Experience

John Kalmar

OVERVIEW

Visual storyteller specializing in digital, social and editorial art direction, graphic design and CRM. UX/UI app development experience and website content management. Avid iPhone photographer. Dabbler in letterpress and screen printing.

EXEPERIENCE

VMLY&R | Senior Experience Designer UI / March ’20—Present | Senior Art Director / November ’19—March ’20

Experience designer creating Go To Market content for the FordPass and Lincoln Way apps.

  • Build email communication and in-app messages to reach members and clients of the FordPass and Lincoln Way apps.
  • Conceptualize and art direct social videos for both brands; curate and art direct brand imagery to be used for social channels, in-app messages and customer engagement.
  • Oversee marketing screen creation for FordPass and Lincoln Way. Screens are used in brochures, how-to videos and digital executions on Ford.com and Lincoln.com.

Campbell Ewald | Senior Art Director / December ’16—November ’19 | Content Art Director / February ’14—December ’16

Art director and graphic designer working across digital, social, print and editorial.

  • Build email and direct mail communication for OnStar CRM.
  • Manage Chevrolet New Roads digital content on the Chevrolet web site. Repurpose and redesign print stories; art direct and conceptualize video and motion elements for the digital space.
  • Layout and program functionality for Cadillac Magazine tablet and mobile app.
  • Create social posts for clients such as OnStar, Travelocity and Carfax.
  • Art direct photoshoots for Cadillac Magazine and Chevrolet New Roads magazine.

Automobile Magazine | Graphic Designer / Nov. ’12—February ’14

  • Design editorial spreads and art direct photoshoots for the print and digital editions of Automobile Magazine.

Louisville Gannett Design Studio | Designer / Dec. ’11—Nov. ’12

  • Layout news sections and create graphic openers for Gannett newspapers like the Cincinnati Enquirer, Louisville Courier-Journal and Lansing State Journal.

The Awesome Mitten | Freelance Designer / July ’12—January ’18

  • Create illustrations and brandmarks; design homepage graphics, web ads and digital marketing brochures for AwesomeMitten.com.

MSU Athletic Communications | Freelance Designer / Aug. ’13—Aug. ’15

  • Conceptualize and execute post-game infographics recapping Michigan State football games for social channels managed by the athletic department.

Michigan Hockey Magazine | Freelance Graphic Designer / Sept. ’11—Nov. ’11

  • Rebrand and redesign the Michigan Hockey identity and website; graphic designer, copy editor and webmaster for mihockeynow.com.

EDUCATION

Michigan State University (May 2011)

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
  • Design Specialization
  • Minor in Spanish
  • Honors College
  • 3.98 GPA

AWARDS

  • 2017 Gold Pearl Award: Best Mobile/ Tablet, Cadillac Magazine
  • Outstanding Senior Award (School of Journalism)
  • Outstanding Senior Award (MSU)
  • Mary Adelaide Gardner Scholarship