Micah Bowers, Designer in Vancouver, WA, United States
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Micah Bowers

Verified Expert  in Design

Designer

Location
Vancouver, WA, United States
Toptal Member Since
January 3, 2016

Micah uses brand design and illustration to tell stories on behalf of his clients. He believes that design must identify a need, stir a desire for change, and shed light on a path that is uniquely helpful, hopeful, and human.

IllustrationLogo DesignLogotypeBrandingAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorSquarespaceArt DirectionCorporate IdentityUX DesignUI DesignUser Experience (UX)Digital DesignVisual DesignCreative DirectionBlogBrand IdentityBrand StrategyDrawingVisual IdentityTypographyCXCustomer Experience

Portfolio

Work Experience

Illustrator

2017 - PRESENT
Google (via Toptal)
  • Created high-impact posters to promote an ongoing speaker series hosted by Google's Empathy Lab.
  • Designed a psychedelic, 60's inspired alphabet to visually distinguish the poster text in a clean, modern environment.
  • Illustrated a wide array of animals and characters to highlight the fun, inquisitive nature of the Empathy Lab.
  • Helped the client re-envision the project scope and deliverables to meet the budget and tight deadlines.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Illustrator | Designer

2015 - PRESENT
Micah Bowers Design
  • Developed brand identities by creating engaging visuals and stories that help companies communicate the unique value that they offer to customers.
  • Specialized in creating custom illustrations that support a company's brand messaging and bring life and energy to written content.
  • Created bright and cheerful animations that explain the usefulness of digital products in an easy-to-understand way.
  • Crafted one-of-a-kind words and letters for logos, websites, and advertisements.
  • Provided art-direction to companies in order to reach customers by outlining and implementing a specific mood at the start of each project.
Technologies: Adobe InDesign, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Illustrator and Presentation Designer

2018 - 2018
Deloitte (via Toptal)
  • Designed an on-brand presentation template for a team focused on the future of healthcare technology.
  • Illustrated a set of compelling storyboard frames to make the teams healthcare vision more relatable.
  • Reviewed the team's narrative and provided practical feedback to make the presentation more engaging.
Technologies: Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator

Senior Onboarding Designer

2017 - 2017
Acupic: Bryxe (via Toptal)
  • Delivered a set of 5 illustrations that integrate icons from Bryxe's UI with scenes of exploration and discovery.
  • Refreshed the onboarding messaging accompanying each illustration to be more clear and captivating.
  • Updated the signup button text to motivate new users with an opportunity to "opt-in" on each screen.
  • Consulted with Bryxe's senior UI designer to create more intuitive signup options.
  • Performed a detailed brand messaging assessment to help clarify Bryxe's onboarding focus.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Brand Illustrator | Animator

2016 - 2016
CheckMate (via Toptal)
  • Created engaging storyboard concepts for word-of-mouth networking app's onboarding screens.
  • Wrote a compact-yet-powerful script for CheckMate app's onboarding sequence.
  • Designed nine original characters to help effectively communicate the app's ability to connect users to professionals in different fields of expertise.
  • Provided color direction to enliven the overall mood of the onboarding animations.
  • Animated four vignettes in a way that powerfully demonstrated the app's usefulness.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator

Branding Expert

2016 - 2016
Arrow (via Toptal)
  • Developed a brand story and user journey outline to connect the Arrow app with emotions and experiences that people can relate to.
  • Provided art direction and styling inspiration for the look and feel of the Arrow app.
  • Created a compelling visual identity for the Arrow app, including logo, logotype, app icons, app typography, and app color scheme.
  • Refined in-app copywriting to better reflect Arrow's brand story and make the onboarding process clearer.
  • Created a set of five dynamic animations to add excitement and energy to the Arrow app's onboarding screens.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Sketch, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Logotype Designer

2016 - 2016
Reserve Direct (via Toptal)
  • Created a custom word mark and logo system for a large, online travel booking website.
  • Designed a versatile type system that allows for destination city names of varying length to be placed with the logo.
  • Generated 15 custom word mark sketches and explored a wide range of typographic styles.
  • Worked within the framework of a brand positioning document that client had in place prior to the start of the project.
  • Met a client's tight turnaround needs and delivered a new logo system in under three weeks.
Technologies: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Graphic Designer

2012 - 2015
Image360
  • Helped with the launch of a business by handling design, production, and installation of signage and vehicle graphics for the first year and a half of operating.
  • Developed a workflow checklist that organized the entire process of a project from client inquiry to final delivery and payment.
  • Oversaw, operated, and developed best-practices documents for large format print production equipment.
  • Created a design services package that allowed the business to increase profits from design and prepress tasks.
  • Worked as part of a three-person crew that saw monthly sales go from $1,500 to over $30,000 in three years.
Technologies: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

Graphic Designer

2010 - 2011
Purdue Envision Center
  • Designed promotional print items and displays for Purdue's haptic lab technologies.
  • Conceptualized, shot, and edited promotional videos highlighting faculty research.
  • Collaborated with staff designers from various Purdue departments to create promotional displays highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration with the Envision Center.
  • Led tours and operated demonstrations of Purdue's immersive "3-D Cave" technology.
  • Oversaw use and operation of the department's large format printer.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator
2008 - 2011

Master of Fine Arts Degree in Electronic Time-based Arts

Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN, USA

2004 - 2008

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design

Purdue University - West Lafayette, IN, USA

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