Thank you visiting, I hope you like what you see. My name is Galen Smith, I’m Principal and Creative Director of Hardscrabble Projects, please contact me if you would like to talk over the possibility of working together on one of your projects, I would love to hear about it. I have extensive experience with all phases of book design and have been involved with all aspects of the book publishing process but I am always interested in non-book projects as well, I think we can make something great together.
Hardscrabble Projects is primarily focused on design and art direction for printed and digital publications but also has created logos, brochures, catalogs, invitations, music packaging, posters and a wide variety of graphics. Hardscrabble Projects produced and designed the hardcover book New York Dick; Lewd drawings and obnoxious comments on New York City advertising posters for Mark Batty Publisher, and New York Dumb for the iPad. Book design clients include Chronicle Books, Harper Design and Abrams Books. We are a registered Apple Developer.
Hardscrabble Projects
Designers and developers of printed and digital publications
Galen Smith - Principal / Creative Director
gsmith@hardscrabbleprojects.com
(347) 276-2325
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Résumé
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Skills and capabilities
Experienced graphic designer, art director, and design department manager. Able to lead a team and work as part of one. Extensive knowledge of book design both printed and digital, typography and design history, brand identity creation. Wide ranging experience with book printing processes. Published author/photographer, blogger, and design educator.
Experience
Hardscrabble Projects - Principal/Creative Director
March 2011 – present // Hardscrabble Projects is focused on design and art direction for printed and digital publications. Hardscrabble Projects produced and designed the hardcover book New York Dick; Lewd drawings and obnoxious comments on New York City advertising posters for Mark Batty Publisher, and New York Dumb for the iPad. Book design clients include Chronicle Books, Harper Design and Abrams Books. Responsibilities include project acquisition, graphic design, and freelancer coordination. Registered Apple Developer.
Abrams Image, Stewart Tabori & Chang - Art Director/Department head
October 1999 – March 2011 // Supervised a design department of 4 to 6 on-site designers, and 8 to 12 off-site freelancers designing 50 to 60 books per year. Worked closely with editorial, marketing, and production departments to create, promote, and deliver exceptional books. Organized and directed photo shoots and prepared design presentations. Personally designed 6 to 8 complete book projects and 10 to 12 book covers per year. Design department representative on publishing process refinement committee.
Galen Smith Graphic Design - Principal/Creative Director
July 1995 – October 1999 // Art directed and designed illustrated trade books (covers and interiors), catalogs, logos and branding systems. Clients included Rizzoli, Stewart Tabori & Chang, Decision Support Services and Doubleday Select.
Parsons School of Design - Faculty
September 1996 – May 1999 // Digital design foundation instructor. Introduced students to digital art and design, including 2-d, 3-d, web, and multimedia environments. Created or modified design assignments, organized all projects and training for 30 students. // Digital design continuing education instructor. Instructed students in the history and practice of typography, and its creative and functional possibilities.
Education
Portfolio Center - Atlanta, Georgia
Graduate of Graphic Design Program, 1986
Awards and recognition
New York Dick; Lewd drawings and obnoxious comments on New York City advertising posters
– Covered in Vice and Blackbook magazine, Daily Heller (Print online) and Flavorwire, featured on WFMU’s Too Much Information
New York Book Show
– Feasting On Asphalt, Merit Award for Cookbooks
American Corporate Identity
– Galen Smith stationery, Award of Excellence
– Ansley Above the Park logo, Award of Excellence
AM New York
– Interviewed for article “Judging Books By Their Covers”
I.D. Magazine
– Design review by Chip Kidd of the book Art of the Market
Partial client list
Chronicle Books, Harper Design, Abrams, Stewart Tabori & Chang
Primary software
Adobe Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint.