Brian Cole is the guy behind 921creative. (Yes, that's me.) With over 14 years of professional graphic and web design experience centered in the Phoenix area, I've evolved with the industry as it has moved from print to web, from the internet as a passive tool to the dynamic interactivity and explosive growth of Web 2.0.
I offer more than just a knowledge of popular graphic software applications. I'm a hugely creative thinker, and I get excited when faced with how best to market a client or organization through uniquely clever designs, taglines, and captivating text. I believe a professional identity is critical to the success of a company. I believe it takes the right combination of design skill and an inherent understanding of an organization's driving force to pull that off. I'm a highly skilled writer and editor and use that ability to complement my designs. I use the right side of my brain at least 18 hours a day and I'm fueled by Cherry Coke!
Bottom line...I love what I do and I love to help organizations stand out amid the chaos and frenzy of the new media landscape.
2002-Present
921creative | Owner; Graphic Designer
Sun City, AZ
Freelance business under which I've serviced multiple corporate and non-profit clients. Projects range from large-scale web sites to logo concepts with full identity and branding, from water bottle labels to video production and movie promotional tie-ins.
1997-2002, 2006-Present
Community Church of Joy | Web & Graphic Designer
Glendale, AZ
Solely responsible for design and maintenance of web site for 7,000+ member church. Graphic design for multiple projects including annual reports, wall displays, brochures, flyers, sermon series themes, stationery sets, new campus logo and identity, signage, newspaper, and much more. Also created identity and branding for Joy Christian School, which shares the church campus.
1994-1997
Lockheed Martin | Visual Information Specialist
Goodyear, AZ
After interning in the Publications Dept. for two years, I was hired as a full-time employee at the age of 22. I was responsible for the design of the division newsletter, corporate proposals and briefings, brochures, wall displays, security badge design, and assisted in the development of our intranet at the emergence of the web revolution.
Software: Adobe CS3 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, InDesign, Dreamweaver, After Effects); Final Cut Pro; Microsoft Office Suite & Apple iWork; Safari; Firefox; Mac OS X 10.5.
90% of my day is spent switching back and forth between Photoshop and Dreamweaver! I'm extremely driven to produce the highest quality, most impactful designs possible. Deadlines and the pressure of a quick turnaround help me clarify my vision and plan for maximum impact despite a short schedule.
Additional Skills: Proficient writer and editor; Prepress layout and typesetting with an emphasis on clean, breathable designs; Self-motivated and work well in teams or on my own. 100% CSS, table-less web pages! Capable of dynamic, database-driven sites using PHP/MySQL. A creative monster! I'm always visualizing new ways to lay out a page or adjust the composition of a logo just enough for it to have a more powerful impact! I love challenging myself to turn my thoughts and ideas into working designs that sell, promote, inspire and entertain.
Contact me: brian@921creative.com