Kieran Delaney Logo
DESIGN LEADERSHIP RESUME CONTACT

ABOUT ME

I love design

I’m not sure how else to say it without sounding cliché, but my design philosophy is quite simple. Love what you do. I didn’t get into design to get rich; I got into design because I loved it. I love learning, and I am always trying new techniques to help broaden my skill set. I often tell my students that good graphic designers will be some of the smartest people they will ever meet because through researching and analyzing every new project, a good designer will ultimately know a lot of things about a lot of things. Every new project is an opportunity to research and to learn about something new.

For me, design is design is design. It doesn’t matter if it’s a logo for a tattoo parlor, an annual review for a law firm or a promotional piece for a national brand. I treat each project as a learning experience and strive to give every client the best possible solution for their particular needs.

EXPERIENCE

Department Chair, Graphic Design Interactive Media and VFX/Animation / Flashpoint Chicago a Campus of Columbia College Hollywood, Chicago IL
02/2014 - Present

After starting out as an adjunct, I was hired on as Lead Design Faculty in 2015 and was promoted to the role of Department Chair in 2019. I wrote both the Associate’s and Bachelor’s curriculum — an “Inclusive” Project-Based Learning curriculum initiative that incorporates both traditional and emerging technologies into the core design courses. As Department Chair, I am responsible for course scheduling, onboarding and training new adjuncts, and supervising all faculty & adjuncts in the GDIM & VFX/Animation Departments (currently a team of 15 between Chicago and LA campuses), preparing the department budgets, curriculum assessments, and serving as the mentor and academic advisor for the entire GDIM student population. I was also responsible for the development & implementation of the MPD (Multi Platform Delivery) initiative, where courses are taught synchronously to students from our Chicago, LA, and online campuses, in an effort to deliver a more cohesive learning experience for all students in the programs regardless of geographic location. I also serve on the Retention, Admissions, & Student Success Committees.


Graphic Design Program Director / Fox College, Bedford Park IL
07/2008 - 08/2013

I was hired by Fox College to develop a brand new accelerated Graphic Design Associate’s Degree Program, and was responsible for writing the syllabi and curriculum for almost 20 classes. I served as the students’ lead instructor, taught all core professional courses, served as externship coordinator, and mentored portfolio development. I also served as a member of the Professional Education and Institutional Effectiveness Planning Committees, and was involved in helping Fox College become re-accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.


Lead Creative & Founder / diversedesign, inc. Chicago IL
10/2000 - Present

I led the creative team full-time, providing design and creative consulting services for clients in industries such as transportation, health care, legal, environmental, public relations, media relations, food and education. I was responsible for client logo development and branding, design and development of marketing and media materials such as brochures, direct mail, posters, annual reports, P.O.S. and web sites. In addition to the creative aspect of the job, I was also responsible for all client/vendor contact, project management, print brokering & talent supervision.


Mentor / AIGA, Chicago
2013 - Present

For the past several years, I have been volunteering with the AIGA to act as a mentor to other designers. My focus has been on helping other professionals, and recent grads, develop their portfolios (both print and digital) and presentation skills.


Founding Member / design co/op, Chicago IL
2017

Design Co/Op was a design think-tank/agency focused on disrupting the norm in the world of design/creative agencies. Our focus was on helping to bridge the gap between design education and the professional community for folks that are historically underrepresented; women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community… Part agency, part mentor program, part school… our goal was to help build a more diverse, inclusive, design and tech industry, not only here in Chicago but on a global scale.


EDUCATION

Harrington College of Design, Chicago IL
05/2016

MFA Communication Design

University of Illinois at Chicago
05/1998

BFA Graphic Design

BFA Industrial Design

HONORS/AWARDS

Nominated for the VP of Education position of the Chicago Chapter of the AIGA


Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society


Graduated with High Honors from Harrington College of Design


Harrington Service & Leadership Scholarship for Academic Excellence


CERTIFICATIONS

Adobe Certified Instructor


Web Development and Multimedia Certifications - Mac University

SKILLS

Graphic Design, Web Design, Branding, Packaging Design, Art/Creative Direction, Illustration, Photo Retouching, Photography, Print Brokering, Production, Project Management, Typography, Color Theory, Teaching, Mentoring, Curriculum Development, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, InDesign, HTML, CSS, w3.css, After Effects, Lightroom…