In my own words
— Maxwas born to do this work.
For as long as I can remember my eye has traced the letterforms, logos, shapes, and colors that permeate my world. As a teenager, I discovered skateboarding and punk-rock, two scenes rich in visual language. It was in these counter culture environments that the foundations of my aesthetic and world-view were laid. It was through skateboarding that I came to understand brands had personalities, and that the graphics they used could define and communicate emotional qualities and character. It is also where my love of photography sprouted, resulting in my first published work. I graduated from San Diego City College in 2013 and won the photography category at the AIGA/SD student portfolio review. I currently work as a media agnostic graphic designer and art director for niche clients, creative agencies, and lifestyle brands.
Trajectory
Jul 2017 — Now
Graphic Designer / Art Director · Self Employed
Contracting for agencies such as Red Door Interactive and Bex Brands, as well as working client-direct, I quickly understand esthetics and brand standards to meet and exceed the graphic design, art direction and photographic demands of clients in industries including: packaged consumer goods, health care, education, hospitality, clean energy and fast casual dining, through graphics ranging from social media posts, advertising, digital banner ads and websites, to packaging, print magazines and collateral.
Selected Clients:
Qdoba
AstroGlide
Perfect Bar
SKLZ
Alere
Sunrun
California Western School of Law
Grand Pacific Resorts
Nov 2018 — Oct 2019
Art Director · Jetty Extracts
Working closely with the Creative Director and CMO, I was responsible for steering the overall brand direction as well as concepting, pitching (to internal stakeholders as well as partner brands) and creating cross-channel campaigns for new product launches, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and events including trade shows and music festivals. Drawing on my strong photography background, I negotiated and oversaw photoshoots and, when appropriate, shot content myself. Additionally, I was tasked with designing packaging, collateral, marketing communications (B-to-B & B-to-C), apparel and environmental graphics, along with overseeing junior designers and working with vendors to get these projects produced. In my time at Jetty, we were able to dramatically increase brand awareness in an extremely crowded category and grow market share to put us in the top 5 of California cannabis vape brands.
Jul 2015 — Oct 2016
Production Artist · VITRO
Working from comps, prepare press and/or screen ready files for print and banner ads, websites, emails, collateral materials,
and out of home applications. Working from story-boards, create HTML 5 animated banner ads. Resize existing creative to
publisher’s formats and specs. Working within brand guidelines, design collateral materials for clients. Using Adobe Digital
Publishing Suite, design and create interactive collateral materials for tablets and smart-phones. Design and create materials
for client presentations and new business pitches.
Selected Clients:
Toyo Tires
Asics
Wild Turkey
UCSD
Red Robin
Marvel
Apr 2014 — Feb 2015
Graphic Designer · Electra Bicycle Company
Helped to shape the creative direction of the iconic lifestyle brand by creating and
producing designs for catalogs, apparel, packaging, trade shows, bike graphics, and
collateral, building on the brand’s history, while adhering to graphic standards
Jun 2013 — Feb 2014
Graphic Designer · Immersive Youth Marketing
Research, develop concepts for, art direct, design, layout, proof,
produce, and deliver internal and consumer facing projects for
social media, web, and print applications targeting a tween, teen,
and young adult audience
Aug 2012 — Jun 2013
Junior Graphic Designer · Miriello Grafico
Research, develop concepts for, design, layout, proof, produce, and
deliver internal and client projects for both web and print applications
Jun 2012 — Aug 2012
Design Intern · Visual Asylum
Design and layout agency promotional mailer, research client projects
for senior designers, digital asset organization and management, manual
production of client projects, waste disposal
Jan 2007 — Jan 2011
Director of Photography · Bloodwork Books
Responsible for creating, overseeing the creation of, and managing all photography for fine art books created around the globe.
Jan 2003 — Jan 2011
Owner · Max Dolberg Design & Photography
CEO to janitor and everything in between, responsible for winning, researching, photographing, designing, retouching, and delivering photo and graphic design assignments for local regional, national, and international brands and publications, as well as all aspects of running an independent creative business
Activity
Education history
MiraCosta College
Associate's Degree | 2011 - 2014
San Diego City College
Certificate With Honers | 2011 - 2012
University of California, San Diego
N/A | 2002 - 2004
