Independent Web Designer

Award Winning Visual Layout

Professional Profile
Accomplished designer with a proven ability to research a wide variety of industrial products, innovate new ways of integrating and presenting information about these items and research customer website behavior, create web layouts that help customers find information intuitively, present and defend ideas to all levels of management, implement design, and test functionality.

Catherine can work independently and see a project from inception to delivery, with a broad artistic style that fits the needs of our wide range of clients. She keeps up-to-date with changes in the industry through professional affiliations and continuing professional development.

Areas of Expertise:
• Strong artistic aptitude
• Ability to come up with concepts and storyboards that engages, attracts, communicates, and sells
• Skill and experience designing eye-catching and effective graphics
• Assess Web strategy and design changes
• Manage and upgrade the content management solution as new web trends and client needs change
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaboration and brainstorming sessions
• Ability to strategize the big picture and develop tactics to execute that strategy
• Experience with HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Excellent writing skills

Experience:
2001 - present
Lead Designer for Your Plan B Company

Evolved from a part time internship to a full time position on the team, Catherine adds the perfect combination of visual design, technical knowledge and teamwork.

Her work on the Hoosier Grove Museum website was rewarded with the highest honor from the Illinois Association of Museums in 2003. Awarded again in 2004, for her work with another online museum project (The Chicago Historical Society's My Chicago). As the company grows, she is the go-to person for flash, web design and html.

Clients include:
• Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
• Gallup Organization
• Intuit
• The Chicago History Museum
• Navy Pier
• Hoosier Grove Museum

(Full list of clients and testimonials available at YourPlanB.com)

Awards include:
2003 IAM Superior Achievement Award
2003 Better Business Bureau No Complaints Award
2004 IAM Superior Achievement Award
2006 Webby Honoree
2008 Museums and the Web Best of the Web 2008 : Educational
2008 Muse Award Winners: TEACHING AND OUTREACH
2008 AAM Award for Excellence Nominee
2009 American Library Associaton | Great Web Sites for Kids

2000-2001
Internship at The Chicago Historical Society
Catherine worked on web projects as well as research for the Chicago Historical Society. She also worked with committees in implementing many of the projects she worked on. Here is a sampling of some of those projects:

• The American Presidency: Created Flash trailer to announce the upcoming exhibit. It's purpose to highlight several objects in the show.
• Fashion, Flappers, n' All That Jazz: Created template design for promotional site, flash trailer made to reflect actual exhibition and to serve as an online exhibition after the exhibit came down.
• History Files research.
• ABC Book: Created corresponding website for this CHS publication.
• Snapshots: Created website for displaying images from the Chicago Daily News.
• Gallery Directory and Map: Layout brochure for the museum in both English and Spanish.
• Fifth Annual Civil War Symposium brochure: Layout.
• Layout for such print pieces as: Senior Day, History of Sports ad, select ads for the CHS awards ceremony booklet.

June 1999- August 1999
Internship at The Library of Congress. American Folklife Center. Washington DC.
Catherine worked on preserving analog tape reels as well as expanding the New Hampshire Finding Aide during her time at the Library of Congress.

• Created reference tapes of original analog tape reels.
• Transcribed analog tape reels.
• Inventory of records, filing, etc.

Education:
2008-10 Woodworking, Chicago School of Woodworking. Chicago IL
2007-08 Screen-printing & Etching, Lillstreet Art Center. Chicago, IL
2007 Woodworking, JKChicago. Chicago, IL
2005-2006 Woodworking, Chicago Bauhaus Academy. Chicago, IL
2000-2006 Clawhammer Banjo, Old Town School of Folk Music. Chicago, IL

2002 BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL
Major: Art and Technology,
Minor: Sound Design
Fellowship Award Recipient for an original sound piece.

Selected Exhibitions & Art Awards (View her website: CatherineLarson.com):
2009. ArtWalk Ravenswood, Chicago School of Woodworking. Chicago, IL
            Labor/Labour, Hot Shops Art Center. Omaha, NE
2008. Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Grantee
           ArtWalk Ravenswood, Chicago School of Woodworking. Chicago, IL
           Selections from the Crazy Eights, Jewish Community Center, Omaha, NE
           The Crazy Eights and the 88 Lesser Themes, Hot Shops Art Center, Omaha, NE
           eMotion Pictures: An Exhibition of Orthopaedics in Art, Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA & Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
2007. The Most Artist Friendly Art Auction, ArtWalk Ravenswood, Chicago, IL
           Disability Studies in Education Conference, Arts Club of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2006. ArtWalk Ravenswood, The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL
           Navigation/Negotiation, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL
2004. Alumni Art Exhibition, Kreeger Gallery, Potomac MD.
2002. Undergraduate Exhibition, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
           CODE, 1926 Exhibition Studies Space
1999. First Year Program Exhibit, Gallery 2. Chicago IL.