_client work
_unpublished work
_résumé
_ABOUT
Esther Chak, originally from New York, worked as a professional graphic designer and marketer for five years
before returning to school to earn an MFA in Graphic Design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, RI.
Thanks for visiting.
_PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2003-present
Freelance Graphic Designer > various clients
Print design for clients including New Urban Arts (Providence, RI), Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI),
Second Generation (NY, NY), Hartnett Gallery (Rochester, NY), and Bolt Media (NY, NY).
2001-2004
Senior Graphic Designer > Yak Pak (New York, NY)
Built style guidelines; Directed photoshoots; Designed printed catalogs and product packaging;
Created artwork for soft goods; Managed production scheduling and hiring of junior staff.
1999-2001
Graphic Designer (2000-01), Marketing Coordinator (1999-00) > Davis Brody Bond, Architects + Planners (New York, NY)
Created marketing materials for business development and design competitions, including Powerpoint presentations,
proposal writing, database management and project archiving.
1999
Retail Development Intern > The Donna Karan Company (New York, NY)
Constructed architectural models showing interiors concepts for Donna Karan flagship stores.
1998
Editorial Intern > Melcher Media (New York, NY)
Assisted editors in production of illustrated and photographic books.
1997
Graphic Design Intern > Smithsonian Institution, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (Washington, DC)
Assisted in graphics production for Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
_TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2007
Section Leader, History of Graphic Design > Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
Led studio component of Doug Scott's history class.
2007
Instructor of Record, Hot Printing > Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
Developed syllabus, led critiques and demonstrations of letterpress printing and hand bookbinding techniques. Co-taught with Clara Sims.
2005-2007
Writing Tutor > RISD Writing Center (Providence, RI)
2006
Teaching Assistant, Printed Books > Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
Instructed bookbinding, papermaking and letterpress printing.
2005
Instructor, Computer Training Class > Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
Taught Adobe Creative Suite software to sophomore graphic design majors.
2004-2005
Artist Mentor for High School Students > New Urban Arts (Providence, RI)
Led workshops specializing in collaborative zine production.
1997-1998
Volunteer ESL Instructor for Spanish-speaking adults > Community Impact, Harlem Empowerment Project (New York, NY)
1996-1999
Orientation Leader for College Students > Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program (New York, NY)
1996
Education Department Intern > Children's Museum of Manhattan (New York, NY)
Helped guide school groups through exhibits such as Maira Kalman's Max the Dog, Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach and The Body's Five Senses.
_EXHIBITIONS
May 2007
"You/Me/Us/We" Group Show > Machines with Magnets Gallery (Pawtucket, RI)
May 2007
"RISD Annual Graduate Thesis Exhibition" Group Show > Rhode Island Convention Center (Providence, RI)
October 2006
"3-in-1: RISD Graphic Design Triennial" Group Show > Woods-Gerry Gallery, RISD (Providence, RI)
October 2005
"Loosely Bound" Group Show > Sol Koffler Gallery (Providence, RI)
April 2005
"Drink Me" Installation > Providence River, RISD (Providence, RI)
February 2005
"Another Trashy Exhibition" Installation with Dungjai Pungauthaikan > Design Center Gallery, RISD (Providence, RI)
February 2005
"Unconventional Materials" Group Show > Waterman Building, RISD (Providence, RI)
November 2004
Artist Mentor Group Show > New Urban Arts (Providence, RI)
May 1999
Senior Show > Faculty House, Columbia University (New York, NY)
_EDUCATION
2004-2007
Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
MFA, Graphic Design, with honors
Graduate Thesis: Memo:Random, traversing the axis of remembering and forgetting
1995-1999
Columbia University, Columbia College (New York, NY)
BA, cum laude, Anthropology (major), Visual Arts (minor)
Senior Thesis: The Construction of Community Through Commodity: United Colors of Benetton and the Global Village
_DISTINCTIONS
Awards of Excellence, Honorary Mention > Rhode Island School of Design
Sandra Olson Award for Extraordinary Service to a non-profit organization, Recipient > New Urban Arts
Thesis Honors, Recipient > Columbia University, Anthropology Department
_RELEVANT COMPUTER SKILLS
expert knowledge: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Quark XPress
working knowledge: HTML + CSS, basic Macromedia Flash, basic FinalCut Pro, basic After Effects,
FontLab, Filemaker Pro, Microsoft Office
_© Esther Chak 2006 All Rights Reserved