Brad Burleson
Graphic Designer
I like to make things. All kinds of things, out of all types of materials. I have over 15 years of experience working in all aspects of the industry: traditional print design (including catalog and large document layout), packaging design, web design, social media content creation, product photography, brand development, and beyond. My skill set is broad. I am driven by curiosity and continually hone my craft to learn new techniques which I can add to my quiver.
I embrace clean design. Reid Miles work with Blue Note Records is full of win in my book. I love all things Postmodern or BauHaus. The idea that art is not limited to traditional materials, but crosses over into industry and craft, resonates deeply with me.
I also enjoy being outside with my family, trying new and interesting micro-brews, working on strange foreign cars, skateboarding, screen printing, building things in my shop, and playing various acoustic and electric string instruments.
Thanks for stopping by.
Technical Skills
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
Product photography
WooCommerce/Magento
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe Audition
Adobe After Effects
Photo color correction
HTML/CSS
Apple iMovie
WordPress CMS
Hootsuite
Prepress & Production
Constant Contact/Mailchimp
Transferable Skills
Problem solver
Project management
Works well solo or in a group
Strong work ethic
Detail oriented
Impeccable attendance
Enjoys a challenge
Thinks outside the box
Team player
Experience
Pre-Press Operations Manager
The Equine Network
Albuquerque, NM
January 2021 - Present
The Equine Network is the premier source of information in the equine world. Our video, web, podcast, and print-media services span the spectrum. These include: Practical Horseman, EQQUS, Team Roping Journal, Horse & Rider, EquiManagement, and The Horse.
In my day to day duties at The Equine Network, I oversee the pre-press department that produces print and digital magazines that reach thousands of subscribers each month. It's a revolving wheel of large projects which involves personnel from across the company, as well as printers, advertisers, and collaborators from all over the country. My department is the final stop for publications before they go to press or are published on the web, and we thrive on the demand for accuracy and efficiency at a very fast pace.
See more at the The Equine Network website.
Responsibilities:
- Overseeing the entire pre-press operation for one of the largest equine news sources in the world.
- Scheduling and management of multiple projects from start to finish every month.
- Photo editing and color-correction
- Design back-of-book content to client specifications
- Create materials to support the Active Interest Media brand
- Utilize pre-press best practices to ensure proper press output
- Create interactive digital editions of publications for tablets and mobile devices
- Succesfully meet several hard deadlines for different publications each month
- Work efficiently with members of many different teams to keep projects on task
Color Specialist / Graphic Designer / Production Artist
Active Interest Media
Boulder, CO
September 2016 - December 2020
Active Interest Media is a publisher of many well-known lifestyle publications. These include: SKI, Climbing, Backpacker, Yoga Journal, Horse & Rider, Clean Eating, Old House Journal, and many more.
My responsibilities include color correction, pre-flighting materials provided by advertisers, final-assembly and pre-flight of publications to ensure they conform with accepted formats for press, converting print materials for proper display on a variety of e-reading devices and different web services. and creating back of book advertising for both print and online publications.
See more at the Active Interest Media website.
Responsibilities:
- Photo editing and color-correction
- Design back-of-book content to client specifications
- Create materials to support the Active Interest Media brand
- Utilize pre-press best practices to ensure proper press output
- Create interactive digital editions of publications for tablets and mobile devices
- Succesfully meet several hard deadlines for different publications each month
- Work efficiently with members of many different teams to keep projects on task
Graphic Designer / Product Photographer
AFG Distributing
Asheville, NC
March 2014 - May 2016
AFG Distribution is a one-stop alternative wholesaler. They carry over 8,000 products and distribute across the globe. These products are mostly alternative gifts, music / pop-culture memorabilia, and smoke-shop products. They also manufacture and sell their own branded lines of vaporizers and glass smoking accessories (Pulsar), e-cigarettes and e-liquids (Buck Naked), silicon cooking products (Herbal Chef), grinders (Grindhouse), hookah shisha (Shakra), and high quality carved wooden tobacco pipes (Shire).
See more at the websites for Pulsar Vaporizers, Buck Naked e-Cigarettes, and AFG Distribution
Responsibilities:
- Photographed all products manufactured by AFG, then prepared images for use in print and on web
- Created a variety of marketing materials to support AFG brands
- Designed packaging and instructional materials for AFG products
- Prepared weekly email blasts for B2B clients featuring new products and sale items
- Completely revamped and maintained AFG asset library to support sales staff (product images, logos, etc)
- Assisted in creation of yearly product catalog as well as bimonthly catalog supplements
Founder / Lead Designer
Hub Industries Design Studio
Asheville, NC
April 2012 - March 2014
I founded Hub Industries in 2006, doing web and print design on the side. From 2012-2014 it was my full time job. I have worked with a variety of clients, designing web sites, print materials and producing screen-printing projects in-house with my six-color screen printing press. These days, Hub Industries is more of a creative outlet, allowing me to produce creatively fulfilling work in a variety of mediums, including art pieces and repurposed objects.
Responsibilities:
- Created a wide variety of projects from marketing support materials in print, to eCommerce websites, screen printing, and large format pieces
- Meeting with clients to discuss project scope and offer guidence on brand development
- Steering projects large and small from birth, through development, to delivering the final product
- Ability to effectively manage multiple ongoing projects
- Constantly researching and learning to develop new client offerings
- Customer service and outreach
Marketing Manager / Graphic Designer / Webmaster
MBM Brakes, Steering, & Suspension
Asheville, NC
April 2008 - March 2012
MBM is a wholesale manufacturer of brakes, steering, and suspension parts for American classic cars and hot rods. MBM is also a white label supplier of parts for well-known car companies like Jegs, Ground Up, Speedway Motors, and other brands. In addition, they also have their own retail brand, Pirate Jack.
Responsibilities:
- Refreshed entire brand look of MBM.
- Completely redesigned company eCommerce site, implementing new branding
- Revamped product catalog, giving it a fresh look based on new branding
- Spearheaded the eBay operations for Pirate Jack, the retail arm of MBM. This reaped the most significant year over year profit increase in Pirate Jack's revenue to that date.
- Took all product photos, preparing them for print and web
- Created new marketing support materials including new dealer packets & promotional stickers
- Redesigned MBM product packaging from ground up. Creating a fresh new design and sourcing a printer in China to work with our manufacturers located there
Portfolio
Explore a selection of some of my work
Education
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
B.A.Industrial Design
Honors: Dean's ListAIMS Community College
Loveland, CO
Graphic Design Certificate Program
Honors: Dean's and Chancellor's Lists