Josh Coldiron
Designer/ and maker of stuff
I am a versatile creative professional who wears multiple hats – Designer, Artist, and Developer. I possess an insatiable curiosity and a drive to explore new mediums and push the boundaries of artistic expression.
My passion lies in visual mediums, where I strive to create engaging experiences that blend design aesthetics with seamless user interactions. I am particularly fascinated by the field of UX (User Experience) and am constantly seeking ways to enhance user engagement and satisfaction through innovative design approaches.
With a diverse background encompassing design, printing, and software development, I bring a unique perspective to my projects. I am committed to expanding my knowledge and skills within my fields of expertise, consistently seeking out new challenges and opportunities for growth.
While I initially embarked on a self-taught journey, I soon realized the value of broadening my horizons and gaining insights beyond my own perspective. This motivated me to pursue formal education, enrolling at Pellissippi State before transferring to the University of Tennessee. Eventually, I relocated to the St. Louis area, where I completed my BFA at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, complemented by a minor in computer science. This academic journey has provided me with a solid foundation and equipped me with the tools to delve deeper into my creative endeavors.
As I continue to evolve and learn, I invite you to stay tuned for updates on my latest projects. With each endeavor, I strive to push the boundaries of creativity and deliver compelling experiences that captivate and inspire.
Experience
You can download a copy of my resume above or view my experience online below.
2023-Present
Digital Designer
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Working on various projects ranging from Concept design, UX/UI Design, Video Editing, Videography, presentations, Motion Graphics, and Graphic design.
• Designing/editing video/audio, motion design, and animation/GIFs for social media, websites, or other digital channels.
• Collaborating with Digital Content Strategist, to ensure that design elements meet business requirements and project timelines.
• Conducting research and gathering information to inform design decisions, including industry trends, user preferences, and technical specifications.
• Optimizing digital media for web and mobile platforms, including image compression, file size, and loading speed.
• Testing designs for functionality, usability, and user experience, and making necessary adjustments based on feedback and data analysis.
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, 5 pm, XD, Figma
2020-2023
Freelance
ColdironWorks
Worked remotely working on various projects ranging from Concept design, UX design, QA testing, Gameplay Testing, and Graphic design.
• Collaborated remotely with diverse clients on a range of projects encompassing concept design, UX Design, QA Testing, Gameplay Testing, and Graphic Design
• Utilized industry-standard software and tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, TestFlight, Figma, and After Effects to deliver high-quality results
• Developed compelling concept designs that aligned with client specifications and project objectives, ensuring visually appealing and engaging user experiences
• Leveraged Graphic Design expertise to create visually striking assets, including logos, illustrations, and user interfaces, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of the project
• Demonstrated effective communication and time management skills to meet project deadlines and exceed client expectations
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, After Effects, Figma, XD, TestFlight
2023 Jan-May
Volunteer, Game Designer, Level Designer
BrainGenix
Worked with game dev team in many roles from Game Design to Level Design. I also contributed art assets and conceptual designs in addition to delegating work to other artists.
• Researched visual styles and produced presentations
• Wrote and design technical documents
• Level Design
• Game and Mechanic Design
• Concept Art
• Delegated tasks and asset lists to other artists and designers
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, After Effects, Trello, Unity
2023-Present
Student, URCA Assistant
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
During this time I studied at SIUE to obtain my BFA in Graphic Design and minor in Computer Science. I was awarded a grant for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities to develop a unity based application.
• Studied Human-Computer Interface and certified in Social Behavior Research on human subjects.
• Developed wireframe prototypes in team environments for tablet-based applications using Adobe XD.
• Studied HTML as well as mongoDB and MariaDB with exposure to a variety of web development.
• Studied data structures, algorithms and data types using C++ and Java.
• Researched respectfully representing culture, race, and gender in the media.
• Awarded a student-funded position under the URCA program to develop a teaching webGL application for SIUE with the Unity game engine where I created all assets and content as well as code. Program development was done using HCI principals to develop prototypes and refined in an agile like approach.
• For my senior project, I researched and developed a Unity 2D video game. This included branding, UI research as well as UX in gameplay and narrative.
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, XD, Balsamiq, Unity, VS Code, Visual Studio, Aseprite, Coggle
2007-2019
Owner/ Designer/ Screenprinter
Nori Toy
An ongoing side project that allows me to explore other fields and perform contract work.
• Handle online sales, shipping and all aspects of small business operations.
• Brand development.
• Maintain web site design and operation.
• Manage social media marketing campaigns.
• Illustration, design, screen printing and character design.
• Handle all pre-press and screen-printing production.
• Write, produce, film, perform and edit all YouTube video projects.
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, After Effects, iMovie, FastRIP, Dreamweaver, VS Code, Twitter, Instagram, Acrobat, MS Word, Excel, FileZilla, Aseprite, Clip Studio, Hand Crafting, Lightwave 3D, 3D Printing
2009-2013
Producer, QA, Localization
Villain/ Elephant Mouse
Performed various roles in IOS game and business development for the following titles: Archetype, Archetype Cadet, Matchlings, Minions, Beastie Blocks, Lil’ Birds, The Godfather Slots, and Star Trek: Rivals.
• Write UX persona docs and software design specs for Apple IOS game.
• For Archetype: Producer, Level design, Playtesting, Lead quality assurance, UX docs, Software spec writer, Managed game wiki.
• Archetype Cadet: Lead quality assurance.
• Matchlings: Lead quality assurance.
• Minions: Lead quality assurance and manage localization.
• Beastie Blocks: Lead quality assurance and manage localization.
• Lil’ Birds: Quality assurance, Playtesting, Manage localization.
• Godfather Slots: Quality assurance, Manage localization.
• Star Trek: Rivals: Quality assurance, Manage localization.
Environment: IOS, Google Doc Business, Proprietary Game Engine tools, Elance/Upwork, Subversion SVN, TestFlight, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Acrobat, IOS Dev Tools
2010-2011
Technical Editor
John Wiley and Sons
Technical editor for the book “Art of the App Store: The Business of Apple Development.”
• Fact checked writer for accuracy.
• Provided knowledge and expertise from first-hand experience in IOS development and business.
Environment: MS Word, Excel, Google Docs Business, FTP
2010-2011
Contractor
Deviation/ Doe Doe
Technical editor for the book “Art of the App Store: The Business of Apple Development.”
• Consulted technical aspects of design and print pre-press for Knoxville Voice during startup phase.
• KnoxTube (Video hosting site): Marketing, research and maintaining video database.
• Apptheater (Mobile gaming video site): Marketing and research as well as scouting content creators to publish their reviews to the site.
• Doe Doe (IOS mobile game development): Producer, level designer, and QA of “Bail Out America” for IOS.
Environment: Final Cut Pro, Handbrake, Proprietary Server-Side Video Tools, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, IOS dev tools, Google Doc Business, Video Capture
2003-207
Creative Director, Lead Designer, Production Director
Metro Pulse / Knoxville Magazine
Creative director and art manager for Alternative Weekly Metro Pulse. Production Director of their subsidiary Knoxville Magazine.
• Assisted in updating the publication from paste-up to full digital design.
• Photographer for articles and advertisements.
• Vector and digital illustration.
• Cover design, article, layout, and design for weekly publication.
• Manage design staff and photographers.
• Liaison between ad designers, sales representatives, and writers.
• Managed budget allocated for the design team.
• Copy editor (AP style) for the publication.
• Troubleshoot pre-press issues for the publication and communicate with the printing company.
Environment: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Acrobat, Preflight, Filezilla, Word, Server File Management