Drop Dead Solutions began in 2003 as a small freelance company out of the house. It continues to operate out of the home but is capable of handling agency size work on a fair budget. With experience in multiple areas of visual communications, including print, web, video, and copywriting, we can produce the results you need and in a timely fashion.

Ed Blinn, Resume

Career Highlights

  • Have successfully been in a leadership position while involved in accreditation visits from ACICS.
  • Successfully designed, produced and press-checked marketing collateral for an internal marketing department with an annual budget of over 20M.
  • Have successfully trained employees on technology advancements in a retail environment with over 2M annually in revenue and a staff of over 30.
  • I have repeatedly proven my exceptional attention to detail by having almost no press errors in the past 5 years.

Successful Work Habits

  • Ability to lead large groups of people with various educational and social backgrounds.
  • The ability to adapt and relate with a vast array of personality types.
  • Exceptional creative talent with a penchant for typography and layout.
  • Experienced with press checks and fine-tuning printed pieces to yield the best possible output.
  • Adept at handling production problems by actively seeking creative solutions.
  • Exceptional writing and communication skills.
  • Over 10 years of successful leadership roles.

Work Experience:

Westwood College, 3/2003 to present
Program Director/Full-time Instructor/Adjunct Instructor

  • Successful in leading a department through accreditation visits, hiring of appropriate faculty, controlling retention, curriculum design, and faculty training and development.
  • Instructor of the Term, April 2004
  • Consistently achieve high Faculty Evaluation scores from students.
  • Successfully teach all relevant software applications to students of all types.
  • Along with key faculty, led a group of students to win several Fort Worth Addy Awards while being up against TCU, TCC and UTA, with some students winning the highest awards.

Brink's Home Security, 10/2000 to 3/2003
Art Director

  • Creative lead on all aspects of marketing and creative resources, mostly in direct response and collateral materials.
  • Responsible for the complete execution of all creative ideas and other assigned projects.
  • Successfully managed an art production schedule with more than 100 ads per month.
  • Directing photo shoots when necessary.
  • Managing all aspects of print production, including pre-press, press checks, and finishing.
  • Developing a working relationship with people in a “corporate culture”.
  • Working with our ad agencies and ensuring they are staying efficient and following through with all of their media placement

Tarrant County College, 8/2001 to 12/2001
Adjunct Professor

  • Taught students of all ages the principles and history of PC Hardware
  • Instructed and demonstrated how to build and repair PC computers.

The Nelson Group, 5/2000 to 10/2000
Asst. Art Director/Production Artist

  • Responsible for production of all materials set forth by the Creative Director.
  • Was involved with creative team in the decision making process.
  • Interacted with printers and other media producers to ensure top quality products.
  • Constantly learning from my Creative Director all aspects of the trade.

Maverick Advertising, 11/1999 to 5/2000
Internship

  • Education employment, which introduced me to the “real world” aspects of the advertising trade.
  • Accompanied Art Directors on various assignments, including: photo shoots, press checks, vendor meetings and various other tasks.
  • Developed a good rapport with agency Principals for future relationships.

Kinko’s Copy Center, 4/1995 to 5/2000
Assistant Manager of Technology

  • Part of management team that led the branch to record monthly sales and annual sales.
  • Trained all branch employees on technology transitions and policies.
  • Successfully hired, trained and mentored all Desktop Publishing staff when necessary.
  • Was considered to be “the guy” all the other stores called upon when in dire need or when the Regional Technology Manager was unavailable.
  • Completed many company wide training programs that focused on leadership development and production efficiency.

Education:

Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA
Master of Arts in Graphic Design, projected graduation, Dec 2007

University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Communications, May 2000

Tarrant County College
Associate of Arts Degree, May 1996

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