Somaiyeh Ghaffarnia
657 Walnut Street, Unit 346, San Carlos, CA 94070
(860) 205-5069
http://www.somaiyeh-ghaffarnia.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/somaiyeh-ghaffarnia/
Education
· Master of Fine Arts, Fall 2012 - Spring 2014, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
Major: Digital Media and Design
Overall GPA: 3.9
Honors:
Was awarded full research assistantship
· Bachelor of Science, Winter 2003 - Spring 2008, Tabriz Art University, Tabriz, Iran
Major: Industrial Design
Overall GPA: 3.8
Honors:
Ranked 62nd in a Nationwide Exam (among 150,000 candidates) for the undergraduate admission to Public Universities in Iran
Honor student for four consecutive years.
Ranked 2nd in a creative design competition at Tabriz Art University
Skills
Computer & Software
Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, XD), Figma, WordPress, Sketch, InVision, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Solid Works, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, G Suite
Web Languages
HTML, CSS, ActionScript
Languages
English and Farsi
Teaching
Sajad Community College, Mashhad, Iran (Fall 2008)
Taught technical drawing and depicting three-dimensional objects in two dimensions.
Work Experience
· Lead Visual Designer at Abra ( Aug.2021 - Present )
− Led efforts in strategizing, designing, and executing brand collateral and marketing campaigns, including landing pages, paid ads, emails, educational and promotional motion graphics and videos, organic social media, signage and exhibit collateral. The combined efforts in strategy and design yielded tangible results, leading to a noteworthy increase in the company’s conversion rate and revenue.
− Shaped and defined Abra’s brand and developed brand guidelines and design systems for product and marketing.
− Partnered with the product and development team to build and maintain Abra’s website, and supported the Abra app with UI design solutions and assets.
− Acted as the visual voice of the design team, enforcing guidelines to ensure consistency across all channels and platforms.
− Developed an asset library and inventory of creatives and templates for Abra.
– Tools Used: Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, XD), Figma, WordPress, PowerPoint, G Suite, HTML, CSS
· Senior Visual Designer at Freedom Financial Network ( Mar.2018 - Aug. 2021 )
− Strategized, planned, designed, executed, and optimized brand and marketing collateral, including landing pages, static and video ads, social media campaigns, and all digital and print collateral for acquisition, lifecycle, and PR.
− Shaped and defined Freedom Financial’s brand, created brand guidelines and design systems, and leveraged and enforced them across all channels, platforms, and products.
− Launched the company’s YouTube channel and actively volunteered to shoot, edit, and produce engaging videos and content, resulting in substantial improvements in brand awareness, audience reach, and conversion rate.
− Led, mentored, and art directed designers and served as the company’s point person for any brand and design consultation and approval processes.
– Tools Used: Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, XD, Flash), Figma, WordPress, PowerPoint, Unbounce, InVision, SharePoint, HTML, CSS, Microsoft Office
· Multimedia Designer at The Vanguard Group ( Mar.2015 - Feb.2018 )
− Strategized, conceptualized, presented, and executed multimedia design solutions for internal and external campaigns.
− Developed and documented best practices, creative standards, and creative request intake process.
− Led and mentored junior designers, set the overall creative direction and vision for projects, ensuring alignment with the client’s objectives and brand guidelines. Provided guidance, feedback, and inspiration to the creative team throughout the entire creative process.
− Collaborated with designers, project managers, writers, producers, and developers to develop strategy and fulfill creative requests that was received from different teams and departments.
− Designed and created UI prototypes, promotional and educational motion graphics, videos, interactive infographics, web graphics, presentations, digital assets, signage and exhibit assets, billboards, and print materials.
– Tools Used: Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, XD, Flash), Figma, PowerPoint, InVision, Sketch, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, HTML, CSS, ActionScript
· Motion Graphic Designer/ Animator at MOD Worldwide Ad Agency ( Sep.2014 - Jan.2015 )
− Conceptualized and executed brand-compliant multimedia design solutions, including TV commercials, promotional and educational motion graphics and videos, as well as social media strategy and content for a wide range of clients (e.g., Aetna, St. Regis, and McGraw-Hill).
− Designed and created UI assets for desktop and mobile.
– Tools Used: Adobe Creative Suite (including Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash), Microsoft Office
· Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Connecticut ( Feb. 2012 - May 2014 )
- Interactive Media Wall for Boston Children’s Hospital
Conceptualized and created interactive digital content for Boston Children’s Hospital Interactive Media Wall and collaborated with a team of developers, designers, and technicians. The wall is currently up and running at the Boston Children’s Hospital.
- University Billboard
Designed artwork for University of Connecticut’s main billboard.
- Ation Student Agency
Worked with a team of designers on re-branding the agency, designed websites, and created demo reel and promotional videos for Ation Student Agency.
- Skybox/VPC (Virtual Computer Lab)
Worked with a team of designers and re-branded UConn’s Virtual Lab, designed logos and websites, and created promotional animation for the University of Connecticut Virtual Computer Lab.
- UConn Athletics
Created promotional videos for the UConn Football Team.
- Mist Nightclub Media Wall
Conceptualized and created digital content and countdown video for New Year’s Eve 2013 that was projected on a media wall in the Mist Nightclub at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort.
- Boston Children’s Hospital Fundraising Event
Created promotional videos for a fundraising event held by the Boston Children’s Hospital.
· Graphic Designer at Rah No Ad Agency (June 2008-Sept. 2008)
Conceptualized and designed artwork for billboards (Using 3D studio Max and Photoshop).
Community Service
Event Coordinator of Iranian Cultural Organization, University of Connecticut (June 2013- June2014)
Organized cultural events at the University of Connecticut.
Workshops
Adobe Max Conference, Fall 2017, Las Vegas
Adobe Training, Winter 2016, The Vanguard Group
Data Visualization Conference, Winter 2016, Pratt Institute
Brand Workshop, Fall 2016, The Vanguard Group
Digital Media (3D Animation), Spring 2012, University of Connecticut
Digital Media (Advance 2D Animation), Spring 2012, University of Connecticut
Digital Media (2D Animation), Fall 2011, University of Connecticut
Costume Design (Advance costume design), Spring 2011, University of Connecticut
Costume Design (Costume design), Fall 2010, University of Connecticut
Costume Design (Costume design shop), Fall 2010, University of Connecticut
Certifications
Adobe Animate CC Fundamentals, October 2016, Digital Media Concepts
References
1. Maureen Grodzki, Senior Director of Growth Creative at Freedom Financial Network (Achieve)
Email: mogrodzki@yahoo.com
Phone: (415) 527-9148
2. Kimberly Ocampo, Senior Content Manager at Freedom Financial Network (Achieve)
Email: kimberlyocamposhah@gmail.com
Phone: (650) 208-0504
3. Cole Dunbar, Director of Product Marketing at Abra
Email: coleadunbar@gmail.com
Phone: (650) 892-9729