Richard Wezensky

present experience
Creative Services Director: Launch Agency
Dallas, Texas :: January 2020 – present
Launch Agency specializes in brand launching and relaunching traditional business. We specialize in Brand Positioning & Strategic Insights, Traditional Advertising, Digital Advertising, Social Media Advertising & Promotions, Web & Mobile Development, Packaging, Content Marketing.

Launch provides a dynamic, wide range of services to our clients centered on three core competencies: strategy, advertising and design. The Creative Services Director is key to building, managing and optimizing an environment that continues to build and strengthen a creative, collaborative atmosphere where these areas work together effectively and efficiently. 

This role requires a seasoned professional who understands the unique nature of an advertising agency and what it takes to facilitate great work, as well as a clear overall vision for the processes, protocols and tools required to achieve the above. I am also challenged to be innovative, resourceful, proactive and solution-oriented, to communicate effectively with partners and peers (and occasionally clients), on activities that affect them. I also provide the necessary information and training, when required, establish relevant measurements and benchmarks to track progress on the above, and provide updates to partners as needed.

Responsibilities
– Provide design support as needed to creative teams
– Create/design new business materials as needed
– Maintain/update client brand guidelines to stay current
– Manage studio production artists and freelancers
– Train new creative hires on studio process and file management
– Work with agency staff to identify and suggest solutions on how to improve and maintain consistent processes, workflow systems and quality control methods
– Oversee production quality control and assessment
– Review studio/production time schedules and estimates where needed
– Track usage, maintenance and needs of creative-related tech and equipment; computers, printers, scanners and digital cameras, etc.
– Maintain agency archiving, filing systems and server management
– Research and recommend IT resources and maintain IT partner relationships
– Research and recommend in-studio content creation when/where it makes sense
– Oversee in-studio digital photography and video production
– Build relationships with creative resources and venders
– Help source/oversee outside print production as needed
– Keep abreast of current trends and research new technologies to help increase agency efficiencies
– Procure and track studio supplies – work with agency purchaser for all consumables

work experience
Associate Creative Director and Graphic Designer: Launch Agency
Dallas, Texas :: March 2003 – December 2019
– idea conception, collaboration, execution and presentation
– art direction, graphic design and visual support
– provide guidance to interns, production artists and freelancers
– new business growth, brand strategy and development
– design and plan the look and functionality of emails, web sites and other digital
assets based on current industry trends
– provide basic site architecture and limited HTML coding
– design and Administer social networking and content managed projects
– set up and manage the process of mechanical production
– analyze files to recognize potential efficiencies and problems in final production

Art Director and Graphic Designer: Temerlin McClain
Irving, Texas :: October 1999 – March 2003
– new business growth, brand strategy and development
– idea conception, collaboration, execution and presentation
– graphic design and visual support
– provide direction to interns, production artists and freelancers

Prepress Division Manager: Diamond Graphics Printing
Dallas, Texas :: August 1997 – October 1999
– managed all prepress departments, ranging from scanning, retouching and digital imaging to stripping, proofing and plating.
– actively engaged in problem-solving, job-scheduling, training, inventory and spoilage control, equipment maintenance and any other production issues.
– played a key role in the production team, where we converted client-provided digital files into fully imposed and trapped press signatures for six-color, forty-inch, offset presses.
– utilized my knowledge of prepress and digital publishing more directly with the print industry, while developing a new level of experience in print production.

Digital Prepress Specialist/Graphic Designer: Imagelynx Digital Imaging
Vancouver, British Columbia :: September 1996 – August 1997
– prepared and maintained electronic data for film and digital press output, while solving problems in an unpredictable production environment.
– worked directly with clients, providing design and creative support for all of their prepress needs.

Digital Prepress Manager: Kingcraft Color Graphics
Dallas, Texas :: March 1993 – September 1996
– provided organization and technical support within a fast-paced, deadline-driven prepress environment.
– maintained productivity and efficiency of all digital projects.
– performed detailed file preparation, high-quality photo manipulation and complete page production.

Freelance Mac Specialist and Graphic Designer
Austin & Dallas, Texas :: August 1991 – November 1993
– contracted jobs with various service bureaus and ad agencies in dallas and austin.
– provided macintosh support, design and production of mostly local campaigns.

Talents
– creative direction
– art direction
– graphic design
– illustration
– digital image editing
– digital media design

Skills
– mechanical paste-up/comps
– prepress & print production
– basic html
– WordPress and other online content management

Proficient Software Skills
– Adobe InDesign
– Adobe Photoshop
– Adobe Illustrator

Software Skills
– Adobe Dreamweaver
– Apple Keynote
– MS Office

Education
BFA, Studio Art, The University of Texas, Austin