Idea MechaniX

Marcus McLaurin

Creative Director, Front-end Developer, Art Director and Designer

About

Hello! I’m Marcus McLaurin, Creative Director at Idea MechaniX. I am a skilled front-end developer with mastery of graphic design tools such as Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. I am a creative problem-solver and a team worker with expertise in imagineering and getting the job done.

Idea MechaniX is a branding, design and editorial content agency specializing in strategic design and development of brand concept, vision, visual communication and editorial content.

Links

Email
marc @ ideamechanix.com
LinkedIn
Phone
413 . 657 . 8904
Address
348 S. Shirkshire Rd
Conway MA     01341

Skills

HTML
Master (W3 Schools Certified)
CSS
Intermediate (W3 Schools Certified)
JavaScript
Intermediate
Branding & Logo Development
Master
Web Design & Development
Expert
Adobe Photoshop
Master (Adobe Certified)
Adobe Illustrator
Expert
MS Office Suite
Expert
InDesign & Desktop Publishing
Master
Social Media Management
Expert

Work Experience

Technical Instructor, Programming and Web Development Franklin County Technical School
2018 - Present
Taught 9th to 12th grade students design and creation of websites using HTML5, CSS3, Sass, Javascript and Wordpress. Provided in-depth training in Social Media Marketing as well as Game Theory and design. Mastered development for Unity game design application with the C# programming language. Acted as webmaster for school website fcts.us for two years.
Website
Creative Director Idea MechaniX
2009 - Present
Independent Branding, Logo and Web Development agency. Services include conceptualization and product design and structure for print and web, as well as professional training and instruction. Specializing in comprehensive project, talent, and resource management from conceptualization through go-live implementation. Portfolio in link below.
Website
Design Director Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2007 - 2009
Managed Senior Designers and design vendors in creating of K-12 education programs including Math in Focus, Write Source and Sciencesaurus textbook lines. Led design conceptualization of product structure, user experience and functionality. (This subdivision has since been absorbed into Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Directed and executed redesign of the Houghton Mifflin corporate logo, following merger with Harcourt in January 2008, to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt logo. Developed HMH logo usage guidelines, palette, font standards and usage restrictions for logo suites across all business units. Recognized by corporate as a High Performance Employee.
Website
Managing Art Director Channing L. Bete Co.
1997 - 2007
Managed staff of Designers and Illustrators in creation of dynamic youth oriented custom publications. Prototyped, art directed and developed product design standards from concept through rollout. Samples available on request. Archived version of company website in link below.
Website
Editor/Art Director Marvel Comics (Marvel Entertainment)
1986 - 1996
Edited and designed formatting for high-profile and creator-owned comics, including What If?, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser and Alien Legion. Produced and art directed critically acclaimed, award-winning series Marvels, and launched franchise of painted comics, Tales of the Marvels. Wrote full run in comic series Cage and Firestar series in Marvel Comics Presents.
Comics Bio

Education

Fitchburg State University Masters Program (non-matriculated)
2012 - 2018
Certificate in Vocational Education. Transcript available on request.
Transcript
School of Visual Arts Graphic Design (non-matriculated)
1991 - 1996
Post-graduate studies in Graphic Design.
Pratt Institute BFA Communication Design
1986 - 1989
Suma Cum Laude. Listed as a notable graduate from Pratt (link below).
Ranker

Portfolio

Design / Illustration / Project Management

Illustrations for (IN)dependent

Designed stage scenery as projected illustrations for (IN)Dependent: The Heroin Project. This production was a drama by Kent State University students Emelia Sherin and Zach Manthey, based on interviews with heroin users, counselors, and family members.

Frontend / HTML / CSS / JavaScript

UCC of Conway Website

Designed full website for Conway Church involving storage and access point for multiple PDF files and records. Developed the logo and branding for UCC Conway.

Frontend / HTML / CSS / JavaScript

Joanie Schwartz
Real Estate Website

Built highly performant realty website requiring integration with MLS System.

Backend / PHP / Wordpress

Main Street
Bar & Grill Website

Developed a complex menu website in Wordpress. Collaborated with back-end and front-end team for finished product.

Backend / PHP / Wordpress

Suzanne Conway Illustrator Website

Built highly performant Wordpress website for an illustrator's Portfolio. Worked to develop portfolio category system in PHP.

Graphic Design / Photoshop / Watercolor

Children's Book Illustration

Illustrations for various color
children's books and short stories.

Graphic Design / Pencil / Ink

Comic Illustration

Worked as an Illustrator for Marvel Comics, and other independent imprints.

Social & References

Marc Siry

Strategic Partnerships, Meta

I have always been greatly impressed with Marcus's diligence and creativity. I would not hesitate to endorse him for any conceivable creative assignment.  

Sarah Martin

Owner, Science House Publishing

Marcus has demonstrated his skills as both a manager and a designer. Marcus always had helpful layout and design ideas and was largely responsible for the overall look of the book, which was very well received. I would recommend Marcus to anyone looking for a design director. 

Joseph Tey

Visual Art and Design Manager, Singapore

I am very inspired and impressed by Marcus's knowledge on both design and illustrations. There is always something to learn from the emails he wrote on the look and feel of artwork. He is truly an inspiring teacher of Art. 

Ken Lopez

Art Director at DC Comics/Time Warner

Marcus is an extremely talented, highly motivated person. He's also a very high-energy individual. Combine all these with his personable nature and you have an Art Director who would be a tremendous asset to any company. It was a great pleasure working with him those years at Marvel Comics. 

Margaret DeGregorio

Experienced Marketing and Business Development Professional

(Marcus) was a pleasure to interact with as he was always receptive to feedback while at the same time articulate about the artistic choices he or his staff had made and why he thought various creative solutions would or wouldn't work. 

Contact

413 . 657 . 8904
marc @ ideamechanix.com