My Story

There are people that go their entire life searching for what they’re passionate enough about to turn into a career. The “Moby Dick” of careers. The career that they’re so excited about, they don’t even have to set the alarm for. Many don’t find it. I was lucky enough to find that passion at 3. I used to ask my dad to draw me pictures night after night and he’d always have them for me in the morning. Understandably, this got old really quick. One night he turned around on my—he told me draw it for a change. That’s when I got hooked.

I could list a bunch of power words and tell you how I’m a “rockstar” or any other generic and equally cliché adjective. But it’s simply not my style. I have a sophisticated understanding of all facets of the design process to realize efficiencies and still deliver maximum impact for creative campaigns, including best practices for digital media. One of my strengths is my ability to work with my clients and understand what they are tying to accomplish. Then, we work backwards to determine the delivery method and develop the content.

Basically, I’m a professional problem solver.

Clients i've done work for

Over the years, I've had the pleasure of working with so many great clients in several different capacities.

Accolades

Nominated for Ameriprise Chairman's Award for rebranding of Columbia Threadneedle Investments
7 MFEA Star Award wins
Mulitple projects featured in Graphic Design USA
“HP Indigo Progressive Printing Competition” award winner in the Direct Marketing Category
Nominated for Cenveo Cheers Award for innovative ways of increasing revenue
Selected to attend a professional artists workshop in Montana 4 years in a row
Member of the Ameriprise Brand Champion team

Volunteering

Digital Retouch Artist for non-profit organization "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" from 2017—2019

Education

Art Institutes International Minnesota
Associates of Applied Science
Design/Animation

Bloc Inc.
UX/UI Design Program
While I attended BLOC, I recieved 1:1 mentoring with an industry expert with over 10 years of industry experience with companies such as Fitbit

Experience

During my career, I have amassed a uniquely diverse background, allowing me to understand all facets of the design process, realize efficiencies and deliver maximum impact for creative campaigns, including best practices for both print and digital.

Senior Art Director and UX/UI designer

2017—present day

Increased membership, brand recognition and revenue opportunities while mentoring a team of graphic design students. Created a user-centric design approach to increase digital traffic.

Created comprehensive visual brand guidelines
Wireframed, prototyped and designed the interface for the Minnesota Alumni Market
Mentored graphic design students on wireframing and responsive design
Maroon Shirt® campaign netted +20% YOY growth and featured in Graphic Design USA

Senior Art Director/Senior Marketing Manager

2010—2017

Managed and mentored design staff to produce award winning work while effectively increasing the company’s digital footprint and maintaining brand standards. Seamlessly juggled and effectively managed work across multiple business units.

Won 7 Mutual Fund Education Alliance Star Awards and Chairman’s Award nominee
Developed the look and feel for all of the U.S. retail collateral
Ameriprise Brand Champion team member
Partnered with writers and production staff to promote Columbia Threadneedle Investments across multiple mediums

Senior Graphic Designer

2005—2010

Championed award winning design support for Ameriprise Financial, RiverSource Investments, Hyundai and Syracuse University, while reducing over cost.

Won second place in the “2008 HP Indigo Progressive Printing Competition” in the Direct Marketing Category
Featured in Graphic Design USA
Nominated for Cenveo Cheers Award for “Innovative ways of increasing revenue”

Art Director: Halloween

2004—2005

Conceptualized and created seasonal products and packaging for nationwide retailers such as Target, WalMart, Spencer Gifts and Kroger as well as Paper Magic Group

Illustrated Easter egg decorating kits and Halloween costume artwork
Directed product photo shoots and edit/retouch
Developed products for Hello Kitty®, Crayola® and Disney®

Art Director

1998—2003

Created 3D animations
Designed logos and 2D graphics
Manage projects quality and timely completion
Present bids for clients
Maintain a line of communication with clients
Create internal advertising and package design for clients
Handled all internal advertising/multimedia for LGI Media Technologies

Abilities

Skillsets

Art direction
Branding and brand management
Collaboration / Mentorship
Color correction / Editing
Graghic Design
Illustration

Logo development
Packaging
Photography direction
Product development
Production
Responsive design
UI/UX design
3D Modeling

Software

Adobe Creative Cloud
Balsamic Sketch
InVision
Microsoft Office
HTML

CSS
PHP
Quark
AliasWavefront Maya
3D Studio Max

What others are saying

Creative Brand Management leads to Success

Dan has provided a range of creative, brand and management that has helped contribute to success within my creative services team. His applied talent produced industry... recognized design while keeping brand and creativity in the forefront. Dan works well independently as well managing over his directs and collaborating within the team and his business partners both locally and on remote teams, to which easily make me recommend him to any creative group.

—Lynn Wittmer

Director of Creative Services at Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Hard working Designer with natural artistic talent

Dan is an extremely talented, conscientious, hard-working designer and an excellent leader. I worked with Dan as a team member and eventually... as a report. The depth of his knowledge and natural artistic talent is impressive. He is always open to sharing what he knows as well as asking for feedback on his work. He is also a fine illustrator. Dan takes his leadership and the growth of his reports seriously. I can highly recommend Dan.

—Rose Koltes

Senior Graphic Designer at Ameriprise / Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Creative Powerhouse

Experience. Talent. Drive. Empathy. Insight. Curiosity. Loyalty. These are just a few of the words I’ve often used when describing the creative powerhouse... that is Dan Burdeski, whom I managed for four years at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. We hired Dan during a moment of near-crisis for the organization. Our previous designer unexpectedly left at our busiest time of year, and we needed to hire a designer within 24 hours who could quickly understand our organization - a complex business unit that exists within a vast and complex institution - and then immediately begin meaningfully articulating our brand across multiple mediums. He did that, and so much more. In fact, his work was so excellent, and he was such a valued team member, that we asked him to become a full-time, permanent staff member the moment his freelance contract with us ended. To our joy, he said yes, and for the last four years he has supported every staff member, in every department, producing whatever was needed to elevate their projects, events and promotions. Dan offers a rare blend of artistic skill and strategic insight. He is able to quickly and often intuitively understand what a project needs to accomplish, even when its business owner doesn’t. His kindness, collegiality, and incredible work ethic are second to none, as are his designs and UI/UX work.

—Samantha Massaglia

Director of Communications at University of Minnesota Alumni Association

Amazing illustrator and professional designer

Dan is easy to work with and he does the most AMAZING illustrations I’ve ever seen! I would quickly recommend him to anyone seeking the skills of a highly qualified and professional designer.

—Eva Stukenberg

Financial Associate ✤ Helping Others Live Confident and Generous Financial Lives

Creative, talented, and award winning designer

I worked with Dan on the Creative team at Cenveo for five years where he produced several creative, award-winning projects along with a variety... of branded materials. He was always on schedule, creative, thorough and fun to work with. Dan is not only a talented designer, he is also a wonderful Illustrator, team player and leader.

—Lisa Dahlvang

Designer at Ameriprise Financial

Art Direction and technical skills that are second to none

I've worked with Dan over the years on a number of high profile projects — both as co-collaborators, and where he was my Art Director — and on every... occasion he has been instrumental in creating engaging collateral that goes well beyond the initial scope of the creative brief. His direction and technical skills are second to none, and I would absolutely work with him again if given the opportunity.

—Kristian Heuer

Senior Graphic Designer at Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Very efficient, highly creative designer

Dan is a very efficient, highly creative designer. His attention to detail and job management skills make him a valuable asset to the team. It is a pleasure to work him.

—Bob Millard

Senior Art Director at Diversified Dynamics Corp.

able to articulate effective visual strategies

I can’t recommend Dan Enough for visual creative projects. His thoughtful insight while working on our photo project continually pushed... the bounds of what we were looking to communicate visually. It’s a rare pleasure to have someone else be able to articulate effective visual strategies, and Dan is very clear and concise on what he wants the photos to do.

—Justin Cox

Justin Cox Photography

Dan Burdeski

Let's start a conversation

Whether you are looking for someone to help with a project, or you just want a terrific high-five, I'm your man!

Dan Burdeski