Robert J. Finkel is a designer in the broadest and most specific sense of the word. He was born in 1980 and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology concentrating in cultural anthropology and sociological theory. He is also a graduate of the Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2011 he received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Florida where he studied graphic design.
Prior to attending UF, Robert was employed for several years at the design firm Slaughter Group in Birmingham, Alabama where he specialized in corporate identity and branding, and custom letterpress printing and design. He has also served on the board of AIGA Birmingham.
He currently lives in Gainesville, FL where he continues to build a practice of design with a strong foundation of concept, craft, and presentation.
Want to collaborate on a project? Email me at robert[at]robertfinkel.com
EXPERIENCE
2009 – 2011
University of Florida, School of Art + Art History | Gainesville, FL
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Responsible for designing and coordinating the publicity materials for the SA+AH, maintaining the school’s social media outlets, and creating internal design projects. Taught courses in Typography: Letterform, Graphic Design for Non-Majors and assisted students in the Letterpress Shop.
2005 – 2009
Slaughter Group | Birmingham, AL
Designer
Worked on a variety of branding campaigns including the identity, advertising, signage & interiors, and print collateral for clients from concept to production.
Winter 2005
Pentagram Design | New York, NY
Internship
Worked on the design team, directed by Michael Bierut, assisting team members and designing various projects in both environmental design and print design.
EDUCATION
2009 – 2011
University of Florida, School of Art + Art History | Gainesville, FL
Masters of Fine Arts, Graphic Design
2003 – 2005
Portfolio Center | Atlanta, GA
Graduate Studies, Graphic Design
1998 – 2002
Rhodes College | Memphis, TN
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology & Sociology
Concentration in Cultural Anthropology and Sociological Theory
RECOGNITION
UF Graduate School Fellowship
Highly competitive fellowship for pursuing graduate studies with full tuition waver and stipend.
Florida Higher Education Arts Network
I___LOCAL recognized for Advocacy in the Arts, 2011
SA+AH Juried Exhibition 11
Work included in exhibition
Henri Theil Memorial/University Gallery Purchase Award
Always, poster included in University Gallery permanent collection
UF Design Symposium, Ligature 20
Best in Graduate Work, I___LOCAL
UF Design Symposium, Ligature 19
Best in Graduate Work, Water Bottle Informational Installation
Design for Obama
OYeah! Poster featured in the Taschen book, co-edited by Spike Lee
CMYK Magazine
Mondavi Wine Bottles published in Summer 2006 issue
SKILLS
Adobe Creative Suite
Letterpress Printing
Screen Printing
Carpentry
Digital Fabrication (Laser Cutter and 3D Prototyping)
Light HTML/CSS editing
Ethnographic Research and Interviewing
MEMBERSHIPS
AIGA