This is a full portfolio showing my varied design styles and the range of my experience in this industry

1. 24 Nimitz Street, Huntington, New York 11743 631.374.5095 rcjkirk@optonline.net
Senior Art Director
Digital Artist/Retoucher
Vector Illustrator
And So Much More

2. Introduction
Professional Summary
I am a Senior Art Director with extensive experience in working directly with clients, marketing directors,
brand managers and copy writers. I have proven experience managing and directing staff, hiring and directing
all talent groups needed for assignments and completing projects efficiently and within budget. I have directed
a wide range of photo shoots, including fashion, tabletop and on-site. Brand experience includes fashion, cosmetics,
retail (hard and soft goods), consumer and industrial products, as well as business-to-business materials.
My vision and style is deeply rooted in my editorial and exibition design training in the original
Parsons School Of Design and can be seen in my advertising, catalogs, brochures and collateral materials.
Industry Awards
Harman International Marketing & Design Center: Received multiple art direction and design awards
for promotional materials. Collaboration included design, digital art and production on a number of
Infinity promotional materials.
John Paul Mitchell Haircare: Interviewed by ART DIRECTION MAG., APRIL ’94 (JPMS “Creatives” Campaign);
Art Direction Awards for Paul Mitchell – Award of Distinction: ’95 Awapuhi Trade Campaign Ad Series;
Gold Medal: ‘94 Best Trade Campaign: Creatives Trade Ad Campaign; Honorable Mention: ’94 Presentation Folder.
Saks Fifth Avenue: Retail Advertising Awards for New York Times ads.

3. Employment Experience
Harman International Art Direction/Digital Artist and Production Design 2003–Present
Design and production of promotional materials, owner’s manuals, packaging and display/trade-show pieces,
digital art/retouching and vector graphics on JBL, Infinity, Harman Kardon and Audioaccess brands.
• Part of a professional team that saved a proven $4M annually over outside agency fees
(www.inhouseforhire.com)
• Helped create brand images to market product lines to a specific demographic while maintaining
brand consistency
• Utilized Internet servers to work directly with European marketing offices in producing and releasing
assignments for European distribution quickly
• Utilized the use of FTP servers to release assignments directly to printers foregoing the use of making
and sending film around the world
• Reduced vendor costs and assignment turn-around time by doing more digital retouching and
vector graphics in-house
• Promoted the experimental use of “paperless” assignment approval routing, thus reducing the amount
of paper consumed

4. Employment Experience
Marke Communications Agency Art Director 1990–99
Concept and design of ads, catalogs, promotional/direct-mail graphics materials, package inserts, POP.
Digital retouching. Worked directly with marketing directors and brand managers to set up catalog pagination.
Directed illustrators, photographers, stylists, models and hair/makeup artists. Supervised layout and mechanical
staff. Directed fashion, cosmetic, hard and soft good photoshoots.
• Spearheaded agency utilizing digital photography for hard/soft goods
• Initiated agency’s in-house digital retouching program
• Designed consumer and business to business ad campaigns
• AnnTaylor • John Paul Mitchell Haircare
• Madam Alexander Dolls • Metropolitan Museum Of Art
• Pantone Color Systems • Fortunoff

5. Employment Experience
Freelance Accounts Art Director/Digital Artist 1986–2003
CDA (Communications Design Associates): Audio/video engineering firm. Design corporate identity
and brochures
1-800-FLOWERS.COM: Collaborated on the first in-house catalog design, promotion design,
digital art and retouching
The Seiden Group: Art direction and digital art on various accounts
Grey Healthcare: Digital art and retouching for concept presentation and reproduction
HDM Muldoon Agency: Graphic Designer – Lenox China, Perkin-Elmer Laboratory Equipment,
Betty Crocker, Ellesse, Prodigy, Kodak Commercial Products, NBC Print
Mark Cross Inc: Art Director, catalog design
Korey, Kay & Partners, Advertising: Art Director – New Business Division
Sunday Inserts: Art Director – newspaper inserts
Lord & Taylor Advertising Department: Art Director – Special Projects
Bally of Switzerland: Art Director – Concept and design of national magazine ads,
New York and regional newspaper ads.
Hired and directed photographers and stylists; directed all print production

6. Employment Experience
Previous Employment 1971–86
Concept and design of ads (national magazine and newspaper), catalogs, promotional/direct mail graphics
materials, package inserts, POP, posters and magazines; worked directly with marketing directors, brand
managers and owners to set up catalog and magazine pagination; hired and directed all illustrators,
photographers, stylists, models and hair/make-up artists; supervised layout and mechanical staff;
worked up production budgets and schedules and directed fashion, cosmetic, hard and soft goods
photoshoots and directed print production.
• Romance Today Magazine – Creative Director, 1985–86
• Lord & Taylor Catalog – Senior Art Director, 1980–85
• Estee Lauder – Art Director, 1976–80
• Revlon – Art Director, 1974–76
• Saks Fifth Avenue – Art Director, 1971–74
Computer Skills
Highly skilled in Quark, InDesign, Photoshop (digital art creation and retouching), Illustrator (graphics and vector art),
Acrobat PDF PRO, barcode software, prepress software and FTP software;
experienced in Apple Pages/Keynote and Microsoft Office (Mac and PC platforms.
This portfolio was created in Keynote then exported to Acrobat PDF and made interactive.

7. Art Direction Magazine Interview April 1994
Art Direction Awards:
Gold Medal – ’94 Best Trade Campaign
(Creatives product launch)
Honorable Mention – ’94 Presentation Folder
(front-back folder created from the opening ad)
Hands On “I’m more of a technical art director,” Bob Kirk says, his claim borne out by these photo setups.
“My expertise is in tabletop.” To open a herbal hair product launch, he wanted plants “exploding upwards” – potentially
the most corniest thing since Nancy met Mickey. The page is inviting. Kirk “sat and ‘painted’” on a 3' piece of creamy,
underlit Plexiglas. “I started with the hedgerow on the bottom, then added the little sprinkles, then went back and
placed the larger ones in. I had a grand time playing. The whole thing took about four hours. I’m happy with the way it
captured that upwards motion.” The following spread, aside from the contrast of its clean, white look, adds a little
surprise distortion, under the manufactured splash. “Twisting the letters,” Kirk continues, “made it believable. You know it
couldn’t exist – but your eye tells you that bottle is liquefying in front of you.” Most surprising to us was the way 20-
year tabletop AD Kirk built up the image – on Photoshop, in “a couple of hours.” Drip, splash, bottle and counter are
separate photos, with the twist and the reflection both created on Mac. The final was on Paintbox, using Kirk’s
low-res output a “dead-on,” pixel-for-pixel template, cutting machine time by half.

8. Portfolio Contents
Brochures and Catalogs – Harman Consumer Group
Packaging – Harman Consumer Group
Digital Art Catalogs Advertising
Editorial Brochures

9. Brochures And Catalogs
Harman International —
Harman Consumer Group
WORKED AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER
AND PRODUCTION ARTIST ON THE
JBL, INFINITY, HARMAN KARDON
AND AUDIOACCESS BRANDS.
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE ART
DIRECTORS AND BRAND
MANAGERS AND ALONE TO DESIGN
BROCHURES AND COLLATERAL
MATERIALS AS WELL AS DISPLAY
AND TRADE SHOW MATERIALS. ONE
OF THE MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS WAS
CREATING HIGH RESOLUTION JBL Brand Cinema Speakers
PHOTO COMPOSITES AND Won an American Inhouse
RETOUCHING FOR REPRODUCTION. Design Award from
Graphic Design USA Mag/2007
Infinity Brand
TSS Models
Brochure

10. Brochures And Catalogs
Harman International — Harman Consumer Group
Infinity Brand Auto Full-line Catalogs
Won an American Inhouse Design Award
from Graphic Design USA Mag/2006
JBL Brand Brochures

11. Brochures And Catalogs
Harman International — Harman Consumer Group
Audioaccess
Product Catalog

12. Packaging
Harman International — Harman Consumer Group
PACKAGE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
CREATED IN ILLUSTRATOR AND INDESIGN,
MOST EMPLOYING FULL-SIZED
PHOTOSHOP-CREATED COMPOSITES.
ALL THESE PACKAGE DESIGN RENDITIONS
WERE USED FOR PRESENTATIONS;
THEY WERE CREATED IN PHOTOSHOP
FROM ORIGINAL, FULL-SIZE ILLUSTRATOR
AND INDESIGN MECHANICAL DOCUMENTS
FOR PRINTING THE ACTUAL CARTONS.
Infinity Brand TSS Series Master Cartons
Won an American Inhouse Design Award from
Graphic Design USA Mag
2007

13. Digital
Art

14. Digital Retouching
La Prairie Cosmetics Advertising
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, JOHN KLIMO,
IN RETOUCHING THESE ORIGINAL
STUDIO SHOTS INTO FINAL
FULL-PAGE AD ART.
Originals

15. RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDED TAKING ORIGINAL
GENERIC STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHS AND RETOUCHING
THEM TO MATCH THE EXISTING CATALOG ART WE
WERE USING.
Digital Retouching
1-800-FLOWERS Original
Original
Original

16. Catalogs
AnnTaylor
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE V.P. CREATIVE DIRECTOR, JOAN KLIMO,
IN DESIGNING THE CATALOGS, ATTENDING THE MERCHANDISING
MEETINGS, WORKING ON THE PHOTOSHOOTS WITH HER, EDITING THE
FILM WITH HER, PUTTING THE CATALOGS TOGETHER, SUPERVISING THE
SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION STAFF, WORKING UP THE RETOUCHING AND
FINAL RELEASE DIRECTIONS AS WELL AS WORKING ON THE COLOR
SEPARATION OKs.

17. Catalogs
Lord & Taylor Catalog Division
WORKED DIRECTLY FOR THE V.P. CREATIVE DIRECTOR, JOAN KLIMO,
AS SENIOR ART DIRECTOR FOR THE HOME FURNISHING DIVISION.
I DID THE CONCEPT, DESIGN AND PRESENTATION FOR ALL THE HOME
FURNISHINGS CATALOGS, ATTENDED ALL MERCHANDISE MEETINGS,
WORKED UP THE PAGINATIONS AND SHOOTING SCHEDULES, DIRECTED
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS (AND HIRED THE OCCASIONAL MODEL) AND WAS
THE SET STYLIST AS WELL. DIRECTED THE MECHANICAL STAFF, WORKED
WITH THE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR TO APPROVE THE COLOR
SEPARATIONS AND ATTENDED THE PRESS RUNS.

18. Catalogs
Mark Cross
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE V.P. CREATIVE DIRECTOR, JOAN KLIMO,
IN DESIGNING THE CATALOGS, ATTENDING THE MERCHANDISING
MEETINGS, WORKING ON THE PHOTOSHOOTS WITH HER, EDITING THE
FILM WITH HER, PUTTING THE CATALOGS TOGETHER, SUPERVISING
THE SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION STAFF, WORKING UP THE
RETOUCHING AND FINAL RELEASE DIRECTIONS AS WELL AS
WORKING ON THE COLOR SEPARATION OKs. Lord & Taylor Furniture Catalogs

19. Catalogs
Madame Alexander Dolls
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE V.P. CREATIVE DIRECTOR, JOAN KLIMO,
IN DESIGNING THE CATALOGS, WORKING ON THE PHOTOSHOOTS
WITH HER, EDITING THE FILM WITH HER, PUTTING THE CATALOGS
TOGETHER, SUPERVISING THE SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION STAFF,
WORKING UP THE RETOUCHING AND FINAL RELEASE DIRECTIONS AS
WELL AS WORKING ON THE COLOR SEPARATION OKs.

20. Catalogs
Salvador Dali Museum Store
WORKED IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR, DESIGNED THE CATALOGS,
PRESENTED THE CONCEPTS AND PAGINATIONS, DIRECTED THE PHOTOSHOOTS, DID THE
SET STYLING, EDITED THE FILM, SUPERVISED THE SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION STAFF,
PRESENTED THE FINAL MOCKUPS, WORKED UP THE RETOUCHING AND FINAL RELEASE
DIRECTIONS AS WELL AS WORKING ON THE COLOR SEPARATION OKs.

21. Catalogs Pantone Color Systems
WORKED WITH THE ORIGINAL ART DIRECTOR TO TAKE OVER THE
PROJECT MIDSTREAM, DESIGNED THE MAN PANELS AND MADE THE
PHOTOSHOP COMPOSITES, WORKED WITH THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
TO MAINTAIN THE PROJECT ON SCHEDULE, SUPERVISED THE
SUPPORT STAFF AND SET UP THE CATALOG FOR FINAL RELEASE.
1-800-FLOWERS
BROUGHT IN FREELANCE TO START THE IN-HOUSE
CATALOG DEPARTMENT AND TO ASSIST IN THE
PUBLISHING OF THE FIRST CATALOG. HELPED DESIGN,
PAGINATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEWLY HIRED
ART DIRECTOR AND DID MOST OF THE RETOUCHING.
WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR THE SECOND CATALOG.

22. Advertising
Bally Of Switzerland
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE NEW YORK SALES MANAGER (AS THERE WAS
NO quot;ADVERTISING DEPARTMENTquot; AT THAT TIME). AFTER PRESENTING THE
CONCEPT, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND I WOULD SHOOT, I WOULD BUILD A
MOCK-UP AND DO THE FINAL RETOUCHING DIRECTIONS AND THEN DO THE
PRODUCTION FOR FINAL RELEASE
GENTLEMAN'S QUARTERLY
VOGUE MAGAZINE
THE CAIRN TERRIER IN THE BACKGROUND
BELONGED TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND
SPENT MOST OF THE TIME DURING SETUP
JUST WANDERING AROUND UNTIL HE LAID
DOWN IN JUST THE RIGHT SPOT

23. Advertising
Creatives Campaign
Business-To-Business
PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH VP OF MARKETING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND WOULD PRESENT MY CONCEPTS VIA FAX, FEDEX OR TELEPHONE.
The promotional folder of this ad won an art direction award
THIS CAMPAIGN WAS BASED ON THE CONCEPT THE PRODUCTS WERE ALL
MADE FROM ALL NATURAL BOTANICAL INGREDIENTS. AT THE TIME THIS
LINE WAS LAUNCHED – THIS WAS A RADICAL NEW IDEA IN THE HAIR CARE
INDUSTRY, SO I WANTED THE IMAGES OF EACH PRODUCT TO REFLECT
THIS. THE OPENING AD TO THE RIGHT WAS ALSO MADE INTO A
PROMOTIONAL KIT FOLDER WHICH WON AN ART DIRECTION AWARD.
THIS CAMPAIGN WAS CONCEIVED THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
SKETCHES WERE SENT BACK AND FORTH TO CALIFORNIA DURING
CHRISTMAS–NEW YEARS. THE PHOTO SHOOT WAS SET UP THE WEEK
AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. FILM WAS IN AND APPROVED THE VERY NEXT
WEEK. PRODUCTION,RETOUCHING AND SEPARATIONS WERE DONE AND
BY THE THIRD WEEK OF JANUARY, THE CAMPAIGN WAS RELEASED TO
THE MAGAZINES. NOT ONLY WAS THIIS CAMPAIGN DONE IN RECORD TIME,
BUT WAS ON-BUDGET AND EARNED THE CLIENT THE MOST EARNINGS
FROM ANY SINGLE LAUNCH. This ad was a composite of individual photographed pieces put
together in Photoshop. Bottle – reflection – splash (a plaster
THIS TRADE AD CAMPAIGN WON AN ART DIRECTION AWARD model made form my sketches) –drip – droplets – botanicals
and background were all photographed separately.
I composited them in a low res version with copy for approval,
then the Paintbox operator scanned my version and used it
as a pixel-to-pixel template to output the high res final
release version.

24. Advertising PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
Creatives Campaign
Business-To-Business
This ad was photographed on set as you see it on set

25. Advertising PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
Creatives Campaign
Business-To-Business
This ad was photographed on set as you see it on set
This ad was photographed on set as you see it on set

26. Advertising PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
Awapuhi Campaign/Business-To-Business
THIS TRADE AD CAMPAIGN
WON AN ART DIRECTION
AWARD
THIS CAMPAIGN STARTED OUT AS A SMALL
BROCHURE SENT OUT TO SALONS AND WAS SO
SUCCESSFUL IT WAS THEN TURNED INTO A
NATIONAL AD CAMPAIGN. THIS CONCEPT OF THIS
BROCHURE/AD CAMPAIGN WAS TO SHOW THE
SALONS THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF MANY OF THE
PRODUCTS – AWAPUHI GINGER. PAUL MITCHELL
GROWS THIS PARTICULAR INGREDIENT IN ONLY
ONE PLACE – A SOLAR POWERED FARM IN THE
JUNGLE, ON THE SIDE OF A DORMANT VOLCANO,
ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII. IT WAS GROWN,
HARVESTED, DRIED AND NATURALLY PROCESSED
USING ONLY SOLAR POWER. I SPENT THREE DAYS
ON THE FARM WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER.

27. Advertising
Business-To-Business Single Ads PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
PAUL MITCHELL
SALON LOGO
Ethnic Ads

28. Advertising
PAUL MITCHELL HAIRCARE
Consumer Ads — 1995 Campaign Consumer Ads — 1994 Campaign
GREYSCALE SERIES DUOTONE SERIES

29. Editorial
Romance Today Magazine
A STYLIST WAS HIRED TO GET THE
PROPS FOR ALL THE STILL-LIVE
SPREADS, BUT I DID ALL PHOTO SET
STYLING MYSELF.

30. Brochures
Paul Mitchell Haircare
WORKED DIRECTLY WITH VP OF
MARKETING IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND WOULD
PRESENT MY CONCEPTS VIA
FAX, FEDEX OR TELEPHONE.

31. Brochures Saks Fifth Avenue
Lord & Taylor
Catalog Division