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The Creative Behind the Work

I’m Michael Pierce, a graphic designer and photography educator with a passion for visual storytelling. My work combines professional design experience with teaching, helping students and audiences understand both the creative process and the technical skills behind strong visual communication.

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EDUCATION

THE COLLEGE OF
NEW JERSEY 

2014
Bachelor of
Arts in Art Education 

2006

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design

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Cumulative GPA: 3.62

DESIGN & MEDIA SKILLS

CREATIVE SOFTWARE

  • Photoshop

  • Illustrator

  • InDesign

  • Lightroom

  • Premiere Pro

  • Acrobat

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

  • DSLR Cameras

  • Studio Lighting

  • Photo Editing & Retouching

  • Visual Composition &
    Storytelling

 

TRADITIONAL MEDIA

  • Drawing

  • Painting

  • Sculpture

  • Ceramics

  • Mixed Media

  • Illustration

ADDITIONAL WORK

CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR​

  • Captain Spacesuit

  • P.B. and Jay of the
    Sandwich Island

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COACH

  • Assistant Varsity Boys Soccer and Goalkeeper Trainer (2016-Present)

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  •  Assistant Bowling Coach (2022-Present)

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SET DESIGNER

  • Designed stage sets for eight school productions 

  • Collaborated with the director, set construction advisor, and students to design and construct scenic elements, guiding the creative process from concept to stage

Lacey Township High School, Lanoka Harbor, NJ     2015-Present

             Graphic Design and Digital Photography Teacher

  • Teach Graphic Design and Digital Photography across four levels, including Advanced Placement 2-D Art & Design, using Adobe Creative Cloud and industry-standard software; successfully merged the courses into a single comprehensive class in 2025, maintaining high-quality instruction and project outcomes across both disciplines

  • Develop and implement project-based curriculum emphasizing branding, visual storytelling, digital media production, and portfolio development

  • In Photography: Instruct students in exposure, composition, lighting, post-processing, and narrative storytelling

  • In Graphic Design: Guide students in career-ready skills, including design thinking, creative problem-solving, and professional presentation

  • Design interdisciplinary projects integrating digital design and photography with other subject areas to enhance student learning and engagement

  • Oversee student participation in art and design competitions, exhibitions, and local/regional showcases

  • Manage classroom resources, digital lab equipment, and software licenses to maintain an organized, safe, and technologically current learning environment

  • Mentor students in portfolio preparation for college admissions, scholarships, and creative career pathways

 

Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, NJ Fall 2013

Teaching Assistant – Graphic Design

  • Assisted in developing curriculum and instruction for Intro to Graphic Design course

  • Supported classroom instruction and student learning in Adobe software and creative projects

  • Trained the ceramics instructor in graphic design programs and helped developcross-disciplinary lessons introducing students to digital design tools

 

NJASC’s Leadership Training Conference 2001-Present

Senior Counselor

  • Teach leadership classes covering public speaking, communication, conflict resolution, leadership styles, and project planning

  • Prepare students with leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills for school and real-world challenges

  • Lead videography and photography efforts for the conference for the past 12 years, documenting events and creating promotional content

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RESUME

The Creative Journey

FREELANCE DESIGN & BRANDING SPECIALIST

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Freelance Graphic Designer 2006–Present

  • Provide full-service design and project management for print, web, and digital marketing from concept through completion

  • Create branding and visual communication materials, including: logos, corporate identity systems, marketing collateral, advertisements, newsletters, direct mail, websites, presentations, packaging, stationery, posters, signs, and display graphics

  • Deliver creative solutions tailored to client goals and regional audiences

  • Collaborated with Philadelphia-area and regional organizations, including:

    • Origin Creative Services, Sellersville, PA

    • Mad Dragon Records, Philadelphia, PA

    • NJN Network, Trenton, NJ

    • New Jersey State Student Council, Trenton, NJ 

icueTV LLC, Cherry Hill, NJ    2008-2012

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Art Director (2010-2012)

  • Led brand development and marketing design for television and digital media products

  • Designed interactive graphics for television, mobile devices, and tablets

  • Managed creative production including marketing collateral and digital media assets

  • Collaborated with clients including Comcast Media Center, PayPal, Groupon, and SeaChange

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Manager of Media Communications (2009-2010)

  •  Managed creative media department including software engineers, video production staff and branding teams

  • Served as executive photographer for company events and conferences

  • Coordinated event media production and visual communication strategies

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Graphic Designer (2008-09)

  • Developed full corporate branding system and marketing collateral, promotional materials and website design

  • Designed customer portals and digital marketing materials

 

Realogy Corporation, Parsippany, NJ    2007

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Junior Graphic Designer

  • Created corporate marketing materials including brochures, newsletters, and promotional kits

  • Worked with marketing teams to develop internal branding and communication materials

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

PROFESSIONAL DESIGN EXPERIENCE

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