Visual Communications Faculty Candidate Overview
Michelle Touchette
804-314-9767
Academic Degrees:
MS Technical Communication, May 2001
BA Marketing, Anthropology, May 1999
Creative Writing Minor
AAS Digital Media, May 1999
Qualifying Field Experience
Graphic Designer, 20 years
Web Designer, 12 years
michelle@mtouchette.com
Teaching Experience
ECPI College of Technology, Richmond, VA
2D Design
Media Layout and Design
Web Interface Design
Digital Rhetoric
Storyboarding
Digital Imaging
Technical Writing
English Composition
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN
Writing and Designing for the Web
michelle touchette
+1 804-314-9767
graphic design : web design : digital imaging
www.mtouchette.com : michelle@mtouchette.com
Teaching Philosophy
I believe in lifelong learning. Keeping it fresh is critical to personal fulfillment and professional success, and to the
continued prosperity of our country. As an educator my goal is to give students a solid theoretical foundation and the
technical skill base necessary to continue on their journeys of discovery. I thoroughly enjoy teaching, and have great pride
in my students’ accomplishments and ongoing explorations.
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Faculty ECPI college of Technology, Richmond, VA, February 2006-Present
• Lecture, demonstrate and discuss core concepts of visual communication theory.
• Provide step-by-step instruction on the fundamentals of Adobe® Creative Suite of software
• Lead students through the discovery and design process using classroom strategies such as brainstorming, thumbnail
sketching, group activities and peer feedback sessions
• Maintain student attendance, progress and grade records in Moodle
• Provide curriculum and textbook feedback and regularly recommend up-to-date materials for the on-campus library
• Administer course records and maintain student attendance, progress, performance and grade records via Moodle
Community (Adjunct) Faculty Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN
July 2001-August 2002
• Collaborative development of writing, visual presentation, graphic design, information architecture, and web-development
curricula for degree courses in technical communication
• Prepare lesson materials for adult learners accessing a variety of media
• Facilitate weekly classroom sessions using holistic learning strategies toward a goal of comprehensive acquisition of
course content
AmericorpsVISTA* America Reads Coordinator (*Volunteer in Service to America) Corporation for National Service, Washington, DC
July 2001-July 2002
• Work with diverse community partners planning, project management, and implementation of several overlapping
community enhancement programs
• Research, design, and produce informational publications to be used for general program PR, participant and volunteer
recruitment, program documentation, and volunteer training
• Supervise and lead volunteers through a productive and rewarding volunteer experience
Academic Background
Graduate Work
Metropolitan State University: MS, Technical Communication, May 2001
Coursework Overview: 32 credit hours of graduate study including communication and rhetorical theory, writing and
designing for the web, communication in international contexts, and study abroad. Cumulative GPA: 3.41.
Graduate Research Articles
Applied Aesthetics
The competitive field of advertising routinely employs style and symbol borrowed from the art world in its quest to inform
and persuade. Now business and technical communicators facing many of the same communications objectives are
beginning to recognize the importance of audience appeal. This article discusses how aesthetics, a term once reserved for
fine art, contributes to the success or failure of business literature, marketing materials, and technical documentation.
Graphical Issues in Intercultural Technical Communication
This article explains the impact of graphics in communication and calls for closer attention to this neglected component of
business and technical communications. Beginning with an overview of the function of (graphic) symbolism and its socio/
physiological nature, it explains the power of symbolism to serve as the primary messenger even when combined with
other forms of message delivery and reveals the pervasiveness of symbolism in communication.
Undergraduate Work
Metropolitan State University: BA, Marketing and Anthropology, with a minor in Creative Writing, May 1999
Coursework overview: 168 credit hours including marketing, anthropology, writing, communications and liberal arts
requirements. Cumulative GPA: 3.58
Minneapolis Community and Technical College: AAS, Digital Media, May 1999
Coursework overview: 69 credit hours including storyboarding, music for media, desktop video, digital imaging, web
publishing, and advertising production. University of Minnesota transfer credits in studio arts and applied design.
Cumulative GPA: 3.822.
University of Minnesota: Coursework in Applied Design, Studio Arts and Journalism
(courses transferred to other degree programs, see above)
michelle touchette
+1 804-314-9767
graphic design : web design : digital imaging
www.mtouchette.com : michelle@mtouchette.com
Creative Communications Career Profile
Accomplished visual communicator with a versatile portfolio and production savvy. Career oriented self-starter current
with design trends and production technologies. Great team performer dedicated to building relationships and increasing
productivity through collaboration and innovation.
Professional Experience
Graphic Designer
Selected Client List:
December 1996-Present
The BOSS Group, Richmond, VA*
Riggs-Ward, Richmond, VA
Rock Solid Realty, LLC, Elk River, MN
*Barber-Martin Advertising
Shulman Creative, Staunton, VA
Fluoroware, Chaska, MN
*Haley Automotive
CCG Texas, Euless, TX
Daylab, Murrieta, CA
Competencies:
•Providing premium visual communication services at an affordable price for startup, small and not-for-profit businesses
•Consistent record of customer satisfaction—see www.linkedin.com/in/michelletouchette for recommendations!
Services Provided:
•Graphic design and production art for print, large-scale signage, interactive, presentation and motion media
•Logo design, corporate identity and style guide development
•Standards-based XHTML/CSS Web/Web2.0 interface design, content development and maintenance including HTML5/CSS3
•Brainstorming and concept development; project management and vendor liaison
Technical Communicator LandAmerica Financial Group, Richmond, VA
January 2004–September 2006
Tenure Highlights:
•Team lead facilitating the transition from HTML table-based layouts to standards-based design using XHTML and CSS
•Designed and coproduced IT department eNewsletter enhancing communication and camaraderie within a large and
diverse work group consisting of multiple business units
•Regularly recognized by clients and the CEO for customer service and contributions to corporate projects and initiatives
Position Responsibilities:
•Provide graphic design services to internal clients requiring custom artwork for marketing collateral, promotional
items and training materials
•Design and produce intranet sites incorporating static and interactive graphics
•Design, write and produce documentation and online help for proprietary software applications
Digital Imaging Specialist Dayton Hudson Corporation (now Target)—Department Store Division Minneapolis, MN
July 1989–December 1996
Tenure Highlights:
•Converted over 1,500 analog logos and line art graphics to digital format
•Cataloged and maintained an ever-growing digital art library of logos and images for use in advertising, public relations
and product development
•Served on a ‘last point of contact’ production team ensuring ads placed in over 30 newspapers for three different store
identities with markets in over three states got where they needed to be ... we stayed ‘til the ads were out the door!
Position Responsibilities:
•Create, scan, prepare, retouch and electronically manipulate photographs and line art
•Work with art directors to interpret layouts, solve fruition issues and produce vendor-ready production files
Technology (Mac and PC)
Professional Affiliations
Digital imaging and illustration:
Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw
New media and interactive:
XHTML/HTML5, CSS/CSS3,Dreamweaver, Flash,
JavaScript, RoboHelp
Page make-up, presentation and word processing:
InDesign, MS Publisher, MS PowerPoint, MS Word
Presentation and publishing: PowerPoint, Acrobat
Richmond Ad Club, 2004–Present
C3 Creative Change Center Catalyst, 2006
Society for Technical Communication, 2003–2005
2005 STC Illustrators and Visual Designers SIG Manager
2005 Chapter Secretary, STC–James River Chapter
Online Presence
www.mtouchette.com
www.linkedin.com/in/michelletouchette
Community
AmericorpsVISTA® volunteer working in urban elementary literacy and responsible youth citizenship, 2001-2002
Education and Training
Metropolitan State University: MS, Technical Communication, May 2001
Metropolitan State University: BA, Marketing and Anthropology; Creative Writing minor, May 1999
Minneapolis Community & Technical College: AS, Digital Media, May 1999
University of Minnesota: Coursework in Applied Design, Studio Arts and Journalism
Minnesota Center for Book Arts: Member/Workshop participant, 1994-2002