Benjamin Nelesen
4724 NE 22nd, Portland Oregon, 97211 ph# 503.367.1590

Creative Director
Monkey Business Sports July 06 – Feb 08
• Mentor creative personnel in the creation of products, branding, and packaging, from early brainstorming to final product details, with team members both local and Thai.
• Provide concepts and creative direction for assigned projects, as well as developing new concepts to fit within existing and emerging markets.
• Active, hands-on designer in all areas, from concept sketch to final packaging.
• Participate in strategic planning with management, developing new products, sales positioning, and marketing plans.

Notable Achievements
• Designed and branded the MBS Compound Bow X2, which became the #1 toy for Learning Express stores, as well as the #2 seller at Target within it’s category.
• Developed successful new branding solutions for existing items and secured their placement within several new markets.


Sr. Art Director
Monkey Business Sports, October 00 – July 06
• Directed design staff, with members both in-house and overseas, in the development of all company projects.
• Developed a consistent identity for the company within and across all product lines.
• Directed product development efforts to meet objectives set by management.
• Developed 30+ items by directing many talented people, including Graphic Designers, CAD engineers, CAD designers, modelers, photographers, and printers.


Art Director / Designer
Autobahn International Motorsports July 95 – September 99
• Developed logo and branding package for newly emerging company.
• Created national ad campaign for placement within several high-profile publications


Freelance designer
Multiple clients and projects 1994 – Sept 99
• Designed catalogs, logos, ads, websites, graphics, business collateral, posters, branded characters, and the occasional storefront holiday window painting.
• Worked closely with a variety of clients across all budget types and timelines.



EXPERIENCE
Packaging, branding, product design, concept sketch, sketch rendering, model making, general shop fabrication, forklift certified, 60lb box lift.

SOFTWARE
Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Word.

EDUCATION
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California 1990-1993 BFA with Honors Fine Art / Illustration


In all creative endeavors, there is a need for someone to step up and be the first advocate for the project, and a communicator of the ‘new idea’. This appears to some designers as a risky position to be in, since the idea hasn’t been proven, and ’new’ might not be better. I understand their position, but someone needs to talk it through, and I am always eager to be that guy. The reason being is simply because it pays dividends, with better products, better designs, and ultimately better designers. Better designers who begin to feel comfortable taking risks of their own.