Hello! I'm April
My life’s journey is to inspire and be inspired, to be happy, positive, patient and compassionate. To remain a free-spirit who is uninhibited by restraints, while keeping an open-mind to new thoughts and ideas around me in order to give hope and inspiration to others in need. I am a free-spirit, animal activist, designer, educator, inspirational seeker, happy go lucky, Leo, Yogi and positive energetic girl who lives in Pittsburgh.
With over twenty years in the design industry, I have worked for various advertising agencies and publication companies throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida. I earned my Masters of Arts, Graphic Design degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in August 2012. I also taught design classes in higher education for two years at Southwest Florida College in Tampa where I was proactive with developing the courses that I instructed. I obtained a Faculty Advisor and teaching position at Independence University for nine years. I am currently an online graphic design adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University for the past six years.
April Biss
GRAPHIC DESIGNER + EDUCATOR
813-404-4169
Email:
Address:
2566A Grouse Ridge
Wexford, PA 15090
Behance:
Phone:
EXPERIENCE
2012-2021
INDEPENDENCE UNIVERSITY
Faculty Advisor +
Online Graphic Design Instructor
Instructing online graphic design courses. All courses involve online live lectures and software tutorial exercises, along with class participation. Constantly maintaining student retention efforts as faculty advisor and lab instructor. Practicing positive classroom management with a focus on time-on-task. Applying grading criteria and rubrics to measure student learning outcomes.
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– Advanced Logo Design; DES370
– Branding + Identity; DES340
– Intermediate Photoshop; DES323
– Logo + Brand Identity Design; DES242
– Advertising Design; DES245
– Graphic Design Business Management; DES355
– Typography; DES113
– Advanced Color Theory; DES314
– Advanced Illustrator; DES380
– Intermediate Illustrator; DES324
– Graphic Design III; DES336
– Graphic Design I; DES109
– Layout + Tools; DES113
– Advanced Package Design; DES375
– Layout Design; DES243
– Beginning Image Editing; DES104
– Layout and Digital Tools; DES105
– Graphic Design II; DES209
– Advanced Advertising; DES470
– Advanced Digital Photography; DES475
– Information Design; DES240
– Package Design; DES244
– Introduction to Digital Design; DGD101
2015-PRESENT
Online Graphic Design Instructor
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Instructing online graphic design courses. All courses involve online software tutorial exercises, assignments and discussions along with class participation. Constantly maintaining student retention efforts. Practicing positive classroom management with a focus on time-on-task. Applying grading criteria and rubrics to measure student learning outcomes.
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– Graphics and Layout in Print Media; COM-230
– Digital Photography; FAS-226
– Basic Design and Color Theory; GRA-101
– Desktop Publishing; COM-232
– Intro to Digital Imaging; GRA-220
2008-2010
Graphic Design Adjunct Instructor
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COLLEGE
Developed and instructed graphic design courses. All courses involved lectures, various software and live tutorial lectures, exercises, along with class participation. Constantly maintained student retention efforts. Practiced positive classroom management with a focus on time-on-task. Organized field trips to enrich student learning initiatives. Reviewed and implemented required course textbooks. Created grading criteria and rubrics to measure student learning outcomes.
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Digital Design; DIG2002
Illustration Design; GRA1852
Corporate Identity; GRA 2752
Color Theory; GRA27011
Drawing & Perspective; ART2309
Digital Photography; CAP2483
Publication Design; GRA2120
Portfolio Design; GRA2711
Typography; GRA1853
MAY 2008-OCTOBER 2008
Art Director
NAPLES NATIONAL NETWORK:
MOVING WITH STYLE MAGAZINE
Art Director for an elite seasonal business magazine that is
distributed in Boston, Naples and Miami. Worked in conjunction with the owner of the publication to produce a high-end, monthly membership magazine. Created additional advertising for various needs of the members, which included banner ads and vehicle wraps and other various marketing materials.
JUNE 2008-AUGUST 2008
Art Director
TAMPA BAY WELLNESS MAGAZINE
Collaborated with the publisher to produce a monthly holistic magazine that is distributed around the Tampa area. Created, updated and designed advertisements. Met with advertising clients for supplementary pieces. Prepared advertisements and pages for final print.
MARCH 2007-FEBRUARY 2008
Graphic Designer;
Independence Contractor
STYLE PUBLICATIONS: STYLE MAGAZINE
Actively coordinated and designed for a luxury living publication in Tampa, Florida. Worked closely with the publisher and sales staff to create and design advertisements as well as developing artwork for the editorial and feature pages within each magazine. Assisted the design department in additional advertisements within the seven various monthly print publications that targeted specific cities within the Tampa area.
MARCH 2007-FEBRUARY 2008
Art Director
BABCOX PUBLICATION:
ENGINE BUILDER MAGAZINE
Designed monthly automotive aftermarket, business to business magazine; Engine builder. In charge of the overall aesthetics from cover to cover that also included supplemental items such as
service cards. Responsible for quarterly trade show materials.
2001-2004
Graphic Designer
ARTIST INCORPORATED
Handled all aspects of design from concept to production. Design experience includes billboards, bus-boards, various campaign materials, business cards, logos, stickers, product labels and annual reports for clients including First Energy, Lesco, Malco Products and Kent State University.
2000-2001
Graphic Designer
DESIGN ASYLUM, INCORPORATED
Created and designed corporate identity materials including posters, business cards, logos, invites, and pocket folders for clients such as ALCOA, Planned Parenthood, Soffer Organization, Federated, and Duquesne Light. Actively involved in meeting with clients and final press checks
1998-1999
Intern Graphic Designer
SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING (SAE)
Assisted the graphic design department in the production of various marketing materials. Prepared photographs for the SAE magazine and website. Involved in various projects that included flyers, catalog design and organizing files on the company’s
various servers.
1998-1999
Student Challenge Teacher; Graphic Design
LA ROCHE UNIVERSITY; CHALLENGE PROGRAM
Facilitator of a design fundamental course for eighth grade students involved in the La Roche College Challenge Program.Developer of the class syllabus, I was also involved in the creation of projects and lectures that involved the use of the software programs Macromedia Freehand and Adobe Photoshop. Projects included creating a two-fold CD cover and CD label using their own personal theme. Students were instructed on how to navigate on a Macintosh computer, use a scanner and learn proper file management. The class created digital graphics utilizing Freehand and Photoshop as their main software programs for layout and image manipulation.
EDUCATION
2011-2012
Master of Arts Degree
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Graduated with honors with a Master of Arts degree in Graphic Design.
1996-2000
LA ROCHE UNIVERSITY
Graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Design.
Bachelor's of Science Degree
1993-1996
SENECA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
High School Diploma
CLIENTS
SKILLS
Adobe - Advanced
Microsoft Word - Advanced
Power Point - Advanced
Blackboard - Advanced
Canvas - Advanced
Design Thinking - Advanced
Microsoft ExCel - Advanced
BrightSpace - Advanced
Publication Design - Advanced
Branding and Identity - Advanced
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
ON AND OFF THE WALL EXHIBIT: FLORIDA CRAFTSMAN INC.
BLOG WRITER: WESTCHASE PATCH.COM, TAMPA FLORIDA
ACTIVIST DESIGNER: ILOVELEASH.COM CAMPAIGN
Contributing artist in the “Off and On the Wall Exhibit.” Collection consists of innovative methods in photography and design patterns through advanced manufacturing processes.
Author of an inspirational blog posted on Patch.com every Sunday. Articles, photographs and artwork posted are focused on positive personal experiences.
Created and developed the ILOVELEASH.com responsive website and campaign materials as a Digital Design graduate project at Savannah College of Art and Design. It is a campaign that raises awareness about the wicked problem of unleashed dogs in public areas. It’s mission is to make anyone an activist about this issue and spread the word with the ILOVELEASH.com kit, throughout various local neighborhoods.