About
Garrett Griess
Sutton, Nebraska USA
2002-2004Central Community College
- Hastings, NE
Associate of Applied Science Degree - Media Arts
Diploma - Graphic Design
Honor Graduate - Media Arts / Graphic Arts
1989-2002Sutton Public Schools - Sutton, NE
High School Diploma
Programming Languages
| Skill Name | Skill Level | Last Used | Experience |
| ActionScript | Intermediate | Currently | 10 Yrs. |
| Ajax | Beginner | Currently | 3 Yrs. |
| ASP | Beginner | Currently | 4 Yrs. |
| CSS | Expert | Currently | 8 Yrs. |
| HTML | Expert | Currently | 12 Yrs. |
| ImageMagick | Intermediate | Currently | 3 Yrs. |
| Java | Intermediate | Currently | 8 Yrs. |
| JavaScript | Intermediate | Currently | 8 Yrs. |
| MySQL | Expert | Currently | 6 Yrs. |
| Perl | Intermediate | Currently | 8 Yrs. |
| PHP | Expert | Currently | 6 Yrs. |
| RSS | Intermediate | Currently | 4 Yrs. |
| VBScript | Beginner | 3 Yrs. ago | 1 Yrs. |
| XML | Intermediate | Currently | 4 Yrs. |
Software
| Skill Name | Skill Level | Last Used | Experience |
| Acid Pro | Intermediate | Currently | 1 Yrs. |
| Acrobat | Intermediate | Currently | 2 Yrs. |
| After Effects | Beginner | Currently | 1 Yrs. |
| Audition | Intermediate | Currently | 1 Yrs. |
| Cinema 4D | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| CorelDRAW | Intermediate | Currently | 2 Yrs. |
| CorelTRACE | Intermediate | 3 Yrs. ago | 2 Yrs. |
| Director | Intermediate | 6 Yrs. ago | 1 Yrs. |
| DRAWings | Intermediate | Currently | 2 Yrs. |
| Dreamweaver | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| Firefox | Expert | Currently | 6 Yrs. |
| Fireworks | Expert | Currently | 12 Yrs. |
| Flash | Expert | Currently | 10 Yrs. |
| Freehand | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| Illustrator | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| Image Ready | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| InDesign | Intermediate | Currently | 2 Yrs. |
| Internet Explorer | Expert | Currently | 12 Yrs. |
| LifeCycle Designer | Beginner | Currently | 2 Yrs. |
| MS Office | Expert | Currently | 12 Yrs. |
| Photoshop | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
| PHPMyAdmin | Expert | Currently | 6 Yrs. |
| PowerPoint | Expert | Currently | 12 Yrs. |
| Premiere | Intermediate | Currently | 4 Yrs. |
| Quark | Expert | Currently | 7 Yrs. |
2004Honor Graduate - Media Arts/Graphic Art
Central Community College
2002-2004President's Honor List
Central Community College
2002Early Advantage Scholarship
Central Community College
2002, 2003Pell Grant
Hastings, NE
2002Sutton Educational Foundation Scholarship
Sutton Educational Foundation
2002Outstanding Academic Excellence Award
Sutton Public Schools
2002Best of Show
Sutton Public Schools Art Show
2001, 2002Academic letter
Sutton Public Schools
1998-2002Honor Roll
Sutton Public Schools
2004Certificate of Achievement - Electronic Illustration
Central Community College
2004Certificate of Achievement - Advertising Design
Central Community College
2004SkillsUSA/VICA: 3D Animation Judge
Central Community College
2002-20044.0 GPA
Central Community College
2002ACT Score: 25 (SAT equivalent: 1140)
2004-CurrentFreelance Designer / Owner
TheBluePig, Sutton, Ne
TheBluePig is the name of my freelance web design and graphic design business. With this job I have many job titles: web designer, graphic designer, illustrator, animator, programmer, photographer, videographer, video editor, accountant, and owner--to name a few.
2007-CurrentOwner
Fundraising Photo Buttons, Sutton, Ne
In 2004, I became part of a startup business that made photo buttons for school fundraisers and other groups.
In 2007, I decided to buy the machinery from my business partner and overhaul the business with a new website, fundraisingbuttons.com. The new website allows fundraisers to run their campaigns easily and organized. It also gives potential customers a real-time look at their customized product before they buy.
I am currently in the process of building this business and perfecting the complex website.
05/2004-09/2005In-House Graphic Designer
Genie B's Specialties, Sutton, Ne
Before graduating college in 2004, I was already an employee for Genie B's working on websites and other graphic work. Genie B's is a manufacturer, who's core business is mattress protection.
After graduation, I was brought on as a full time, in-house designer. While working at Genie B's I helped design websites, web applications, magazine ads, logos, brochures, business cards, letterheads, labels, and many other projects for the various product lines Genie B's manufactures.
I also managed a warehouse with about 10-15 employees which shipped hundreds to thousands of orders a day. In addition to management, it was my responsibility to run the UPS system which was integrated with a program I custom programmed for the process. The program included functions to handle orders, choosing picking sequences, printing packing slips, observing inventory, and ensuring quality control.
Obviously the bills need to be paid... But the thing that really drives me to work is the fact that I get to be creative and solve problems.
I was introduced to an early IBM personal computer before I even started school and it captured my imagination. I loved to experiment with DOS and other programs to find out what was possible.
I've always enjoyed drawing and painting and as soon as I was introduced to my first computer graphics program, Kid Pix 1.0, at the age of 7, I was hooked.
My office is pretty simple. I have a big flat desk, fast Dell computer, a nice loud stereo.
Most prominently, four LCD monitors on a giant metal stand and a nice 22" widescreen Asus LCD. They help me organize my work flow. Photoshop may be running on 2 of them, while I'm coding in HTML on a third, previewing a website in Firefox on the fourth, and using the fifth for ftp or email. You can never have too many monitors.
My career ambition for the time being is to keep working as a freelance designer on projects that I enjoy. I love working one on one with my clients and have fun in the entire process.
Creative Management for a design firm has crossed my mind a few times. Or just simply getting some entry-level people under me as sub-contractors. But for now, I already have my dream job.
Anywhere I have access to the series of tubes.
In high school, living in Nebraska, I worked for a few crop breeding and corn detasseling companies for six years. Long hours, hot days, wet crops, and muddy fields. This is probably why I have an office job!
There isn't any one particular person. I am constantly inspired by designers from all over the world, and the industry is always changing.
If I had coworkers, like I did in the past, they would describe me as quiet and laid back but very creative and good at what I do. (Also, computer guru seems to pop up a lot.)
I work at home, so I basically eat whenever I get hungry. It's usually with a fork.
Having a creative job, working at home, and having a great boss...!
Solving problems for clients and hearing how much they enjoy what I have created for them.
The Cisco router manual? ← Outdated Joke :)
My playlist runs the gambit from Classical to Heavy Metal, but usually what is playing is Indie Rock or Alternative.
Bands like: Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, Pixies, Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, Straylight Run, Tegan and Sara, Shiny Toy Guns, The Killers, The Postal Service, etc...
Watch TV, PS3/Gaming, making stupid youtube videos, go out with friends, photography, or ride my racing quad over some sweet jumps... (or more likely just looking at them in fear.)
I have to walk down a flight of steps... hoping there are no traffic jams along the way.
The mascot is a pig--a blue pig. What's that all about, anyways? (Scary Voice: Nobody knows... oooOOOoooh...)
I have a very small, long-haired, black cat named Fudge. She has a metallic pink spiked colar with a skull. She is in no way evil.