HISTORY:
EDUCATION: Drake University, 1976-1980
BFA
EXPERIENCE:
Collective Concepts - 1980-1988
Full service old school design and production house, providing design, illustration, production, photography, key lining, "stripping" and print-ready film production. Worked directly with every aspect of a project, and refined my design skills.
Stu Gang and Associates - 1985-1988
Small advertising agency who collaborated with Collective Concepts and utilized me as their in-house creative director.
Cevette and Company - 1989-2000
Heavy B2B/ConsumerCreative agency, awarded with some consumer work. Moved from designer to CD to Partner, while working in roles from Primary illustrator and Design Director to Project Manager and Art Buyer and Client Relations arenas, We served Norwest Bank, Minnesota Corn Growers (E85), MNAids Project (now JustUS) and Park National Bank. Developed my illustration skills, my project management know how and my focused marketing/design approach.
PUTMAN ILLUSTRATION & DESIGN - 2000-2020
Freelance Design and Illustration Services for Agencies, Design Firms and Designers, Publishers, Innovators and Entrepreneurs. Through partners like Adholics, Antonelli Advertising, Portage Marketing, Peloquin Designs, Foster Avenue and others I have created work for Surdyk's, 6Smith, Math Monkey, RMSenergy, Securian Financial, Valiant Wealth, Timberlodge Steakhouse, Welna Hardware, Mohawk Moving, Bay & Bay Transportation and so many more.
Not to mention the Children's Books through Legacy and Wise Ink and Sportgirl publishing.
RECENT AWARDS
Agency: Foster Avenue
Winner of the 2017 INTERNATIONAL MARCOM AWARDS GOLD AWARD
for RMS ENERGY WEBSITE DESIGN
Agency: Foster Avenue
Winner of the 2019 DOTCOMM AWARDS
GOLD AWARD for
MIDSTATES ENERGY CO. LLC
MICHAEL PUTMAN
Designer/
Illustrategist
Illustrategist. What does that mean? Well, partly it means I don't fit well into boxes or cubicles (which is why I have been independent for two decades). But mainly it is a way to describe my process. So many designers and illustrators are salespeople of their own unique style. That's great, I celebrate it, and many marketers want to use that to their advantage. I see creating design and illustration work differently. Like a chameleon, I have always intentionally adapted my design process and illustration styles to each unique client need. Strategically. Style and substance driven by branding and mission. But I digress. Best to start from the first thumbnail...
It could be said that I was born with a pencil in my hand. An artist from childhood, but a jack of all trades by wiring, I was driven to a career in creating imagery. My abilities were polished and trained through education, 20 years in the design and advertising worldand another 20 years as an established independent designer and illustrator developing a broad skill set and client list (Refer to the the list to the side).
As a forty-year veteran, I have both depth and breadth of experience in serving my clients and providing a wide range of solutions to their marketing opportunities. I embrace the "chameleon" role, as comfortable designing a spot-on logo for a new venture as I am creating a powerful illustration that can communicate a client’s core message quickly and effectively. I crave strategy and a well-crafted creative brief makes me giddy. Each new project makes me thirsty for my next opportunity to use design and illustration to solve even more challenging marketing puzzles. I am thrilled to be able to partner with so many really talented individuals and agencies! That list is now expanding into illustrated children's books, which has become a new passion for me. I really enjoy bringing a story to life, and am thrilled to be working with a few publishing houses.
I am blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, and would relish a chance to collaborate with you to create some power creative product. Visit my contact page to send me a message,