John Brooks Gray
Hi, I'm John. Thanks for stopping by.
I'm a graphic designer, artist, stylist, photographer,
garden designer, animal lover, and plant nerd.
Below you can learn more about my design experience.
CONTACT
DESIGN EXPERIENCE
Freelance Graphic, Visual Design, & Styling, Winston-Salem, NC
Graphic & Visual Design Consultant, March 2020 to present
Brand identity development and/or graphic design for My Living Room, La Luz & Co, The Hop Up Shop, The 18 Agency, and Amulet Home & Garden. Creative design and development of the showroom aesthetic for Caracole for the Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 High Point Furniture Markets. Services included design, planning, execution, and sourcing of decorative elements (architectural, styling, accessories, and florals), as well as collaborative efforts with marketing and showroom teams in regards to space planning. Garden design projects for private residences in Winston-Salem, NC, Kannapolis, NC, and Newton, NC. Mural commission for private residence, Norman, OK.
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Taylorsville, NC
Graphic Designer, January 2013 to February 2020
Provided design/production of the following: regional and national print and digital ads; e-blasts; billboards; construction barricades; invitations; postcards; catalogs; selling guides; and in-store signage. Assisted in retouching of photographs for catalog, e-commerce, company website, and other marketing uses. Provided photo direction and styling for photo shoots. Participated in color proofing and press approvals for catalogs. Implemented creative direction and scheduling for a fashion-driven photo shoot to be used in the Fall 2015 ad campaign and catalog. Supplied design, creative direction, and photo styling for the 2016–2019 Holiday catalogs. Streamlined outdated procedures by initiating cloud based proofing for catalogs and automating hang tag creation through data merges.
Freelance Graphic Design, Concord, NC
Graphic Designer/Print Production Manager, February 2011 to January 2013
Provided graphic design and print production services for clients including Van Every Gallery at Davidson College, The Mint Museum Auxiliary, Fuzzy Logic Felt, Habit Flowers, The Echo Foundation, Stephanie Zaharias Design, Swan Interior Design, and Superior Flavors. Projects include book design, brochures, direct mail pieces, exhibition graphics, logo/identity design, and product labels.
Paula Hayes Studio, New York, NY
Artist Assistant/Studio Manager, February 2008 to February 2011
Contributed the following: art direction and graphic design of company identity; art direction and maintenance of company web site; packaging research for jewelry line; schematic plans of garden and art installations; conceptual renderings of garden and art projects; digital and hands-on design support on creative projects; photographic documentation, data input and tracking of art inventory; liaising with vendors, galleries and clients; ordering of materials and plants for creative projects; research of industrial and planting materials for creative projects; updating and maintaining artist’s portfolio; fulfilling press requests; technical drawings and pattern creation for planters; and assisting in preparation and installation of gardens and exhibitions (MoMA, The Tang Museum at Skidmore College, and Marianne Boesky Gallery).
The Color Box, New York, NY
Graphic Designer/Textile CAD Operator, June 2004 to February 2008
Design of seasonal color forecasting products, corporate identity and promotional materials; design of logos, labels, hang tags, as well as the digital construction and coloration of textile print/pattern and design of flats for the service studio; layout of seasonal fashion trend presentation boards for in-house and client use; conceptualization and image preparation for the company web site; and back-up/archiving of project files.
SKILLS
Extensive use of Apple computers, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Frequent use of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
Adept at research, organization, concept development, proof reading, photo direction, and styling.
Proficient in digital and traditional photographic processes, as well as having hands-on ability in the creation of art/objects and pattern-making.
EDUCATION
Master of Science, Landscape Design
Columbia University, New York, NY
Master of Fine Arts, Photography
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelor of Arts, Speech/Communication
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Additional Coursework—Soil Management
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY
MEMBERSHIP/HONORS
2012 Sappi Printers of the Year Silver Award (Books) for Oscar de la Renta: Fashion and Design at The Mint Museum
2011 PICA Award Best of Category (Hard Cover Books) for Oscar de la Renta: Fashion and Design at The Mint Museum
2011 PICA Award Special Judges Award (Hard Cover Books) for Herb Jackson: Excavations
Judge’s Choice winner of the People Towels 2011 Stop The Paper Towels! design contest
Recipient of the New Forms Florida grant for artists, 1995