Michael J. Cohen

Graphic Designer and Illustrator

Let's Make Something Awesome together

I’m a passionate Graphic Designer and Illustrator with over 15 years of experience in design and marketing, with a focus on brand development. I love working with enthusiastic and creative professionals, and have a proven track record managing multidisciplinary teams, driving innovation, and delivering awesome design across digital and traditional platforms.

In short, I help people achieve their creative goals.

Available Immediately for Full-Time or Contract Positions

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Case Study

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Portfolio

Curriculum Vitae

Key Skills

Strategic planning and brand management
Team leadership and collaboration
Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
Multichannel campaign development
Strong communication and presentation skills
Budget management and project coordination
Design and aesthetic judgement

Professional Experience

10/2021 - 08/2023

Creative Director

Developed and executed creative concepts for various marketing initiatives including the rebrand of MINING.COM, leading to increased readership and engagement.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver cohesive and innovative design strategies.
Led a team of 3 highly skilled marketers, alongside freelancers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
Managed project timelines and budgets, ensuring the successful delivery of multiple simultaneous projects during my tenure.
Provided constructive feedback on team members' work, nurturing creativity, and innovation through regular Design Review sessions.

06/2019 - 10/2021

Brand and Content Strategist

Led brand and content strategies across the diverse portfolio of Glacier RIG Ltd. products, such as MINING.COM, The Northern Miner, and Edumine
Developed multiple design systems for branding, streamlining design development across marketing, sales, and UX
Worked with the Marketing team to develop product-focused campaigns to drive lead-gen
Facilitated innovation sessions, including brand sprints, to assist senior leadership with overall strategy

03/2013 - 06/2019

UX/Graphic Designer

11/2011 - 02/2013

Graphic Designer

Education

2008

Self Employment Program

Douglas College | New Westminster, BC

2005

Independent Filmmaker Diploma

The Art Institute of Vancouver-Burnaby | Burnaby, BC

Testimonials

Michael is a confident and persuasive creative director. He understood his product and the market and presented options that captured both succinctly in an intentional and systematic way. He was able to facilitate in a split room and deliver agreeable outcomes and impactful rebrands.

I’ve been utilizing Michael’s creative services for over a decade and rely on his solution oriented approach to design for all my media and film projects. He is able to execute our team’s vision with skill and expertise ensuring we reach our audience with clarity and artistic finesse.

Michael is one of the most fun designers I have had the pleasure to work with. All his designs were on point, and he always considered implementation from an engineering and reusability perspective. He was both knowledgeable about the mining industry, and was a reliable source of knowledge when I needed to understand more about the project.

Michael is a talented and pragmatic designer. He takes a business first approach, while ensuring the work is as future-proof as possible. He seeks to understand the needs of both the stakeholders and engineers. On a personal note, it was a lot of fun working with him on MINING.COM.

We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.

Yoda