art. work.
from the brain of allen roberts
FOLLOW MY CREATIVE JOURNEY
FROM COLLEGE TO JOBS IN PRINT, WEB, TV … THEN BACK TO COLLEGE.
Assistant Professor and Director of Graphic Communication
Bluefield University – 2010-present
I began at then-Bluefield College as an adjunct instructor while also working in local media. I was hired full-time by BC in 2014, eventually becoming chair (now director) of Graphic Communication. While the bulk of my duties currently center on teaching and advising students in Art, Graphic Communication and Digital Marketing, I have also been afforded the opportunity to handle a wide range of multimedia duties on campus, including serving as Digital Technologist, overseeing multiple live streams and video productions, as well as creating marketing material for both internal and external use (print, digital/web, and video). I’ve also served on multiple committees, including Marketing and Instructional Technologies. The most rewarding aspect of my time at BU has been observing former students thrive in their own careers!
Below is a sample of material created for both print and digital use while at BU.
M.S. Integrated Marketing Communications
West Virginia University – 2015-2017
Working in higher education presented me with the opportunity to pursue my Master’s degree, which I completed in 2017 through WVU’s online IMC program. The coursework offered a balance of advanced creative conceptualization and execution with data and research analysis and gave me a much deeper understanding in how to effectively deliver impactful messages in visual form to specific demographics, for specific goals. I’m proud to say I was able to maintain straight As while balancing an existing career and welcoming a new baby to the family!
While much of the coursework was done in written form such as case studies, marketing plan creation and research, below is a small sample of visual components created during my degree pursuit.
Internet Director
WVVA-TV – 2010-2014
My experience in print journalism led to an opportunity in broadcast television at NBC affiliate WVVA. There I created and managed content on all of the station’s website and all social media channels, created online ads for multiple clients, and also created and developed in-house promotions. I even had the thrill of regularly appearing on-air in commercials and hosting and writing my own weekly ‘Web Minute’ segments. Being the station’s digital ‘voice’ carried much responsibility to make sure all content was not only factual, but well-written, engaging and that all components of the website properly functioning. I was honored to be awarded ‘Best Use of Digital Media’ by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association in 2014 for an online retrospective looking back at the ‘Blizzard of 1993,’ 20 years later.
Below are examples created for various contests, promotions and website initiatives during my tenure.
Senior Copy Editor
Bluefield Daily Telegraph – 2004-2010
Within my first year at the BDT, I was promoted to Weekend Editor, making me responsible for layout and editing for the all-important Sunday edition. During my nearly seven years in that role, I produced hundreds — if not thousands — of page layouts, in addition to creating graphics, writing occasional stories and columns, and making daily editorial content decisions, all while meeting strenuous deadlines. I was twice awarded ‘Best Front Page’ by the West Virginia Press Association (2007, 2009). Those award-winning layouts, and a few more examples, can be seen below.
B.A. Graphic Design/Advertising
Concord University – 1998-2002
I obtained my undergraduate degree in Graphic Design/Advertising at then-Concord College way back at the turn of the century, maintaining a 3.5 GPA and also completing a minor in Studio Art. My experience at Concord was my introduction in uniting my traditional artistic abilities with emerging design industry technologies. Below are selected pieces from those early academic years.
Freelance/Personal creations
1996-present
Illustrations, websites and print pieces created for a variety clients, colleagues, or just for the fun of it. It begins with the mascot I created for Eastbay athletic catalogs as a high school student in 1996. Other work includes print, digital, and web projects for churches, musicians, political candidates and non-profit organizations. See some examples below.
