MICHAEL M. REUST
Austin, TX 78741

Professional info
I'm a multi-talented individual, who's not only out of the box, but otherworldly. I've had a non-traditional and very broad range of career and life experience, which gives me unique insight, an offbeat sense of humor, integrity and many overlapping skills and resources. I like to get my hands dirty, and make things that improve the world and people's experience of it.
Work experience
Freelance Designer, Illustrator and Audio Engineer
1995 - present
I'm now, and have been several times, making most of my income with freelance work. I have several satisfied clients, a few of them regulars. One whom I'm the de facto Creative Director for. One flyer campaign I designed and implemented doubled an auto garage's monthly business literally overnight. Several of my posters have won recognition and entered many private collections. A series of stickers I recently printed recouped the initial investment in one day. Due to economic factors, I've done much "paying bills" and volunteer work, but things are picking up again, and I'm glad to be using my skills.
Senior Designer, Engius, L.L.C
Stillwater, OK, 2005 - 2006
When returning to college, I spent some time working for Engius, a company that makes concrete technology. I produced a wide range of collateral and ads for this company, and also served as copy writer. Budgetary concerns made it a brief engagement, though I later did much contract work for the company. One of those jobs was turning a large and complex trade show booth into a realistic but lightweight simulacrum of a construction site.
Lead Graphic Artist, Journal Record Publishing Co.
Oklahoma City, OK, 2003 - 2004
During my time at the Journal Record, an established business and legal newspaper, my primary job was creating covers and occasional book design for numerous annual publications. I'd also help out with ad creation when things got busy, dealt closely with the sales team, and tutored two interns in Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark techniques.
Senior Designer, Grafik Images Creative Services
Oklahoma City, OK, 2001 - 2003
Grafik Images was a small but busy full-service design agency, specializing in print and promotional products. As the primary creative, I managed to delight several of their most demanding clients, garnering a great deal of referral business. With a very wide range of jobs and clients, I got an intensive education in pre-press, typography and business; a strong foundation of skills and knowledge to build upon.
Education
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
BFA Illustration / Graphic Design and BA Studio Art, 2004 - 2008
Skills
Expert Skills:
Photoshop CS5
Adobe Bridge
Camera Raw
InDesign
Illustrator
Corel Painter
Sketchbook Pro
Manga Studio (a secret weapon) Quark
Macromedia Freehand
Photography and Editing
Hand Illustration / Fine Art
(many traditional media)
Hand Lettering / Custom Type
Screen Printing / Merchandising Offset and Digital Printing
Large Format Printing
Trade Show Booths
PC Hardware and OS (Installation and Configuration)
Marketing and Strategy
Copy Writing
Proofreading and Editing
Book and Periodical Design
Audio Recording and Production
Live Sound / P.A. / Lighting
Multi-Instrumentalist
Voice Overs
Philosophy and Religion
Sociology and Politics
Stretching Tiny Budgets
DIY Production Techniques
Music Business
Event Production
Experience In:
Storyboarding
Videography
After Effects
Premiere Pro
Lightwave
Maya
HTML / CSS
GoLive
Flash
Social Media
SEO
Mac OS
Ubuntu OS
GUI Design
Industrial Design
Concept Art
Technical Illustration
2010 - present
2010 - present
I was fortunate to have the guidance of some excellent and diverse mentors. I earned several scholarships, made the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List, and showed in numerous exhibitions. I did all this in a year less than is expected for only one of the two degrees earned.
Recording And Radio Connection, Los Angeles, CA
1999 -2001
This was a correspondence-based course that pairs students with real working studios. I interned in Studio 7, one of the bigger studios in Oklahoma, which is famous for having a 100% analog and tube signal chain. I also installed a digital recording room for this studio.