Don Abalos

Professional Experience:

More than 14 years experience in the areas of web site design & development, graphic design, proposal development, information technologies (IT) troubleshooting and management, electronic and print publications for several federal agencies as well as private companies. Currently working as a User Interface Designer at CoStar Group. IT experience includes network setup, network administration, and computer setup and repair both in the US and in government funded projects overseas. Bilingual English – Tagalog. US Citizen.

Graphic Designer, CoStar Group
Washington, DC        June, 2012 – Present
  • Working under the Product Design department to create user interface designs of our software application for web, iPad, iPhone and Android.
  • Concepts are created by working directly with content experts, developers and upper management.
  • High fidelity mock-ups are created using OmniGraffle, Illustrator & PhotoShop.
Graphic Designer, CoStar Group
Washington, DC        Mar, 2012 – June, 2012
  • As a contractor, supported the Product Design department in creating mock-ups and presentations of their latest web application.
Account Manager, Robert Half Intl. / The Creative Group
Washington, DC        August, 2011 – February, 2012
  • Recruiter: Find, interview and match skilled interactive and design personnel for placement with clients.
  • Manage consultants working with our clients.
Information Technology & Graphics/Production Support, DynCorp International
Alexandria, VA         April 2010-August 2011
  • Design and create charts, graphs for proposals and corporate presentations.
  • Design logos, brochures, reports and other graphic needs for foreign field programs.
  • Work with field offices on USAID branding guidelines and Section 508 compliance with media products.
  • Provide IT support and troubleshooting.
Graphic Artist, IGoMogul.com
Phoenix, AZ        February 2009 – April 2010
  • Create and design web templates for AtomWord (IGoMogul’s proprietary content management system).
  • Design graphic and flash headers for various web clients.
  • Work closely with clients on web and print (business cards, flyers, etc.) requirements.
Art director, Casals & Associates
Alexandria, VA        February 2001 – February 2009
  • Member of start-up teams for USAID/OTI projects in Uganda and Bolivia in the area of information technologies and systems.
  • Provided in-house web design/support and graphic services for numerous projects with the U.S. Government. U.S. Government clients include National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (now part of the Department of Homeland Security), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • Among the responsibilities as the art director for the company was to lend graphics support to various projects the company runs in and outside the country. This involves a constant awareness of a project’s needs and capabilities.
  • Hands-on experience designing and developing online registration websites for Federal Government conferences and events
  • Expert designing and implementing 508 compliance to government websites and electronic materials
  • Expert implementing USAID branding guidelines on related print and electronic materials for both US activities as well as projects overseas.
  • Materials designed include brochures, posters, business cards, logos, web sites, advertisements, reports, interactive CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, presentations, Flash presentations, labels, newsletters, certificates, corporate identities, screensavers, conference materials, and conference registration web sites.
  • Awarded the Employee of the Year Award in 2002.
Web Designer/Graphic Artist, Life on the Net Corporation, Carrollton, Texas, 1998-2001

Prior to joining C&A, designed and maintained an informational web site about the Dallas-Fort-Worth Metropolitan Area during his two-year tenure with Life on the Net Corporation in Carrollton, Texas.  Responsible for HTML and web site design, publication standards, and training of junior graphic artists. Created and conceptualized advertisements for the web site and was responsible for design and production of print ads and other marketing materials such as mouse pads and coffee mugs. Also created and prepared various apartment floor plans for posting on the apartment section of the web site.

Web Consultant, RubiPress International, Denton Texas, 1999-2000

As an independent consultant to RubiPress International in Denton, Texas, he designed basic templates for two marketing web sites. Both sites taught users how to sell a wide variety of products and services from their homes by way of their own web sites.

Education:

Graduated with a B.S. in Information Technology from the AMA Computer College, Makati City, Philippines. Served as the Secretary (1996-97) and President (1997-1998) of the Junior Philippine Computer Society and as the Associate Editor (1998) of the AMA Computer College Yearbook. Recipient of the coveted Leadership Award for his exceptional performance in various school programs and activities.

Skills:

  • Design and code websites from Photoshop to HTML and CSS. Also worked with CMS like WordPress, Joomla!, AtomWord and SharePoint.
  • Worked on production and design of government proposals for 8 years. Task includes cover design, MS Word layout, doing corrections and infographics.
  • Created more than 100 custom blog web designs in 1 year. Process involves designing and slicing images in Photoshop and coding the CSS to work with the CMS. Some of them had Flash headers which I also designed and developed.
  • Design websites for WordPress using child/parent themes.
  • Seamlessly work through design and production in both web and print products.
  • Can interface with clients and work with vendors.
  • Can travel and work in remote areas and adapt to local and existing technologies.