Nossi College of Art, Nashville, TN

Graphic Design Coordinator / Creative Director / Instructor • Sep. 2016 – Feb. 2020

• Through extensive research, discovered financial discrepancy that saved $27k/year in marketing
• Completely rewrote 10 courses resulting in updating requirements to meet current industry skills and standards
• Discovered gaps in program curriculum and created three new courses to fill them
• Introduced Design Thinking and UI/UX processes into courses as a foundation for creative development
• Added cross-discipline projects to prepare students to manage real-world projects
• Created and directed a simulated internal ad agency. The group was staffed with graphic design, illustration, and photography students to create marketing materials for local non-profits. This resulted in a comprehensive advertising and marketing campaign with over 200 assets that, in one year, resulted in; $18,000 in donations, 40% more programs taught, and reached 87% more students.
• Successfully led, developed, designed, and launched new brand campaign consisting of print, outdoor, digital, video, social media, collateral, and experiential
• Created video tutorial’s for teaching Instructors how to use Moodle LMS (Learning Management System)
• Taught art college courses (from beginning to advanced) in advertising, branding, graphic design, typography, social media, and marketing

“Mr. Kristof is a true professional. He took over the Graphic Design Department at Nossi College three years ago and instituted many changes to advance the quality of the program. On top of managing the department, teaching courses and revising syllabi, Mr. Kristof acted as the in-house Creative Director for the college Marketing Department. During his tenure at Nossi, he created a unique brand identity and brand position for the college, tapping into the essence of why a creative chooses an art college for their education. I’ve worked with many designers over the last 25 years. Mr. Kristof taught me how important communication THROUGH design really is.“

— Cyrus Vatandoost, Executive Vice President, Nossi College of Art

Kristof Creative, Inc., Nashville, TN

Creative Director / Designer • Nov. 2001 – Sep. 2016

• Developed social media, content strategies, search engine optimization, and Internet marketing strategies
• Taught creative problem solving workshops and search engine marketing
• Created a search engine for Twitter that helped identify a drive-by shooter – leading to their arrest
• Additionally, designed, developed, and produced the following; 159 magazine and newspaper print ads, 64 Brand Identities, 62 Websites, 19 Brochures, 17 Posters, 14 Flyers, 16 Packaging Designs, 12 Radio Commercials, 10 Annual Reports, 10 PowerPoint Presentations, 10 Outdoor Campaigns, 8 Presentation folders, 8 Email Newsletters, 5 Infographics, 5 Trade-show Booths, 3 Book Covers, 2 Landing Pages, and 2 Long-form Video Scripts

B2B and B2C Clients included;

Banking & Financial Institutions, Education, Entertainment and Film, Food & Beverage, Global Research & Advocacy, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Public Relations, Sports, Travel & Leisure

Arnold Worldwide, McLean, VA

Associate Creative Director • Apr. 2001 – Nov. 2001

• Effie Award – Managed creative team in developing a bank acquisition/name change campaign for a regional bank resulting in an increase in deposits and virtually no loss of customers (versus 10% attrition considered average in a bank merger)
• Managed, supervised, and mentored creative group in creating advertising campaigns for print, direct mail, and broadcast
• Involved in new business pitches

Accounts included; Mobil Oil, Mobile On-the-Run, STIHL, PNC Bank, McDonalds, and Citizens Bank

AdMine.com, Herndon, VA

Associate Creative Director • Apr. 2000 – Dec. 2000

• Concept, art direction, and copywriting of 52 campaigns in 8 months for print, television, outdoor, and radio
• Managed team of 10 creatives and daily operation of production department
• Initiated advertising sales program to generate online sales and promotion of business services
• Developed and implemented internal process for managing creative advertising submissions
• Created and managed online production tips and procedures for the submission of creative content
• Created internal production network to organization and streamline creative

The Ramey Agency, Jackson, MS

Art Director > Senior Art Director • Jun. 1995 – Oct. 1998

• Created and art directed print advertising and TV commercial campaign’s for client’s in the Tourism, Banking, Financial, Car Audio, Healthcare, and Travel industries
• Created a economic development campaign that netted the state a 23% increase in jobs created by new businesses and a 15% increase in new business startups, at a time when new business creation experienced a seven percent drop-off nationally
• Created financial print ad which brought in $1.5 million and opened 172 new accounts
• Awarded Fortune magazine “Best Read Ad” — year-end, double-issue investment guide
• Won “BEST READ AD” in the year-end, double-issue investment guide of Fortune magazine — Fortune’s biggest and best seller of the year
• Won four “Best of Class” and one “Superior” award — Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) annual conference
• Won a “Platinum Award” from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association. The 30-second TV ad competed against more than 1,650 entries from 55 countries

Accounts included; American Diabetes Association, Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development, Mississippi Division of Tourism, PROMUS Hotel Corporation, Southern Audio Systems, St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Taste of the Nation, Union Planters Bank, and USA Pawn.

Effie Award – Bank acquisition/name change campaign resulting in an increase of deposits and virtually no loss of customers (versus 10% attrition considered average in a bank merger)

Created economic development campaign that netted the state a 23% increase in jobs created by new businesses and a 15% increase in new business startups, at a time when new business creation experienced a seven percent drop-off nationally.

Created financial print ad which brought in over $1.5 million in CD money and opened 172 new bank accounts.

Redesigned affiliate website resulting in a 4% increase in sales.

Created a search engine application for Twitter that helped identify a drive-by shooter

Branding

• Guardian of all aspects of brand including identity, style, tone, etc.
• Define, design, execute, and deliver brand identities for use across all media
• Conceive and implement brand guidelines and strategies and oversee them to completion

Direct Response

• Direct Mail, Direct Marketing, Email Marketing

Social Media

• Develop on- and off-line marketing strategies
• Create content strategies
• Deep understanding of social networks; Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, and TikTok
• Understanding social media channels and benefits and when, where, and how to use them

Web Design/Development

• Front-end development
• HTML, CSS, PHP
• UI/UX, Design/Development, and Mobile application design
• Information architecture, Wireframing, and Prototyping
• Website design, WordPress, Landing pages, eCommerce
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Design digital campaigns

Print Production

• In-depth knowledge of pre-press and print checks

Creative Honors

• London International Advertising Awards
• New York Festivals
• Creativity Annual
• Communication Arts Design Annual
• Collegiate Advertising Awards – Awarded 1 of only 7 Gold awards amongst all colleges in the nation.
• Numerous local & regional ADDY’s

Personal Achievements

• Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
• Jay Chiat and Lee Clow endowed scholarships based on creative portfolio
• 2nd Degree Black Belt, American Wado Karate-do Black Belt Association

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA

• BFA, Advertising

Palomar College, San Marcos, CA

• AA Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement
• AA Liberal Arts
• Police Reserve Academy Graduate

Computer and Technology Skills

Client Experience (Short List)

Industry Experience

Production Services

Public Relations

Public Service

Publishing

Radio

Real Estate

Religious

Restaurants

Retail (E-commerce)

Safety (& Security)

Sales

Software

Sports

Technology

Telecommunications

Toys

Transportation

Travel & Tourism

Utilities

Venture Capital

Wine & Spirits