Rick Frennea Email & Phone Number

Pelham, Alabama

The creative director is responsible for design management and production of three business-to-business publications informing the gear industry in the United States – Gear Solutions, Wind Systems and Thermal Processing. Additionally, the creative director supports the websites for the three magazines with content management, particularly as the websites are being relaunched with new designs in 2018.

Owner/operator of Three8s Creative, a freelance design consultancy which provides identity and promotional design for individuals, small businesses and organizations, and consults on redesign projects for small-market newspapers and other publications.◗ Branding and marketing design for YMCA of Greater Birmingham, 2017.◗ Branding and marketing design for Presbyterian Home for Children, 2016.◗ Sample ballot and promotional design for BirminghamWatch's 2016 Alabama primary Voter Guide, 2016.◗ Advertising design for the law firm of Brooks, Hubbard & James PC, now known as Serious Injury Law Group, 2014-present.◗ Designed an identity system and tri-fold brochure for Leigh Ann Min as the Itinerant Chaplain, 2012.◗ Designed tri-fold brochure for the Birmingham History Center, 2011.◗ Designed full-page trade magazine ad and two-sided promotional card for Case Design/Remodeling in Birmingham, a home renovation/repair contractor, 2011.◗ Redesigned and produced the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley page for The Voice, a bi-monthly publication of the Synod of Living Waters (Presbyterian Church USA) in 2007-08. Produced a series of prototypes in 2007 for a proposed redesign of The Voice, which covers presbyteries in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. Refined the design of a weekly e-newsletter for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley in central Alabama.◗ Redesigned the Catholic Voice, the twice-monthly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Omaha (Neb.), 2005, which included a design stylebook.◗ Redesigned the Eufaula Tribune, a twice-weekly Alabama newspaper, 1999, which included a design stylebook. Provided additional design revisions in 2003.◗ Redesigned the Clay Times-Journal, a weekly Alabamanewspaper, 1998.

Birmingham, Alabama Area

Ad traffic serves as an intermediary between account executives, ad design and prepress. As ad traffic coordinator for Advance Central Services SE, I was responsible for supporting markets in Alabama, New Orleans and Portland, OR, to ensure delivery and design of advertising to meet daily production schedules. In addition, I was responsible for expediting advertising for the Alabama market by moving ads into design production, and design of advertorial content. A big part of this role of ad traffic coordinator is problem solving and account executive support.

Provide design services in support of Infinity's marketing efforts and insurance agents, and for internal departments within the company. These services include but are not limited to the design and printing of brochures, flyers, banners, booklets, posters/signage and other graphic needs.

Birmingham, Alabama

As a lead designer, responsible for content presentation, design management protocol and Saxotech MediaWare Center system administration in the publication hub of the Alabama Media Group, which publishes The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, Press-Register of Mobile and The Mississippi Press on a Wednesday-Friday-Sunday print cycle.Leading up to conversion in October 2012, I was a principal participant in prototyping for the new design of the print products and was primarily responsible for template build and element libraries.I was also on the implementation team for Saxotech's MediaWare Center, a new editorial content management and production system that went live October 2012. Primary role on the six-person team was InDesign integration, including creating stylesheets, design libraries, article formats and page templates, along with establishing design management protocol.Design work has been recognized by the Associated Press Managing Editors association in Alabama, 2013.

◗ Adjunct instructor of visual journalism at the University of Alabama, fall 2010-fall 2011◗ Knight Foundation fellow in residence on newspaper design, University of Alabama, 2001.◗ Published the article, "Some Design Lessons for Small Papers" in Design, the journal of the Society for News Design, spring 2000.◗ Leader of communications and newsletter workshops for Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley (PCUSA), 2011; Catholic Press Association workshops on newspaper design, 2005; Samford University Communications Workshop for High School Journalists, on newspaper design, 2005; Southern Newspaper Publishers Association workshop on newspaper design, 2002; Alabama Press Association workshops on newspaper design for weeklies and small dailies, 1998 and 1996.

As senior designer, responsible for overseeing the daily work of a 15-person design staff, maintaining design style and training designers. Design experience covers a range of news and feature pages, special section/project work, and designs for new and revamped sections, including daily editorial pages and Sunday commentary section Viewpoints, Sports and new Sunday entertainment section, Play. Was part of implementation team for Saxotech's MediaWare Center, a new editorial content management and production system that went live in fall 2012. Primary role on six-person team was InDesign integration, including creating stylesheets, design libraries, article formats and page templates, along with establishing design management protocol.Managed editorial conversions to 43-inch web in 2009 and 47-inch web in 2006, which included renovating design elements, updating formats and testing changes, and guiding staff through launch of new page sizes. Also worked with an interdepartmental team during the 43-web conversion to revamp classifieds by testing new typefaces, prototyping new design elements, and working with IT to revise and test formats.Shared responsibilities for complete newspaper redesign in 1999, which included writing and designing a design stylebook; design changes in 1996; and redesign in 1995. Produced designs for new editorial products, including house and garden section, personal technology, and high school and college football, among others. Design work has been recognized by the Society for News Design, the Alabama Press Association and the Associated Press Managing Editors association in Alabama.Other positions I have held since joining The News in 1986 include Page 1 editor, Sunday editor, assistant news editor, assistant state editor, and copy editor.

News editor, responsible for Page 1; formerly copy editor, reportercovering education and law enforcement.

Reporter covering city government, Tennessee Valley Authority andlegislative delegation.

Associate editor responsible for education and sports coverage, andsports page design; formerly sports editor.

Post-Graduate Studies In Graphic Design

B.A., English

Activities and Societies: Editor and designer of The Tower literary magazine, 1977-78. Member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society.

Education record

Participant in Society for News Design workshops, 2002, 1999, 1994 and 1993; American Press Institute design seminar, 2001; Conference.