Creative Director, art director, illustrator and graphic designer for companies like The Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill Education, Houghton Mifflin and Conde Nast. Graduate of the American Academy of Chicago, clasically trained illustrator and graphic artist, who was lucky enough to study under master life drawing Fred Berger, and my visionary mother who bought me my first Macintosh. Started as a graphic designer for the The Chicago Tribune, designing book covers and interiors for Contempory Books/Tribune Education. Worked as a art director then Creative Director for McGraw-Hill Education, directing a large design staff for creating book cover series, interior book development, managed thousands of spot illustrations and photo shoots for K-12 educational publishing. Creative Director of McDougal-Littell/Hoghton Mifflin's publishing K-12 new media division in Chicago, directing a staff of graphic designers, layout artists and proofreaders to produce both print, web and interactive products. Traveled extensively to direct and produce national sale presentations and National Education Conference promotions. Trained in California on 3D software, animation development, 3D digital lighting, texture development and environmental matte painting.
My true passion lies in creating art, whether for myself or for work, and being a life long learner in just about every thing I can think of. Creatively, I get so inspired by others, technology, movies, etc., and other artists that look at the world and see something beautiful.
Contact me at:
artdirectormike@gmail.com