Sandra Rutan Gifford

Sandra R. Gifford Sedona, Arizona 86351-|- Online Portfolio: http://www.pomona1.com/Start_Demo.html CAREER SUMMARY Seasoned Graphic Artist, Illustrator, Interface Designer and Video Editor, bringing decades of experience applying technical and creative abilities to diverse customer projects. Highly effective at collaborating with creative, project, production, usability and administrative leadership to complete tasks according to budget and schedule goals. Seeking a telecommute position, having four years’ remote experience in a dedicated home office with minimal supervision, adopting new technologies regularly. SKILLS        Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch 3D animation: Autodesk Maya, Blender Web: HTML5, CSS, Dreamweaver Video: Adobe After Effects Interface design and requirements Brand development and design guidelines Usability testing        Project Management Copy writing, including for eLearning Microsoft Office Video Conferencing (Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts) Instant Messaging (Google Hangouts) New technology adopted on a regular basis Problem solving WORK EXPERIENCE Graphic Designer and Video Editor (Contract/Remote) Knowlore Studios | Huntsville, AL | September 2015 – Present  Design, illustrate and video edit online courses, helping to explain complicated concepts to students.  Assisted in bringing Cornell University’s curriculum online and available to a wider and more geographically diverse student body, thereby increasing revenues. Lead Interaction and Graphic Designer Paychex Incorporated | Rochester, NY | November 2008 – February 2016  Prototyped highly interactive user interfaces according to usability best practices, wrote detailed interface requirements and created final graphics for extensive projects, helping to create a more usable product, which increased customer satisfaction and product ratings.  Projects such as Job Costing/Labor Distribution and Professional Employer Organization grew the client base to include larger companies with more complex payrolls, increasing revenue. Awarded the quarterly team award. eLearning Developer/Web Master Rochester City School District | Rochester, NY | June 2005 – September 2008  The district required SharePoint training for 12,000 staff members, and the usual solution of rotating employees through a dozen computer labs would not work for such a large number. Created an eLearning course, which solved the problem. Promoted to eLearning Developer, reporting directly to the CIO Ford Greene.  Developed and wrote curriculums, designed screens, created graphics and animations, wrote code, and usability tested training courses for Chancery’s Student Management System, PeopleSoft, IEP Direct, and the SharePoint Intranet, which helped increase staff productivity and soothe relations between the district and the unions.  Designed graphics for, and coded the Business Services website and the Faculty Application Kiosk, which improved communications and brought in new teaching talent. EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts: Art Studio and Psychology (Double major) SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo, NY Summa Cum Laude (Grade point average 4.0 out of possible 4.0) ACCOMPLISHMENTS Faced with a need for additional training for Financial Aid Administrators, single-handedly produced a 200 page online interactive course, which increased the number of colleges placing The Student Loan Corporation on their preferred vendor list, thereby significantly increasing the number of student loans the company originated. Help desk calls for simple website questions comprised the bulk of Student Loan Corporation calls. Therefore architected a usability study and redesigned the original website, which greatly reduced the number of calls, saving the company significant administrative costs. Received the People’s Choice Award. The Army Corp of Engineers needed to communicate the details of a new river dam building technique, and so produced a 45 minute, 3D animated video. This helped to get the project approved by the Philadelphia city planners and saved millions of dollars by eliminating the need for cofferdams. David Ridenour, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, wrote, “…work was completed to a high degree of quality and on schedule, bringing alive the concepts of this innovative project.” Out of dozens of artist submissions to Second Avenue Software, won the Lead 3D artist position for the game project, Martha Madison’s Marvelous Machines, which encouraged middle-school girls’ interest in the sciences. 2D and 3D visual designer for computer games, Dark Angael and Synnergist, by Vicarious Visions, finishing the graphics within an aggressive timeline while sole animator on staff. Lead designer and graphic project manager for Ford Motors “The Interview Process,” a multimedia training course, resulting in J.A.M. Inc. receiving a rating of “very satisfied” for almost all categories of Ford’s Supplier Standards. Brought the $100,000 project in 10% under budget. Pat Ramsey of Ford wrote, “Graphics look awesome: APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!” Designed Ford Motors “New Business” multimedia interface, resulting in J.A.M. receiving the $1,000,000 project. Jean Condren of Ford commented, “We absolutely love it; everyone here is so excited about the look of this show.” Lead designer and graphic project manager on four multimedia courses for PowerSoft. Managed six other designers. Came in under budget by 140 hours, maximizing revenues. Eric Zenor of PowerSoft commented, “The graphics look incredible!”