Biography

In 1993, Ron graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Industrial design at The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan.  Initially, CCS admissions categorized him as a fine artist, which he appealed in-order to pursue a degree in Industrial design.  Here he learned to package his fine art ideas with corporate design concepts.  During this time he twice received The CCS Academic Excellence Award and once received The Rubbermaid Excellence Award.  Alcoa patented two of his home improvement ideas.  He interned with NCR, redesigning their retail cash register with an early touch screen interface. The school gave him the freedom to explore industrial design with artistic self-expression.

After college Ron moved to Los Angles.  There, he worked for Hollywood Futurist Syd Mead and gained valuable insights into being a successful artist.  He later returned to his native Detroit where he embarked in a life of art and design.  Syd would remain a valuable guide through out his career.   

Since 1994 he has freelanced and contracted work for a number of corporate clients.  Sited below is a synopsis of his skills and work experience.  In 2014 he was offered a Creative Director’s position at Imagination where he applies his design and business knowledge to Ford Motor Company auto shows and special projects.

Duties accomplishments and Related Skills

Designed exhibits, graphics, signage and performed master planning for museum galleries and trade shows.  Envisioned, storyboarded and implemented motion graphics for interactive kiosks. Performed in-depth research which helped secure new industry leads.  Coordinated with fundraisers, and did research to identify new sponsors.  Proposed and developed marketing platforms for corporate clients with follow through into media and event planning.  Designed and brokered giveaways for special events.  Created art installations and managed setup for clients at events. Worked as a brand strategist for corporations coordinating their product portfolios.

Current Employment

Imagination America’s Creative Director Special Projects. Key role in the development of Mach-E fractal pony, Developed the drive course for the Bronco and worked in union with the team to execute the 2016 FMC international Auto show. Design and manage projects for FMC and their global partners in South America, China and Europe.

Jack Morton Worldwide Creative Director, formulating marketing and booth strategies for General Motors automotive brands. Creating hands on engagements for auto shows and other public facing venues.  Other aspects include development of activations with the business models that complement the experience. Other responsibilities include the booth, exhibit and stage design for GM’s brand teams in key markets for product placement and galas. 

Imagination America’s freelance designed and space planned exhibit properties for Ford Motor company’s B kits 2013. 

George P. Johnson Company experiential, exhibit designer and strategist.  Contracted to develop unique experiential marketing content for corporate training, auto show exhibits and ride and drive events 2012. 

EEI Global, senior exhibit designer and event marketer.  Worked on trade shows, auto shows and mobile tours.  Helped craft business models to support client programs. 2011- 2012. 

Contracted Work

DTE Energy.    Hired to design the exhibit properties and graphics for DTE Energy’s corporate tradeshow space.  The project included branded experiences, enhanced corporate identity and marketing concepts used in conjunction with its debuted at NAIAS 2010-2011.

Walter P. Chrysler Museum.  Created apparel and accessories from vintage Chrysler hood ornaments and vehicle hardware designs submitted and approved by Chrysler Corporate and Brand divisions for WPCM gift shop.  The products were featured at the 2010 Dream Cruise for the WPCM.  2010-13

Detroit Science Center, 5020 John R Street Detroit, Mi 48202.  Designed exhibits, graphics, signage and performed master planning for museum galleries and trade show exhibits.  In addition, envisioned, storyboarded and implemented motion graphics for interactive kiosks. Key fundraiser, capable of identifying new leads for sponsorship.  Performed in-depth research on projects to discover support information in new areas of relevance.  Worked closely with team members on each project with hand off and briefings to appropriate staff.  2003- 10

Freelanced Work

George P. Johnson, 3600 Giddings Road Auburn Hills Mi 48326.  Design of interactive displays, graphics, marketing and implementing strategies for many projects including Toyota Prius 2003 thru 2004.  Designed exhibits for the Tundra launch, and developed ideas and brokered the give a ways relating to the truck .   Was one of three creative who designed the FJ reveal, which won a Telly award.  Researched the product give a ways for the customer ride and drive for the FJ.  Did exhibit designs for the Camry Highbred and Highlander.  Designed Speed Shop for Chrysler at the SEMA show in Las Vegas 2003.  Was a lead designer for the Falling water exhibit for Chrysler Jeep display in 2004. Was hired to travel around the country to design and setup custom art installations for TRD group. 1999-2008

Michigan Youth Museum, New Civic Center Troy MI. 48098.   Designed and researched preliminary exhibition spaces and graphics for the children’s museum.  The focus was to create six theme environments with interactive learning experiences. 2001-2002

General Motors Creative Services, 30260 Oak Creek Dr. Wixom MI. 48393-0419   Created point of purchase displays for Hummer dealerships.  Concepts included promotional strategies tied to the product display. 2002

Mazda North America.  Created cultural interactive environments for the Mazda regional and International Auto show.  Ideas include graphics, point of purchase; pre-show as well as post show activities. 1999-2001

Auto Alliance, 1 Mazda DR Flat Rock MI. 48134.  Conceptualized on a display that branded Auto Alliance and its process within Ford’s trustmark. 2000-2001

Detroit Zoological Institute, 8450 West Ten Mile Royal Oak, MI. 48068-003. Commissioned to work with Museum Works Inc. as the creative conceptualist on the National Amphibian Conservation Center.  Merging scientific concepts into an artistic communication.  Responsible for the interior design with integration and creation of exhibits wall mural graphics and full sensory experiences. 2000-2001

Audi AG/ North America, D-85045 Ingolstadt, Germany.

Worked with Exhibit Works Inc., Audi AG and Audi North America to create Detroit’s 1999  “A” fair auto show.  Consultation included the creative development of marketing strategies for the US market. 

Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, Chicago Division, 200 N. Gary Avenue, Roselle, IL. 60172-1683.  Exhibit Consultant and Marketing Analyst.  Creating metaphorical art, graphic murals and architecture into marketing platforms for the telecommunications industry and others. 1999-2001

General Motors Design Inc., 30100 Mound Road, Warren, MI. 48090-9030. Designed metaphorical architecture and graphic ideation for the 1998 Pontiac, Chevrolet, and GM of Canada auto show exhibition.  Conceptualized installations for the brand center entrances, revising Eliel Saarinens' architecture.  Created a Fine Art graphic installation for GMC, exhibited paintings and glass panels in 1997 auto show circuit.  November 1995-1997

Dawlber Inc., 300 Enterprise CT. Bloomfield Hills, MI. 48302-0376.  Consultant hired to design an entertainment center for National Geographic.  Based upon declassified US. Military technologies using holography.  January 1996-August 1997

H.B. Stubbs, 27027 Mound Road, Warren MI. 48092-2699.  Hired to design on the 1998 Mitsubishi Auto Show proposal.  Designed museum, exhibit, and lobby display for Delco based on a metaphorical architectural style.1993-1996

Ford Motor Company Alpha Program 14661 Rotunda Dr. Dearborn MI 48120.  Worked as a graphic designer and technical illustrator. Was trained on Harvard graphics to produce presentations for senior management. September 1989-93.

Syd Mead Inc., 1716 N. Gardner Los Angeles, CA 90046.  Consulted with Syd Mead to develop a storyboard explaining an architectural concept for the Smokers Club franchise in Los Angeles.  August-October 1993.

Awards

Center for Creative Studies Academic Excellence Award.  May 1991 & 92.
Rubbermaid Excellence Award.  January 1992.

Publications

-Detroit Free Press October 11th 2000 write-up on the Hamtramck art installations- 

-Manhattan Arts International May-June 2000.  Work shown in the artful traveler.

-Article in Detroit Metro Times reviews opening at C-Pop Gallery.

-Work shown in the Sun Times for Hershey’s Corporation flagship store 2014.

-Skyryse design featured in PR Newswire and its debut at AirVenture 2024.

Education

Center for Creative Studies, 201 East Kirby, Detroit MI 48202.  BFA earned in Industrial Design, with a GPA of 3.8.  May 1988-May 1993.  Graduated Magna cumlaude.

Macomb Community College, 14500 Twelve Mile Road, Warren MI 48093.  78 credits earned toward AS degree in Technical Illustration, and Commercial Art.  Overall GPA of 3.7, September 1987-May 1990.

Representation and Collections

Walter P. Chrysler Museum.  One of kind art piece apparel for sale.  The products were featured at the 2010 Dream Cruise and are available for purchase at the museum gift shop.  2010-Present

ArtPrize, exhibited Lite bright sculpture in October 2021.

Detroit Zoological Institute, 8450 West Ten Mile Royal Oak, MI. 48068-003.  Installation Art “Should we turn it off?” frog sculpture, which is on display in the National Amphibian Conservation Center. June 2007.

Paint Creek Center for the Arts 407 Pine Street Rochester, MI 48307 Texteel in group show, Art & Auto August 6 thru September 25 2004

International  Artexpo, Convention Center New York, NY.  Exhibited Texteel fine art febuary 26 thru March 1, 2004

Maniscalco gallery 17728 Mack Ave. Detroit MI 48230.  Group show June 2001.  Taste-Fest August 2001.  One man show on Texteel January 2004  

Stephen Somerville LTD 14 Old Bond St. London W15 4PP. Is representing travel series landscapes December 2002.

C-POP gallery 4160 Woodward, Detroit MI. 48201.  Showed May 2000 an exhibition called city in the city.   

The Richard Salmon Gallery 59 Edwardes Square London W8. London Art gallery represents art using light as in integral median in painting.

Private exhibition of paintings in London UK. This effort was coupled with a commissioned installation funded by Dr. Rupert Homes, which utilized one floor of his estate to create an interior of a space ship.  Finished works of Art were integrated into the space. 

Created a series of paintings for General Motors Corporation. First displayed in the GMC exhibit and toured the North American Auto in 1996.  The series included a set of graphic communications silk screened onto glass. (The projects aim was to bring Art from the industry out into the culture.)

Created a series of paintings for promotion uses at Exhibit Works Inc.  The work utilized concepts pitched for a Saab presentation. The finished presentation is on display in the corporate office.

Hobbies

Avid traveler.  Eats wild things.  Runs like hell.  Has a passion for sharing his cultural history with others and always says “I was born wealth by nature of being an America citizen”.  Favorite Egyptian saying. “The only act of god there is, is the love we share amongst our selves”. Amenhotep IV AKA, Akenaten 1352-1336 B.C

Current Scope

The role of Creative Director at Imagination involves many disciplines.  The primary focus is on auto show engagements and communications.  Much of this is based on researching the product attributes and following current trends in social media.  Then crafting a story and implementing it with appropriate venders and technologies.  Booth development requires a great deal of research, into learning behavior, traffic density studies, strategic marketing and storytelling techniques.  Those studies are pooled together with other colleague’s and are formally presenting to GM’s management.  This process requires the ability to present the relevant content and discuss the overall direction and make any changes.  The strategy is then implemented with all the partner agencies where its monitored and refined.

Being a creative with extensive 3D and graphic capabilities garnered the JMW team new opportunities with their cliental.  The scope varies from designing detailed build properties with value engineering up front to creating blue sky proposals for competitive bids.  Some of this work requires the enlistment of other designers to execute different aspects. Having decades of experience developing conceptual designs and presentations bolstered JMW’s portfolio and generated more revenue for the organization.