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Hello! I am

Gregory M. Yates

Designer & Artist

‪(412) 467-6450‬

Pittsburgh, PA

About me

A creative in Pittsburgh, PA

Passionate designer and artist weaving innovation and strategy into captivating visual narratives

With over 15 years of experience, I’ve excelled as both an individual contributor and a team leader in the creative design industry, consistently advancing and shaping brand identities. As a seasoned Creative Director, I’ve collaborated with Marketing and Engineering to craft captivating visual narratives for websites, print materials, and brand voices. My extensive history as a Designer showcases expertise in Graphics, Logo Design, Branding, User Experience, and Photography, all infused with an innovative philosophy that seamlessly merges artistic expression and design acumen, creating a truly distinct approach.

Experience

Founder & Designer

Elephant in the Room, Productions

2014 – Present

  • Specialize in Fine Arts Advertisement, blending artistic interpretation with strategic design to engage a new type of potential client.
  • Led branding and website development projects for up-and-coming startups in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating distinctive logos, icons, and marketing materials that shaped the overall brand identity.
  • Designed both the visual aesthetic and functionality of client websites, ensuring a cohesive brand experience across all platforms.
  • Enhanced the online presence and profitability of several rebranded businesses through strategic design and marketing efforts.
  • Utilize such tech as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, XD, Indesign, Github, WordPress, Figma, HTML, JQuery, CSS, SVG, and Google Analytics to deliver high-quality results and monitor performance.

Lead Designer

Zazzle.com. Inc.

2010 – 07/2014

  • Managed a team of 5 to 10 designers, leading key projects in website design, advertising, product design assets, and branding for prominent brands like Star Wars, Marvel, The Knot, Barbie, and DC Comics.
  • Partnered with the marketing department on email campaigns and Facebook ads, and collaborated with the engineering department to develop and implement product assets.
  • Spearheaded internationalization efforts leading a team of 8, translating and designing culturally appropriate visual assets for i18n sites across multiple regions, including the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Spain, France, and more.
  • Assisted in photography for the “real views” featured on the website, ensuring high-quality visual representations of products.

Image Team Lead Manager

Zazzle.com. Inc.

2007 – 07/2009

  • Managed a team of 5 full-time employees and up to 25 contractors, overseeing the production and editing of real views assets.
  • Spearheaded the creation of a dedicated photo room and utilized advanced equipment to enhance product images for the website.
  • Reworked assets from top brands, including Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, and Getty Images, to create a wide array of marketable products.

Digital Restoration & Design

Zazzle.com. Inc.
2004 – 07/2006
  • Performed digital restoration of historical photographs and lithographs for prestigious institutions, including The Library of Congress, The Bancroft Library, and Hoover Institute.
  • Utilized Photoshop to restore and prepare images for official use and sales on The Library of Congress website.

Photographer, Intern

Oakland Raiders

08/2002 – 02/2003

  • Captured photos and videos of all team practices at the Alameda headquarters as well as home games at the Network Associates Coliseum; providing essential visual content for the Raider’s official team’s website.
  • Documented off-site events, including Raiderette cheerleader performances, football player events, and appearances by players’ wives during concerts, benefits, school speeches, and community outreach programs.
  • Assisted with website layout, ensuring seamless integration of visual content.

I’ve gotten to work with some amazing brands!

Education & SKills

Skills

N

Creative Direction

N

Graphic Design

N

Branding & Identity

N

UX/UI Design

N

Logo Design

Tufts University, Medford, MA

Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts

Immersing in artistic theories, design principles, and collaborative endeavors that refined a distinctive artistic philosophy. Explored a wide spectrum of creative realms, setting the stage for a career marked by merging creativity with strategic design thinking.

Boston School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

Diploma in Graphic Design

Specializing in Graphic Design with a focus on crafting compelling visual narratives. Acquired hands-on expertise in Graphic Design, Logo Design, and Branding.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

The MIT Exchange Program in Sculptural Design
Participated in a transformative sculptural design exchange program with MIT, further enriching my creative repertoire and enhancing my hands-on expertise in the realm of three-dimensional art.

Recent Work

Discovery Inc.

Burberry

McDonalds

Quba & Co.

References

This is where writing the standard recommendation just doesn't quite cut it. Having worked alongside Greg in tech valley for close to a decade, it's easy to say that he's the most prolific artist I've met in my career (on and off the computer). As a graphic designer it's easy to get bogged down in pixel-perfection and churn out, so it was refreshing to see how Greg could maintain balance, with his hands in an array of creative mediums — design, painting, podcasts, music, comedy, you name it. He also brings levity to any work environment with an unmatched sense of humor, and out-of-the box ideas that resumes can't capture. I'm most proud to call greg a friend, but a close second is a fellow artist whose collection of work has been a lamp post throughout my own creative journey.

— Heidi Skinner

Are you looking for a Swiss Army knife for all things related to creative design? Greg’s skill set is multifaceted. His creative artistic abilities are unparalleled. When coupled with his in-depth understanding of web/ad design, and copywriting skills that result in high conversion rates, a winning combination is unleashed. Highly recommend!

— Jeff French

Greg is continually working to ensure his wealth of knowledge is beyond up-to-date. His web design is incredibly effective in bringing much needed growth to our business, and his expertise and availability has unceasingly ensured our success. With Greg's guidance, we have been able to make huge advances during the pandemic. With the fast paced changes of covid; Greg has been quick to respond to any website changes. We received near constant feedback regarding the quality of our webpage. If you are considering using Greg, we cannot recommend him enough!

— Margaret Tassi

Working with Greg at z was always a pleasure, as his talents know no bounds. Beyond his extraordinary human, artistic, and design talents, lies someone who always has time to help a friend or client in need, even when it comes at great personal sacrifice. His design talents are buoyed by a set of practical and organizational skills not often found in people with his innate abilities. We co-owned some of the most arduous, painstaking projects together, often with thousands of moving pieces, and Greg never once let me or the team down. One day I hope to have the means to fill my entire house with his art.

— Eric Matson

Let’s Start Something new

Say Hello

I’m always seeking new creative projects, commissions, and career opportunities. Please, do not hesitate to contact me.

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