At the core, I am an idealist, a teacher and a peacekeeper.
I am also an extroverted graphic designer with six years of freelance design experience.
I graduated from Minnesota State University with a B.S. in Theatre Arts & Graphic Design.
I am passionate about art history, drums, individual expression, film, photography, playwriting, theatre--
And cats. I love cats.
INSPIRATIONS
Artistically speaking, I am heavily inspired and influenced by absurdism, the grunge movement, minimalistic design, religious themed paintings, photojournalism, self-portraits (of other people!) and typography. I enjoy the works of Banksy, Caravaggio, Diane Arbus, Elliot Erwitt, Mark Rothko, Milton Glaser, Ryohei Hase and Paula Scher.
SPECIALTIES
I am skilled in mostly photomanipulations and typography but have experience in commercial print design, printed marketing tools, publicity services and website design. I am also experienced in painting, photography, stage design and construction and videography.
VITA OPUS! DESIGN STUDIO
I am offering professional services as a freelance graphic designer under the design studio name of "Vita Opus!"-- since 2005 actually! This has not only taught me the principles of business but it has also perfected the way I interact and develop relationships with clients. Previous clients have included Minnesota State University, Mankato; Twin Rivers Center for the Arts; Sommer Family Chiropractic and several individuals seeking professional design solutions and tools for marketing their individual talents or business.
THE LIVE ART COLLECTION
I am a big fan of individual artistic expression. Whether it be through design, manipulation, painting, photography, typography, videography or written-word the Live Art collection is an assortment of personal artwork made without limits of contract or client. It explores the most visceral parts of the human imagination. Some content may include mature themes.
For more information: Vita Opus! Design Studio's homepage.
Note: pronunciation of "live" as in "live and let die"
PRINTED PUBLICITY POSTERS
Printed publicity poster designs are among the most popular of my services.
IDENTITY & BRANDING
Identity and branding services for small businesses and individuals.
other design SERVICES
Rendered photography displaying the printed results of additional design services. Coming Soon.
photography: kitties!
Photography collection focusing on my aforementioned cats, Puck and Athena.
When I said I love cats-- I meant it!
photography: portraits
Photography collection focusing on portraits of design clients and myself.
photography: B&W / CONCEPTUAL
Conceptual photographs created using traditional techniques.
Some content may include mature themes.
A DESIGNER KNOWS HE HAS ACHIEVED PERFECTION
NOT WHEN THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ADD,
BUT WHEN THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO TAKE AWAY.
I am a graphic and web designer with experience in photography. Graphic design services include print design, design for website marketing, internally distributed content, photomanipulation, digital painting, retouching, and more. Website Design services include website design
and development, server maintenance, troubleshooting and more. Photography projects have usually tied into website design projects, depending on the need for custom photography or not. However, photography soon became a professional service that's offered individually as well.
Print Design is my specialty. Includes: Publicity Posters, Business Cards, Postcards, Brochures, Menus, Letterheads, Book Covers, CD Artwork, Calenders and much more. I allow clients to bring their design needs to me, whatever project it is.
Website Design is offered primarily to small businesses and individuals seeking self-promotion or artistic representation. I firmly believe that websites need to capture the subject's personality in their design, function and atmosphere. Clients are responsible for hosting costs.
Photography is something that has always interested me as an artform and it wasn't until recently (2010) that I started getting more involved in it at a professional level. I tend to gravitate towards portraits and conceptual photography. And cats, of course.
graphic design
$69 / and up
CLIENT RESPONSIBLE FOR
PRINTING COSTS
IDENTITY & BRANDING
$299 / flat
CLIENT RESPONSIBLE FOR
PRINTING COSTS
MULTIMEDIA
$25 / hour
ADDITIONAL SERVICES, SUCH AS COPYWRITING ARE AVAILABLE!
WEBSITE DESIGN
$279 / PLUS SETUP
CLIENT RESPONSIBLE FOR
DOMAIN/HOSTING COSTS
DESIGN IS EASY. ALL YOU DO IS STARE AT THE SCREEN
UNTIL DROPS OF BLOOD FORM ON YOUR FOREHEAD.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
In December 2009, I became a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts & Graphic Design. I became accustomed to running a dual-life, if you will, by combining both of my chosen degrees and fields together. In college, I supported myself by offering design services while earning a degree. It was possibly the most fun I have ever had-- being a freelance graphic designer while being in rehearsals 24/7 and finishing design projects just before having to go onstage for that night's performance. It was a rush and I have been hoping to someday repeat that same setup. I enjoy creating something from nothing [or just an idea] and seeing myself evolve through the whole process. This fascinates me.
WORK EXPERIENCE
I am what I refer myself to as a "Jack of All Trades employee." Any job I've had-- I have always been relenteless in understanding every aspect of that job, even if it someone else's. Looking at my work history, each time I have been promoted very quickly. I have a mindset of doing work while helping everyone else out, customers, co-workers when I can.
Work History includes: Fossil, House Manager for Highland Summer Theatre, Noodles & Company, Graphic Designer for MSU-Mankato's Theatre Dept., Best Western, Cold Stone Creamery, Armadillo's Ice Cream Shoppe and other inconsistently employed voice-over projects.
Jeff a. Smith
Graphic Designer
A LITTLE HISTORY
While earning my degree at MSU-Mankato, I organized a strong proposition to revamp our theatre department's creative distribution of their publicity materials for plays, musicals, events. I designed our upcoming theatre season's show posters and brought them into our chairman/producer. I asked, "Do you think these designs would increase ticket sales for these shows?" and he replied, "You may have something here."
For the next three years, I provided the Theatre & Dance Department with 12 full-scale publicity posters for theatre and dance productions. When needed, I would be placed "on-call" for any emergency design needs such as getting promotional postcards design, printed and ready for shipment the next morning. All of this hard (and very fun!) work led me to a similar position at the Twin Rivers Center for the Arts where I served as a graphic designer for their Symphony Orchestra business.
Download Resume: Designer (PDF)
JEFFREY ALAN SMITH
Stage & Voice-Actor
IN THE THEATRE
I am no stranger to versatility onstage-- playing everything from Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace to Gus in CATS to Father Jack in Dancing at Lughnasa all the way to the Narrator/Mysterious Man in Into the Woods, Stanley in The Birthday Party, Howie in Rabbit Hole, the Male Greek Chorus in How I Learned to Drive and Asher Lev in My Name is Asher Lev (PNW Premiere!)
I had the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V and was also awarded with a specially recognized Certificate of Merit for the Outstanding Performance in The Comedy of Errors. This was a very unique award since the honored character did not speak.
Speaking of not speaking, I have become quite an ambitious voice-over actor. Again, something that is done in spare time when I happen to run into it. But-- services are always available!
Download Resume: Actor (PDF)
jeffrey smith
Retail Management
CORE VALUES
At the core, I am an idealist and a teacher. This causes my strengths in management to be in dealing with employee relations, selling practicies coached to associates in an inspiring, charming manner. I am the physical embodiment of a radical customer experience.
I am authentic, I am relentless and I am passionate about everything I do.
I am someone who will develop a regular customer base (individually) and provide incredible customer service to them. My intense memory serves me a tool for selling, management and personal connections. I am a frequent provider of customer service that exceeds one's expectations.
From 2010 to 2012, I had the honor of being apart of Fossil's retail business. Not only do I love the product, but I really love how much I have grown and learned over the past two years by working in an Assistant Store Manager role.
Download Resume: Management (PDF)
ADOBE© AFTER EFECTS
ADOBE© INDESIGN
ADOBE© ILLUSTRATOR
ADOBE© FLASH
ADOBE© PREMIERE
ADOBE© PHOTOSHOP
ADOBE© SOUNDBOOTH
HTML5, CSS3, JQUERY, PHP
ILIFE COLLECTION (GarageBand, Keynote, Numbers, Pages)
MAC (OS X LION) & WINDOWS (SEVEN) OPERATING SYSTEMS
MICROSOFT OFFICE (Excel, Power Point, Word)
i never design a building before i've seen the site
and met the people who will be using it.
I am always going to be open to any exciting job possibilities out there, regardless of my employement status. Please, if you have some work-related opportunities, whether it be relating to design, performance or management-- don't hesitate to send me an e-mail or call me using the contact information on the lower right. More information can be found on Vita Opus! Design Studio's website.
Contact me: If you are in need of graphic design services and are considering hiring me as a freelance designer with a limited or temporary work-contract; If you have a question or comment concerning the website; If you have a personal question for me; purchase requests or you have a question about a specific piece of work displayed on the website.
Thank you for visiting and learning more about me. I sincerely hope that our paths do cross in the near future and that we will be able to work together in some professionally artistic capacity. Unless you're not a cat person, that's a dealbreaker...kidding...
I hope to hear from you soon!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Phone:
(605) 430-0570
E-Mail Address:
jeff@iamjeffsmith.com
Currently Residing in:
Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
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