringling College Of Art And Design
Associates
September 1980
- June 1983
Sarasota, Florida, United States
Languages
English (Native),
Awards
Skills
Adobe After Effects,
Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe Photoshop,
Digital Illustration,
Digital Photography,
Final Cut Pro,
Motion Graphics,
Visual Effects,
Adobe AfterEffects CS5,
Adobe CS5 Creative Suite,
Broadcast Design,
Cinema 4D,
Experimental Coding ,
Hybrid Design,
Interactive Production Design,
Production Design,
ProTools,
Sound Design,
Sound Mixing And Mastering,
Story Boards,
UI/UX Design,