My name is Justin Rose. I have worked as a professional artist since my graduation from Kendall College of Art and Design (Grand Rapids, MI.) During that time I have added to my skill set, enjoyed professional success, and most importantly created a lot of really great illustration and graphic design. I have proven myself to be versatile and knowledgeable as an artist, and can instinctively adapt my design sensibilities to reflect the needs and achieve the goals of project. My personality allows for flexibility, and I am eager and able to learn about new techniques and tools. I have extensive experience in design and layout of all kinds. I have worked with globally recognized brands and have created fresh new branding for local entrepreneurs. My areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, design for advertising, signage, magazine and newspaper layout, traditional and electronic newsletters, websites, maps, children’s story and activity books, traditional and digital illustration, brand management, team management and art direction. I continue to draw daily, paint often, and generally immerse myself in art, design, typography, and color.
Creating art and design is not only my profession, its my passion. This line of work is all I’ve ever done, and all I’ve ever wanted to do. I bring a lifetime of dedication to my craft with me to every place I have ever worked. When I commit to work with an organization, I go all in and devote all my talent to that mission. I started my career as a typesetter at a print shop and eventually became a Creative Director, leading teams of designers to do our best work, always strategic, to support to goals and objectives of sales, marketing and the organization as a whole.
I’ve always been a leader, and often times a mentor. I am a player-coach that can’t live without getting involved in projects directly. I’ve inherited great teams and built them from scratch, and my teams have done some really great work.
Please enjoy this small sampling of my work, as well as a brief career history and synopsis of the professional experiences I have had. Each step along the way has taught me new ways to make art, and new ways to work with people.
Education:
Kendall College of Art & Design
Grand Rapids, MI | 1994 - 1999
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Central St. Martin’s College & Chelsea College of Art & Design
London, England | June - August 1998
Semester abroad program through Kendall College of Art and Design
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Rose Creative, Inc.
2017 - Present
In 2017 I launched my freelance career and founded Rose Creative,Inc. With a large roster of both local and national clients, and a small team of like-minded freelancers, we continue to grow the business with new clients and new ways to serve them. We excel at the brand management for small to mid-sized companies. We design or redesign brands from scratch, and we implement visual and messaging strategies that keep brands looking stunning, with consistency, and speaking with one cohesive voice.
What started as a small freelance illustration and graphic design practice and has grown into an organization. We specialize in the following types of work:
• Illustration
• Logos, branding, and graphic design
• Website design, development and hosting
• Printing services
• Animation and video
• Presentations
Creative Consultant
ClearEdge Marketing
Chicago, IL | 2017 - Present
As a creative consultant at ClearEdge Marketing, I work with writers, designers, developers and marketing experts to execute strategic marketing plans and campaigns for a wide variety of B2B clients. We work primarily in the technology and staffing space, but are not limited to those industries. The pace of business is fast and the scope of projects are wide ranging, and can evolve as they go. At ClearEdge I function not only as a consultant and a creative director, but I am still heavily involved in the design work and delivery.
Creative Director
The Quell Group
Troy, MI | 2014 - 2017
Reporting directly to the CEO, I assisted the leadership team in all aspects of the visual creative process at this small branding firm. This involved leading and attending brainstorming sessions, estimating, working with Account Managers, resource management and vendor relations. I helped to build and manage a dedicated team of design professionals, who turned client vision into trackable reality.
Freelance Illustrator/ Graphic Designer
The Children’s Center
The Children’s Center
helps Detroit’s most vulnerable children by providing
clinical, behavioral and academic support as well
as emergency crisis care.
helps Detroit’s most vulnerable children by providing
clinical, behavioral and academic support as well
as emergency crisis care.
Detroit, MI | 2011 - 2020
Working directly with the TCC Marketing Department, I create illustrations and design concepts for Children’s Center promotions and events. I created a custom library of illustrations for TCC in-house use. Working in tandem with writers and TCC staff, I have designed complete campaigns, print and digital collateral, children’s books, coloring books, program books, animations, presentation graphics and more.
Presentation Manager / Lead Designer Consumer Marketing
Detroit Media Partnership (michigan.com)
Detroit, MI | 2012 - 2014
I led a talented team of graphic designers and copywriters who created advertisements for clients running ads in Detroit Media Partnership publications in print and digital formats. We created live ads, print and digital, as well as spec ads and presentations to arm our sales force with the full range of the company’s creative abilities. My primary focus was in-house marketing material. From collaboration with Marketing, Editorial and Advertising departments through to the realization of full promotional campaigns. My duties include the maintenance of a strict deadline cycle, creative coaching, quality control of output, acting as liaison between creative and other departments, and attending to the day-to-day operational needs of the designers and the department.
Design Director / Production Manager / Contributing Illustrator
Detroit Metro Times
Detroit, MI | 2003 - 2012
As Design Director, I was charged with the maintenance and further exploration of the Metro Times brand. Detroit Metro Times is an alternative news weekly with a tradition of award winning journalism and community outreach. My job was to represent our mission visually and to enrich our content with enticing imagery. I designed, illustrated or art directed all covers. Other duties included all editorial page layout, copy flow, managing freelancer art, and occasional writing. I arranged and attended photo shoots, and collaborated directly with photographers on-site. In addition, I worked closely with the Web, Production and Promotions departments on Metro Times campaigns, event promotions, web content, and daily design related concerns. In the role of Production Manager, I managed a team of graphic designers primarily responsible for the design and creation of print and web ads running in the pages of Metro Times and on metrotimes.com. Responsibilities included weekly pagination and book layout, communication with and delivery of content to the printer, issue archiving, and in-house design. As a member of the paper’s management team, I worked with the Publisher and all department heads on strategies for innovation and the continued success of the paper.
Graphic Designer
Palace of Auburn Hills, Home of the three time NBA Champion Detroit Pistons
Auburn Hills, MI | 2008 - 2009
In the Palace Creative Group I worked independently and in team settings to create logos, illustrations, posters, ads for print and web, large scale in-arena graphics, apparel, signage and more. Following established branding guidelines, I created marketing material for the Detroit Pistons, Shock, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Asheville Tourists (Minor League Baseball team in Asheville, NC), as well as collateral material and ads for national touring acts. Weekly creative meetings, which included brainstorming, critique and presentations, made sure that all designers were engaged in the process by virtue of creative transparency and peer review. I communicated with sales, marketing and other departments to design customized solutions meant to enhance the Palace visitor experience.