It all started when I graduated with a degree in Advertising/Design from the University of Maryland. I took an internship with a local advertising agency and after selling my first two designs was offered a permanent position. I never looked back. I spent the next couple of years in worker bee fashion gathering as much knowledge as possible from anyone who knew more than me. Before long I was included in agency strategy meetings and relied upon to make client presentations. Within four years I was leading the creative department.

During the next four years I put my nose to the grindstone. I worked with some of the nation's top brands including the US Postal Service, General Dynamics, US Airways and the Traveler's Group. I mastered the tools of the trade and developed a thorough understanding of the brand building process.

In late '99 my agency started going after Web work. I put myself through a crash course in Web design and after a few successful projects, I was recruited by a start-up dot com to come in and handle all things creative. From graphic user interface design to online marketing strategy, I was learning my way around the industry. Within nine months I was recruited to be Design Director for one of the nation's leading business publishers. My mission was to migrate all 126 of Cahners' offline trade brands online. In just over one year the Web development team successfully launched 26 cutting-edge Web sites including Variety.com, InteriorDesign.net, and PublishersWeekly.com.

In late 2001, I decided it was time to break off on my own. I had been working hard my entire career for someone else and now it was time to use my skills to create my own opportunities. The result is Jeff Aiken Creative Direction, LLC.

Below find a breakdown in reverse chronological order of the places I've worked the timeframe I was there, and the titles I held.

September 2000 - September 2001

Director of Design
Cahners Digital, McLean Virginia
(Division of Cahners Business Information)

June 2000 - September 2000

Creative Director
MarketResearch.com, Rockville, Maryland
(acquired Newsletters.com)

Jan 2000 - June 2000

Director of Marketing Communications
Newsletters.com, Rockville, Maryland

Jan 1991 - June 1999

North Light Communications, College Park, Maryland
(Originally Briggs Kowenski Beskid Advertising)

'98-'99 VP, Associate Creative Director

'95-'98 Senior Art Director

'92-'95 Art Director

'91-'92 Graphic Designer