Freelance Graphic Design / Branding

Hey, what’s the big idea?

My 20+ years of experience as a creative professional might be just the right fit for your firm’s creative needs (and budget).

My Story

After graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia, I took a position as an account executive at an ad agency handling several regional markets of the McDonald’s account. While working on such a prestigious account provided an incredible learning experience, I eventually wanted to move on to a different industry, albeit while still in marketing.

I landed a position as VP Marketing Director for a large financial institution in Miami, Florida. At the time, mortgage interest rates were 12% and one-year CD’s were paying a whopping 16%! I was heavily involved in opening new branches, working with our ad agency developing print and television campaigns, creating new deposit and lending products, etc. This experience brought into light the emergence of relationship marketing, something that was cutting edge in those days. At about my nine year anniversary there, I came across an ad for a brand new company that changed my whole career perspective—Apple.

I bought my first Apple computer (SE 30, 9” B&W screen, 1 MB of RAM), which came with almost no software to speak of, and laughable computing power compared to today’s powerhouse machines. But man, I was hooked. The rudimentary graphics it had at the time piqued my curiosity and left me yearning for more. With each new upgraded model, and new softwares coming into the market, it became clear that creative work going forward was transforming totally away from paste ups, rough sketch layouts, galleys of type, veloxes, etc. A B&W scanner I purchased was bundled with some brand new software called, Photoshop. Needless to say, it was a “lightbulb” moment in my life—and my career.

Experimenting with the early stages of Photoshop was the catalyst in my decision to leave my marketing career behind and pursue one in the creative field. Somehow, I got the cojones to approach the president of the bank, asking that he allow me start my own creative agency and have the bank as my first account. To my surprise, he agreed, and I proudly opened Tuckerman Advertising (which eventually became Zoom IQ).

Coupled with the rapid evolution of the computer world, the agency continued to grow. As owner and creative director, it was fulfilling a dream of mine that lasted for well over 20 years. Over that time, I had the privilege of providing creative work for clients in a wide variety of industries, including real estate development, healthcare, financial, non-profit, gaming/entertainment, and many more.

Eventually, for multiple business and personal reasons, I decided to simplify my life, leave the agency world behind, and offer my services as a freelance graphic designer. The totality of my work experience has allowed me to provide professional level creative work to a whole new group of clients. While many things have changed over time, the basics of good communication still apply. In my current role, I appeal to clients who appreciate the experience and knowledge I bring to the mix without having to pay the cost for a full-service agency. I believe it’s a win-win for both sides.

Creativity is embedded in my DNA, and is a passion that I will continue to pursue and enjoy throughout my life in all different forms.

Graphic Design Services

Concept, Copy Writing, Typography, Layout, Art Direction, Retouching, Editing, Client Services

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop

20+ Years

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

20+ Years

Adobe Photoshop

Illustrator

20+ Years

Adobe Photoshop

Final Cut Pro

14+ Years

Adobe Photoshop

XD

10+ Years

Adobe Photoshop

Audition

10+ Years

When I served as Owner/Creative Director of my ad agency (Zoom IQ, Inc.), I hired many individuals who were part of our account and creative team. Some were experienced designers and others were recent graduates of specialty educational schools.

From first-hand experience, I can tell you it isn’t easy to know if the creative person you are hiring is up for the task. Some had innate talent coupled with good client relation skills. Others were green and knew enough about the requisite software, but either took way too long to finish an assignment or missed the boat on the client’s objective. Some fell into the category of what I would call “puzzle makers”. When given all the design assets (logo, photo, copy) they’d put together something decent, but that was the extent of their creative capabilities.

After having logged many years in the business honing my craft on exceptional companies and brands representing many industries, I feel confident that I can become your go-to freelancer for just about all your creative needs. My knowledge of the requisite design software is so strong that I’ve taught courses at the college level. That, coupled with my vast experience, work ethic, and what I consider an easy-going demeanor, I believe will serve you and your company well. I appreciate the opportunity to be considered a part of your creative and marketing team!

  • Branding
  • Logo Development
  • Print Advertising
  • Corporate Brochures
  • Direct Mail Campaign
  • Outdoor Advertising
  • Video Editing
  • Social Media Graphics
  • Retail Catalogs
  • Trade Show Displays
  • Oversized Graphics
  • PowerPoint Presentations

Portfolio

Industry-Direct Experience

Adobe Photoshop

Real Estate Development

Provided all creative strategies and execution for 55 real estate developments.

Adobe Photoshop

Financial

Served as VP Marketing/Creative Director for a large South Florida financial institution.

Adobe Photoshop

Entertainment/Gaming

Provided the full range of creative for a casino/racetrack and a casino/dog track in South Florida.

Adobe Photoshop

Healthcare

Handled all creative for several South Florida hospitals and healthcare related companies.

Adobe Photoshop

Food Service

Main point person for all creative materials for several companies in the quick service food biz.

Adobe Photoshop

Non-Profit

Hired by several South Florida non-profits to create marketing and branding materials.

I’ve had the privilege of working with and for a host of talented people over the course of my career. Being surrounded by those who exhibited a level of professionalism and creative acumen helped me develop as both a marketer, art director, and designer. I owe a debt of gratitude to the employees and clients who made my life, and my life’s work an absolute pleasure.

When I first started out in this field (pre-digital world), everything was produced in hard copy. Composed film negatives, match prints, veloxes, type galley’s, etc. Essential tools were exacta-knives, paste up boards, and rubber cement. Quite a different world from today. But the thought process involved—an eye for color, composition, font selection, visual imagery, and messaging—was the same. Fast forward to today, and everything a creative professional requires for production is either online or on their computer.

Over the 20+ years in this business, I’ve probably created thousands of marketing pieces, including full-blown multi-media campaigns, magazine layouts, catalogs, print ads, oversized graphics, trade show displays, radio spots, TV spots, etc., etc. As someone with the creative gene as part of their genetic make-up, I’ve been lucky to be able to express my creativity and make some money along the way.

Contact

I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out.

305.790.9999 / rick@ricktuckerman.com

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