EDUCATION:
USA: Graphic Design (www.cranbrookart.edu)
Sept 2007- May 2009: Currently pursuing an MFA in Graphic Design at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, set to finish in spring 2009. Core focus of my work is on socio-political issues.

FRANCE: Graphic Design (www.penninghen.fr)
Sept 2000 – June 2004: MFA in graphic design from ESAG (L’Ecole Superieure d’Arts Graphiques) Penninghen, Paris. Thesis project on the social issues in lavish Indian Weddings: graduated with a First Class in 2004
Sept 1999 - June 2000: Foundation course at Atelier Met de Penninghen Paris.

FRANCE: Language (www.carel.org)
May 1998 – Sept 1998: Diploma in French Language course at CAREL, Royan, France (affiliated to University of Poitiers).

KUWAIT: Schooling
March 1998: CBSE 12th standard (Indian Higher Secondary degree) from Delhi Public School (FAIPS)
March 1996: CBSE 10th standard (Indian Secondary School degree) from Indian School

INDIA: Schooling
Primary school at Ahmedabad, Gujarat

AWARDS:
2007–08: Winner of the Merit Scholarship Award at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2D Design, USA
2008: The design language and concept for the furniture retail store iwannagohome! which I worked on at Illum Design, Delhi was picked up for the Best Retail Concept by the Singapore Tourism Board for 2008
2003: Winner of Photography Competition organized by Chantelle Lingerie in Paris, France

SOFTWARES FAMILIAR WITH:
Adobe Photoshop, Image Ready, Illustrator, In Design, After Effects, Quark Xpress, Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, Carrara, Final Cut Pro, Livetype, Microsoft Office

WORK EXPERIENCE:
USA: Guest Critic at the following colleges in Michigan in 2008:
Specs Howard Schoool of Broadcast Arts with Andrea Cardinal
College of Architecture and Design, Lawrence Technological University with Peter Beaugard
College of Architecture and Design, Lawrence Technological University with Blake Almstead

Guest Critic at the following colleges in Michigan in 2007:
University of Detroit Mercy with Mark Heggen
College for Creative Studies Detroit with Mathew G Walsh

INDIA: Make A Difference (www.makeadiff.in)
June 2008: Taught a one day workshop in drawing, painting and card making with 80 children of St Mary's Convent, Kochi (5t till 10th grade) with Make a Difference, a youth volunteer network.

USA: Cranbrook Academy of Art (www.cranbrookart.edu)
April–May 2008: Design and layouts of flyers and event postcards for the Cranbrook Art Academy.

INDIA: Play Clan, New Delhi (www.theplayclan.com)
Since January 2008: Currently freelancing for this product design store based out of New Delhi. Creation of concept graphics, typographic themes and layouts for t-shirts, cushions, books, hand-painted shoes and other store collateral.

INDIA: Kara Weaves (www.karaweaves.com)
2005–2006: One of the founding people of Kara Weaves, a handloom fabric revival project in Kerala, that makes home furnishings and bath items from traditional hand-woven fabrics. Developed the logo, the brand, the printed collateral, website, online shop product design and an active member in marketing the products.

INDIA: Illum Design Project Pvt Ltd, New Delhi (www.illumdesign.com)
Worked from May 2005 to July 2007 as Senior Graphic Designer
Client Profile: Hans Group of Hotels, Junnoon (restaurant), Radisson MBD Hotel, Rawla Narlai & Ajit Bhawan Palace Resorts, Ferns n Petals (flower boutiques), iwannagohome! Singapore (retail group), Thapar Homes (real estate group), MBD Zephyr (real estate group), NAZ Care Foundation (charity organization)
Fashion Brands: Ashish N Soni, Manish Arora, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, April-May, Stella Forest, The Heritage Boutique, Susanna Zeta, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2006, Lakmé Fashion Week 2006

INDIA: People Facet
2005–2006: People Facet (HR consultancy, India): Logo, branding and printed collateral

FRANCE: 2004–2005: BHV (home store, Paris), Polytechnicum (scientific centre, Paris)

FRANCE: CDG Graphic Design, Paris (www.cdg.fr)
2003 summer internship as Assistant to Art Director
Client Profile: CHANEL, Hervé Gambs, Becquet, AXA, FFN

INDIA: Ambience Publicis, Mumbai
2002 summer internship as Assistant to Art Director
Client Profile: Lakmé Cosmetics, Music concerts

KUWAIT:
1996 Summer: Center for Handicapped Children, Hawally as a social worker

LANGUAGES:
I can read/write/speak: English, French, Hindi, Malayalam and can understand some Tamil and Gujarati.

PERSONAL DETAILS:
Nationality: Indian
Date of Birth: 03 Dec. 1980 at Ahmedabad, India.
Email:chitra.gopala@gmail.com