JEREMY A.G. RICHARDS
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
(Main) jrdesign@quik.com
(Extra) difinitive@hotmail.com
Dear Sir/Madame,
I am actively seeking a full time employment position as a graphic designer and/or as a multimedia artist. I have just turned 24 years old and live in Coquitlam, BC. I am available immediately and am willing to bring my portfolio and other relevant materials down to you in person if required (or desired).
I started up, owned and operated three BC West Coast Native art galleries out in Chilliwack, in the Fraser Valley. In January of 1998 I decided to shut down the galleries altogether and have since been sub-contracting and freelancing out for pre-press, web and design jobs. I was 19 when I opened my first location and by the time I closed my businesses, I had set up 2 retail galleries, one very large artist's studio as well as having set up additional locations temporarily at the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel and the Holiday Inn in Chilliwack. I also created a computer multimedia presentation originally intended for customer's to search through on their own but that somehow ended up being used as a building block towards giving multimedia and internet technology seminars. Video capture and editing, audio editing, image scanning and editing, software applications (their capabilities and advantages), computer peripherals, digital image devices and many other items ended up being the topics for my seminars.
I used my own 35mm camera systems, digital cameras, high end flatbed scanners, slide & negative scanners, video capture boards, digital/8mm video cameras, digital pen tablets, 17" & 30" NEC Monitors, 60" big screen TV's and a huge surround sound system for the seminars. Using Microsoft PowerPoint and material that I had the crowd put together on their own, I taught them about what each piece of technology was and how it worked and ultimately, how to combine effectively all of the multimedia components into one finished piece.
There is a lot more to this than I can write but if this is interesting to you so far, I would be happy to explain what I did more thoroughly. I can build a PC from scratch and I am always teaching people (or advising) as to what software to purchase and how to use it as well as hooking up their new toys for them. I am also capable of setting up, maintaining and troubleshooting Windows 95/98 networks, (not NT Server based networks but I can use NT Workstation and Server for my own use). I have used Power Mac's before and can use them effectively (graphics software and other major titles are very similar anyway) but am not as knowledgeable as PC.
Regarding the most relevant issue, graphics and multimedia applications, following is a list of what I know how to use very well; PageMaker 6.5, PhotoShop 5.0, Illustrator 7.0, Freehand 8.0, Quark Express 4.0, xRes 3.0, Painter 5.0, Detailer 1.0, Expression 1.0, Corel Draw Suite 6/7/8, Sound Forge 4.0, PowerPoint 97, Director 6.0 (Apprentice-Level), After Effects 3.0, Premiere 5.0, MGI Video Wave...that's about it for multimedia. I know lot's more than that for business applications (accounting, data basing, day-planners etc.) but my forte is with graphics and multimedia.
I understand pre-press; all of the bleed limits, gutter settings, color separations, advanced image manipulation, sheet vs. web presses plus more. I can also do all page layout and structuring in Quark or PageMaker. My strength is in my ability to create graphics that people like and being able to prepare their files for press runs and/or the Internet.
I believe I have a lot to learn but at the same note, I also believe that I can offer a lot to your company. I am looking for a home, not a job. I'd like to feel relatively secure that any "potential position with you or whoever hires me is not a temporary one month contract but I do understand the competitive nature of this business. If I have to work for solidity and longevity - try me. Over other young, just-graduated-from-a-school, eager beaver candidates, I think I have a unique outlook derived from a $750,000.00 lesson from the school of hard knocks; my previous business. A 19 year old cannot be expected to understand (applied knowledge vs. theory) marketing, business financing, management skills and other required skills to run a business (or several), however, I learned many first hand lessons, both good and bad that can only come from experience.
Anyway, I look forwards to hearing back from you even if you don't have a position available. Possibly, you have some insight, contacts or advice you could offer? I realize in the dim reality of it all that I don't have a bachelor's or diploma relating to graphic design or anything. My problem is that there are a number of key things I'm extremely good at and I can learn very quickly, I've had a more..."tangible" based business experience than other people my age but my portfolio is not huge, my education is not that formal. I need someone to give me a realistic chance; I've always believed that if someone is going to make something of themselves and you can sit back and watch them take the initiative - let 'em. I have some awesome PowerPoint presentations ready, print material, web material and my portfolio for you to look at.
Thank you, and I look forwards to talking to you.
Yours Sincerely,
JEREMY A.G. RICHARDS
DIGITAL MEDIA + PRE-PRESS SERVICES
1. Interactive Kiosk Multimedia Presentations (Stationary Units)
2. Self Running CD-ROM Presentations
3. Ready-To-Go Speaker-Oriented Presentations
4. 35mm Catalogue Photography
5. 35mm/Digital Portrait Photography
6. Scanning Services (35mm Film/Slides/Transparencies/Negatives/Images)
7. Digitized CD-ROM Based Family Photo Albums
8. Photographs/Images/etc. to Slides Conversions
9. Advanced Image Editing/Retouching/Re-coloring
10. Digital Pre-Press (For Film/Plate Output)
11. Graphic Design (Conceptualization/Creative)
12. Large Format Full Color Printing (54" x [user defined]')
13. Personal And Full Commercial Web Site Design/Hosting
14. Corporate Logos/Identity Packages
15. Low Budget Print/Photocopy Compatible Projects
16. Business Cards/Stationary
17. Promotional Campaign Publishing/Printing
18. P.O.P. Displays/Signs
19. Word Processing (Resumes/Publications/Reports etc.)
20. Professional Proposal Development/Publishing
21. Digital Video Editing/Capturing Services + CD/VHS Output (Non-Linear)
22. Laminating/Binding/Packaging
23. VHS Video Multimedia Presentations
24. Advanced PC Audio Sampling/Editing
25. Audience Participation Computer/Internet Technology Seminars
26. Difinitive Visions "CYNERGY(tm)" Multimedia Package
27. Professional Adobe Acrobat .PDF Publishing
Here is a list of some software that I am compatible with and file formats that I can accept or output as:
Adobe PhotoShop 5.0, Adobe phrasemaker 3.5, Adobe Dimensions 3.0, Adobe Illustrator 7.0, Adobe Persuasion 4.0, Adobe PageMaker 6.5, Macromedia Director 6, Quark Express 4.0, Macromedia xRes 3.0 Fractal Design Painter 5.0, Macromedia Freehand 7.0/8.0, Fractal Design Detailer 1.0, Macromedia Extreme 3D 1.0, Fractal Design Expression 1.0, Macromedia Authorware 4.0, Fractal Design Ray Dream Studio 5.0, Corel Draw Suite 6, 7 & 8, Adobe Premiere 4.0/5.0, Corel Word Perfect Suite 7/8, Adobe After Effects 3.1, Microsoft Office 95/97 Pro, Microsoft Publisher 97/98, Microsoft FrontPage 97/98, Lotus Smartsuite 96/97
EXPERIENCE:
5/94 - 9/94
Sto:lo Nation
Administering of commercial grants & bursaries for First Nation's entrepreneurs. Assisted with writing grant and business proposals, business development, research guidelines and general clerical support.
2/95 - 5/95
Abacus II Computers
Maintenance of printers, photocopiers, fax machines, computer upgrades. Responsible for ordering inventory, shelving and stocking, shipping and handling and customer relations.
7/95 - 1/98
Vision International Arts Inc.
Started, owned and operated native art galleries. Expanded to three locations, which included two galleries and one workshop. Set up additional exhibits at the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel and the Chilliwack Holiday Inn. Spokesperson and attendee at several native multimedia and technology conferences (IASO Arts and Service Organization, Sto:lo Nation Youth Business Development, Simon Fraser University and Indigenous Arts Conference).
2/98 - 8/98
Pappy Productions
Responsible for all graphic oriented material. Worked with both pre press and Internet graphics, photoshoots, scanning, p.o.p. display designing etc.
9/98 - 11/98
A.B.L.E. (Association for the Betterment of Literacy and Education)
Responsible for all creative graphic design of promotional materials, i.e.: pre-press comps of flyers, brochures, logo designs, caricature work, brochure layouts, image editing, web design etc.
References available on request
* FOR COMPATABILITY REASONS AND CAPABILITIES,
THIS IS WHAT I'M USING CURRENTLY...
- Pentium II 333 Mhz
- 128 Mb SD-RAM
- 14 GIG's HD
- SCSI HP Scanjet 6100C/50 Page OCR Auto-Feeder
- SCSI CD-R
- SCSI Internal ZIP
- Removable HD Shuttles
- ATI Video Capture/TV-Out
- JVC DV-1 Digital Camcorder
- AGFA Digital Camera
- Canon 35mm Camera + Lenses
- 11" x 17" HP Color Printer
- 54" x [?]" HP Large Format Printer
- ...plus more