Corey Allen Smith
309-657-8327 • csmithji@yahoo.com


Career Summary
Creative manager with more than 19 years of hands-on experience with new product development, team leadership, digital content strategy, interactive design, and commercial photo art direction. Highly proļ¬cient in all disciplines of visual design: illustration, presentation, web, interactive, and photography. Dedicated and passionate, with a strong eye for emerging trends who can translate creative vision into reality.

Specialties 
Content Management •
 Project Management • Web Design
Photo Studio Operations • Creative Team Leadership
Digital Production Workflows •
 Contributor Relations & Acquisition
Content Mapping & Brainstorming •
 Digital Asset Management
Digital Illustration & Design • New Product Launch
Mobile App Planning & Design


Professional Experience
Creative Director
Xapsis Integrated Marketing
March 2010 – Present

Creative Director for Xapsis Integrated Marketing, a division of JMP Radio Group / Triad Communications. Main duties revolve around developing creative conceptual designs for interactive(web & mobile) and print advertising mediums. Responsibilities also include managing a growing team within our design department and contributing to the overall growth of the business by building strong professional relationships with area business leaders.

Content Manager
MultiAd
September 2009 – March 2010

Emphasis on growing and finding new markets for AdBuilder monthly subscription service with primary focus on stock illustration, stock photography, and new content initiatives. Implemented new content maps and production processes to better align with industry trends and corporate initiatives. Initiated in-house photo shoots and increased pool of external contributor resources to AdBuilder product. Researched and developed concepts/ prototypes for potential new products.


Content Director / Product Manager / Photo Studio Manager
Jupiterimages
1999 – April 2009 (10 years)

Developed product strategy, managed annual budget, built strong vendor relationships, and managed print/online digital content for three multi-million dollar online stock image collections that were marketed through a dedicated international sales team.

Photo Studio Manager for on-location and studio shoots. Led creative team in production of wholly-owned contract-based photo shoots to effectively and efficiently produce several thousand quality stock photos per shoot.

Creative lead for mixed media (Illustration, photo, motion, and audio) with focus on content development across multiple industries: editorial, advertising, education, and consumer.


Multimedia Producer
Dynamic Graphics
1995 – 1999 (4 years)

Developed interactive instructional and educational material for a variety of clients and internal promotions. Assisted and collaborated with visual design and direction of New Media Studio products and client services. Responsibilities centered on effective and creative interface design, multimedia kiosks, digital storytelling, and tutorial creation.


Electronic Illustrator
Dynamic Graphics
1992 – 1995 (3 years)

Created accurate and precise digital conversions of traditional hand-drawn artwork. Established techniques for transitioning black & white artwork to 4 color CMYK files. Before this transition, all stock imagery was black & white. 
Trained illustrators (from around the globe) on Adobe Illustrator software and how to effectively create/ draw illustrations in a digital format. Provided technical support to illustrators and guided their transition to digital formats. Eventually, all contributors/ artists switched to digital illustrating, which decreased our time to market with content and increased efficiencies in the department. Coordinated production schedules and digital workflows to ensure schedules and deadlines were met.


Freelance Illustrator
Corey Smith Illustration
March 1994 – Present

Professional freelance artist with more than 17 years experience  specializing in vector illustration with a focus on innovative and creative character concepts.


Education
Illinois State University
Bachelor of Science, Graphic Design / Visual Communication
1990 – 1992

Illinois Central College
Associate's Degree, Graphic Design
1987 – 1990


Additional Skills
SWOT analysis, SMART project management, presentation design and software, highly proficient with Mac / PC software and applications, scanning software, interactive design and story-boarding, vendor relations, DAMs workflow, marketing and promotional design, photography, and content mapping.