Brief Summary
I consider myself as a strategy based marketing & communications professional, with over 12 years of accumulated experience in creative education & creative work. I believe I have the required business analysis temperament combined with a distinct creative character and ability to forge new and alternative solutions using strong projective and intuitive skills. I have a practiced familiarity in developing small brands into winning business houses on a regional level.
My creative design, technology and research education began at University of Kerala in 1993, where in studied design, art history and computer science, completing a 5-year program in architecture at College of Engineering, Trivandrum in 1998 and later on a diploma in media arts and technology sciences at the Pentasoft Technologies, Chennai in 1999. At College of Engineering, Trivandrum served as a research assistant, and key strategist in various creative workshops and regional urban & design conventions. Successfully completed a dissertation on the architectural treatment of Spaces by Laurie Baker (2006 Pritzker Architecture Prize Nominee, 1990 Indian Padma Shri award winner)
Experience: 7 years of professional experience in professional creative graphics after 5 years of creative training in Architecture & Design education.
Oct 2005 to date
TWR (The White Room), Dubai, UAE
Chief Executive (and its Creative Director)
The White Room is a strategy based Marketing & Communications agency, handling works from BTL like branding, making of collaterals & stationeries (in-house), to website design & video production (script then outsourcing), to signages & outdoor advertising (with partnerships), and several unconventional projects. Few newspaper adverts also were designed during this period.
Named, branded, co-founded the Advertising agency, along with TWR President Mr. Saeed Al Jaflah
Leading a once 15 member team, directed communication between client and agency, managed client expectations, and facilitated the design, production and delivery of collateral across multiple projects.
Handled accounts including Pearl properties, Concept Tours and Adventures, Benaa Properties, Distinguished Real Estate, Medispa, Dubai Golf City, K Carrim International Real Estate, Adventureland, Rasasi, Al Naboodah, Zaabeel Palace, etc.
Collaborated with documentary free-lance director Mr. Tariq Syed (of Dubai 24 Hours & Coasts of Africa fame) and co-authored a PR initiative for TWR called Philippines Dawn to Dawn featuring the Republic of Philippines as a world class tourism and business destination. The project contains a 70 minute documentary, 250 paged coffee table book and a music CD of Filipino talents. Involved in the design & management of the concepts & creatives for the project (PDD) and provided strategic support and implementation advice. Participated in public PR activities during the PDD campaign in Central Luzon area, was interviewed about the project on NBN National television primetime. Currently one of the directors, in Manila registered Philippines Dawn to Dawn Marketing Inc., along with its President Saeed Al Jaflah. The project is underway and is in the pre-production / research stage.
On similar lines, now (August 2007) started a venture called Celebrate Kerala which in future will act as the reference material for Kerala tourism & investment. Designed the concept, vision of the project, the business proposal and the initial creatives. Brought together eminent Cinema Director Mr. Lal Jose and several other professionals to translate this dream to a reality. Project is now getting ready to launch.
Jan 2005 Oct 2005
Al Khaleejiah International Advertising & Media, Dubai, UAE.
Creative Director
A 16 year old professional advertising agency registered in Dubai, dealing in all ATL and BTL activities.
Mentored designers. Was responsible for leading a 5 team of graphic designers who made identity design, advertising campaigns, brochures, print collaterals, newspaper ads and websites, sometimes involving on a total way to accomplish desired concepts.
Worked closely with the marketing division & the management, delegating with the marketing team to discuss with clients for creative brief
Key accounts include: Med-serve, Dubai Islamic bank, Dubai International Holy Quran Award, Bike n Rack, SS Lootah, TSA Properties, Global Direct, etc.
July 2001 Dec 2004
Salsa Digital Design, Kochi, India
Freelance Art Director (Creative Director)
Own Brand Building firm, registered on 8 Oct 2001, formed to pursue quality & to satisfy creative appetite, through professional experiments via unique design languages.
Key areas of activities were Identity Design, Brochures, websites, presentations, environmental graphic design and editorial design solutions.
Designed business-winning identities, brand guidelines, exhibition spaces, stationery systems, brochures, video storyboards and client presentation collateral. Guided production team, website developers, and interfaced with clients.
Accounts and clients included: Mini Muthoottu Bankers, Heera Construction, RDS Projects, Marikar Motors, Krishnannairs Mystic Pendulums, Cloud 9 Resorts, Fintser Hills, Vastugramam, Kumar Group Architects, Govind Suites, Gramam The Village, Greater Cochin Development Authority, Indraneelam Homes, Wizdom Technology, Avathar Jewellers, Jos Electricals, Cheloor Group, CEARTH, Beyond the Soul International Film, CINZAC, Living Alternatives, Dhishna and more.
Dec 1999 April 2001
Exodus Communications, Kochi, India
3D Animator, later Art Director
One of the leading full fledged-advertising agency in Kochi, which specialize in Media selling / buying.
Learnt the basics of professional advertising here. As a 3D specialist made TV commercials for few companies. Also, had a chance to do some print creatives, which was appreciated, and in due time, was handling art in newspaper advertisements, and conceptualizing for several creative jobs.
Projects handled included: V-Guard, Kairali Ford, MGF Hyundai, Veegaland among others.
1999
Designed a couple of small time residences, but got fascinated about creative arts, hence diversified from the world of architectural design to the world of creative design of advertising.
Works URL:
www.streetofsalsa.com
Skills:
pre visualization, storyboarding and conceptualization, branding consultancy, experienced doodling and layout, creative work-management and planning, unifying visual elements like light & shade, color and graphics, typography enthusiast, flawless copywriting & can write brand slogans, architectural and real estate branding, entrepreneurship, good communication skills & client relationships, fast & methodical learning based on instincts, research & development, teaching, group leadership, team management.
Hands on experience in:
corporate identity design, project naming, print collaterals, architectural & environmental graphics, newsletters, hoardings, exterior & interior graphics, fascia, posters, graffiti, visual merchandising, POP materials, product design, resort/corporate packages, website concept & interface design, TV commercials conceptualizing, CD/DVD cover designs.
TOOL PALETTE: (On Windows, Mac and SG platforms)
Proficient: Photoshop, InDesign/Pagemaker, Illustrator, Corel, MS Office.
Familiar: autoCAD, Premiere, Softimage 3D. Quark Xpress, Flash, Dreamweaver, 3D Studio Max, Director, Swish, Elastic Reality, After Effects, Cool Edit, Effect, Freehand.
