I’m James Armstrong, a creative who loves to collaborate. 👋

Work experience

Art Director

Grand View Media Group / February 2008 - August 2013

Responsible for all design and print production of twelve monthly issues, six supplements, and six digital issues along with annual media kit, digital interactive publications and other projects as needed. Implementation of complete redesign and branding of multiple Processing titles. Comprehensive interaction with sales, circulation, advertising agencies, printers and management for a myriad of projects. Strict time management skills to meet multiple project deadlines. Management of multiple ares of projects including assigning duties to graphic designers and freelance illustrators along with cost management. Conduct end-of-project assessment meetings to review team performance. Advise supervisors on software/hardware purchases and training. Coordinate annual schedules of all projects with printers and digital vendors.

Senior Creative Project Manager

Ithaca College / June 2022 - Present

Lead all creative project management initiatives, systems, and workflow management across the entire Marketing Communications division. Manage intake, planning, scheduling, and assignment of creative, communications, and marketing projects. Manage and maintain our project management system (ClickUp) and our dedicated proofing tool (PageProof). Assist with design and production as needed. Manage project communication between our creative, marketing, and communications teams including project kickoffs, execution, and debriefs. Build workflow systems for social media, creative design/multimedia, and communication projects. Lead change in process improvement to amplify efficiency and timely delivery of assets and outcomes in a fast paced in-house agency environment.

Education

Auburn University
BFA in Graphic Design / 2000 - 2003

Certificates

Art Director/Graphic Designer

Randall-Reilly Publishing / May 2005 - February 2008

Responsible for Art Direction of editorial and advertisement design and production
(Changing Lanes, Top Bid, Trucker Pages, Partners In Business). Supervision of magazines from initial layout until printed product; responsible for pre press control and quality. Design and prepress management of several projects including calendars, manuals, trade show materials
(T-shirts, flyers, etc.). Interaction and development with several departments including sales, editorial, and traffic/circulation, along with outside agencies and clients. Strict adherence to deadlines along with management of several projects simultaneously.

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop/XD), Microsoft 365, ClickUp, Figma, Sketch, Miro, Whimsical. Working knowledge of Smartsheet, Teamwork, WordPress, Asana, Jira, and Confluence.

Senior Production Manager

Auburn University at Montgomery / August 2013 - June 2022

Design for both print and web, including landing pages, logos/branding assets, wireframes, interactive prototypes, annual reports, etc. Manage in-house team of designers, freelancers, and a marketing strategist. Manage creative project workflow, scheduling, and proof approval process. Manage our project management platform for both internal and external clients. Develop and maintain nationwide vendor relationships. Heavily involved in art direction and conceptualization.

Freelance Graphic Designer

February 2020 - Present

Design for multiple clients including Tanger Outlets, United Tennis Association, Imagine360, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Techless. Projects include landing pages, emails, handbooks, posters, icons, and environmental signage.

Agile/Hybrid Project Pro (PMI, 2023)
Project Management Certificate (Cornell University, 2023)
ClickUp Certified Power User (ClickUp, 2023)
ClickUp Certified Ambassador (ClickUp, 2023)
Google Certified Project Manager (Google, 2022)
Adobe Creative Educator (Adobe, 2021)