Jan Blacka
jblacka@gmail.comExperience
Senior Web Designer, Network Solutions, LLC, Herndon, VA 2002-2008
Senior graphic designer for large e-commerce website, www.networksolutions.com.
- Managed small design team producing online collateral including landing pages, banner ads, and HTML email
- Optimized collateral for best performance based on reporting and analysis
- Implemented and managed all aspects of dynamic merchandizing system, including overseeing reporting and analysis, and creating and trafficking elements
- Maintained brand consistency across multiple sites
- Observed site usability studies with research agencies and applied findings
Advisory Board Member, Loudoun Arts Council, Leesburg, VA 2002-present
Volunteer for 'working board' fostering local art.
- Communications Chairperson for 2006-2007 season
- Managing and maintaining online presence for www.loudounarts.org
- Advocating for the needs of visual artists
Web Designer, VeriSign, Inc. Herndon, VA 1998-2002
Senior graphic designer for market-leading domain name registrar.
- Hired and directed creative contractors, assigned tasks, and managed quality of work
- Chaired interdepartmental style guide committee tasked with updating the corporate style guide for the website
- Created original illustrations and icons, graphics, and product landing pages
Adjunct Professor, Maryland College of Art and Design, Silver Spring, MD 1997-1999
Taught Design, Color Theory, and Printmaking courses.
- Authored syllabi, designed class work and homework assignments
- Lectured, led class discussions and critiques, and demonstrated techniques
Graphic Designer, Solipsys Corporation, Laurel, MD 1997-1998
Solely responsible for design and maintenance of website, intranet, and print collateral for start-up defense contracting software firm. Held Secret Clearance.
- Designed corporate collateral, i.e. logo, letterhead
- Designed and maintained two iterations of the corporate website
- Created extensive intranet including collateral templates, employee directory, reference library, and image bank
Painting Instructor, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 1994-1998
Designed and taught classes for adults, teenagers, and children in continuing and supplemental educational environment.
Education
Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
- M.F.A., Mixed Media, Mount Royal School of Art, 1996
- Graduate Fellowship 1994-95 and 1995-96
Williams College, Williamstown, MA
- B.A. Art Department, 1989; Concentration: Women's Studies
- Honors: Dean's List, Class of 1960's Scholar
Software
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, ImageReady, InDesign; HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL; Microsoft Office; Google Analytics, Omniture; Atlas AdManager, DART; BBEdit; Mac, Windows, Unix