David Kaufmann Email & Phone Number

Cincinnati, Oh, Us

Cincinnati, Oh, Us

In my role as a Color Retoucher, I navigate the complex phases of CGI, covering both pre-production and post-production workflows. During pre-production, my primary objective is to transform final print files into bespoke assets tailored for 3D models. This involves a meticulous approach to creating image maps, ensuring that the modeling, lighting, and rendering processes achieve the desired photorealism, capturing every design attribute, including special ink, foil, emboss, and structural details.Post-rendering, my focus shifts to post-production, where I enhance specialized Hero views. Here, I develop beauty shots and image compositions to showcase products and packaging showcasing only the most important branding and marketing info. Additionally, I create image templates designed with smart objects to streamline design updates which use the same 3D models. Our meticulously crafted renders become invaluable assets for brands, utilized on eCommerce platforms like Amazon.com and in various other brand activations including marketing collateral and packaging, ultimately elevating brand presence and consumer engagement.

In my role as a Senior Production Artist, I had the privilege to uphold agency quality standards, ensuring the timely delivery of design assets and production mechanicals to clients and print partners. Throughout the creative-production process, I facilitated comprehensive discussions with stakeholders to ensure design excellence and production feasibility, offering technical guidance and practical insights, working toward delivering user-friendly design and systems. This strategic collaboration was essential in managing expectations, addressing feedback, and fulfilling client objectives across both print and digital disciplines.The core scope of my work included managing design refinements and adaptations for primary, secondary, and club packaging, as well as developing design systems and overseeing final delivery. I crafted high-end photo compositions, design comps, and product renderings. Leveraging my extensive knowledge of color, inks, and substrates, I optimized color palettes and color builds for new designs and brands. Additionally, I ensured proper sizing of regulated consumer labeling, symbols, and codes, implemented design and copy modifications based on client feedback, and meticulously aligned all elements to print and manufacturing specifications.Furthermore, I actively collaborated with clients and their print partners during print trials, presenting alternate design builds to pinpoint brand color targets and anticipate potential print challenges before full-scale production. This collaborative effort streamlined future setups and enabled brand managers to evaluate production color targets and realistic mockups, significantly enhancing the overall efficiency of upcoming production runs. Noteworthy CPG print trial initiatives include Kimberly-Clark’s brand refresh for Huggies, Beechnut Nutrition’s Beechnut Naturals food labels, and primary packaging for BAT’s Neo Stick’s NA product launch.

Blue Ash, Ohio, Us

As Production Manager, I orchestrated production workflows to ensure the timely delivery of designs to clients and production partners. I meticulously managed vendor relations, supplier selection, print parameters, cost estimates, proofing, and press approvals, consistently meeting milestones, client-approved budgets, and timelines. I actively troubleshooted and resolved design print feasibility issues, finalized production mechanicals to printer and manufacturer specifications, and provided criticaldesign support through color correction and creative imagery.Notable achievements include successfully supervising a high volume of production work for the agency’s capstone account (US Bank), overseeing a diverse array of marketing collateral, and managing a portfolio representing over $850K in annual revenue. Additionally, I led the creative production of TSC Apparel's catalog for three consecutive years, managing post-production from photoshoots to final creative execution, ensuring seamless integration across both printed and digital catalogs.

West Chester Township, Ohio, Us

In a contracted Photo Retouching capacity, I worked in close collaboration with an onsite photography studio and internal prepress team to create captivating imagery for luxury products showcased in monthly print and online catalogs. I retouched and implemented the colorization of product and lifestyle imagery.

In my freelance role as a Senior Technical Designer, I specialized in supporting the Procter and Gamble Oral Care business, focusing on ensuring precision, excellence, and uniformity across a wide range of packaging projects. My responsibilities included executing design updates, formatting final copy, and developing production-ready mechanicals and design templates for product line extensions, product information, and marketing collateral. Additionally, I played a critical role in providing essential design support by crafting imagery used in design concept sell-ins and consumer packaging.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Us

In my role as a Senior Print Production Specialist, I led day-to-day production workflows and provided guidance to a team of production artists and freelancers. Collaborating closely with designers, client service teams, and production managers, I played a pivotal role in creating diverse advertising and marketing materials across multiple mediums. My responsibilities included finalizing designs, crafting creative imagery, and ensuring timely delivery of production-ready materials. Projects included OOH advertising like bus signage and billboards, to print ads, point-of-purchase displays, corporate identity materials, direct mail, brochures, event promotions, and tradeshow wall graphics. Additionally, I managed quality control and facilitated color proofing to align team approvals before final asset release to publications, newspapers, and specialty print partners.

In my role as a Color Separation Specialist, my focus was on meticulously preparing client-supplied designs for print production. This encompassed tasks such as conducting design preflight checks, implementing multi-color trapping, setting up printer spread pagination, and generating multicolor film output to produce color proofs and printing plates for various packaging types. Additionally, I specialized in producing technical drawings for die cutting and optimizing color separations tailored to specific print processes, including flexographic, web, and offset methods.