Tif Farmakis-Day

Graphic Designer & Nonprofit Operations Manager

tifarmakis@gmail.com  ·  (603) 867-3330  ·  Nottingham, NH

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Professional Summary

Graphic designer and nonprofit operations manager with 16+ years managing the complete visual brand and digital presence of a New Hampshire nonprofit — designing logos, brand collateral, print materials and social media graphics, hand-coding and maintaining the organization's website, and leading an education program of 20+ instructors and volunteers. Fluent in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop, with hands-on experience across the full design-to-print pipeline, from concept and layout to bleed/CMYK-ready production and working proficiency in Figma. Equally comfortable on the digital side, building and maintaining sites in self-taught HTML, CSS and JavaScript as well as WordPress, Squarespace and Wix, with working knowledge of Adobe Premiere for video. Brings a rare combination of design skill, operational reliability and self-taught technical range to any creative team.

Skills

Design & Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Adobe Dreamweaver Figma Canva

Productivity Software & Microsoft Office

Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Adobe Acrobat

Print & Production

Brochure & Collateral Design Brand Guidelines & Identity Systems Bleed / CMYK Prepress Logo Design

Web & Digital Marketing

HTML/CSS (Self-Taught) JavaScript (Self-Taught) WordPress Wild Apricot Squarespace Wix Website Design & Maintenance Social Media Marketing Email Marketing (Constant Contact) Eventbrite & Online Registration

Video & Multimedia

Adobe Premiere (Working Knowledge) Digital Image Processing Multi-Platform Content Adaptation

Program & Operations Leadership

Staff Recruitment & Training (20+) Database & Correspondence Management Budgeting & Scheduling

Communication & Instruction

Editorial Writing Copywriting Public Speaking & Workshop Instruction

Continued Creative Practice

Beyond design work, Tif keeps growing as an artist and communicator:

  • Continually explores new mediums and techniques, staying current with materials and process.
  • Background as a writer and editor keeps her attention to detail and organizational precision sharp.
  • Maintains an active studio practice alongside client and nonprofit work.
Work History

Operations Manager, Education Coordinator & Graphic/Web Designer

Exeter Fine Crafts: Exeter, NH

December 2010 – present

Operations Manager

  • Assist with backend operations, including maintaining an accurate inventory and comprehensive customer database.
  • Manage all incoming and outgoing correspondence, including emails and phone calls, to ensure prompt responses to inquiries and requests.
  • Organize gallery events by coordinating with artists, writing press releases and promoting events through website, social media and e-mail marketing.

Education Coordinator

  • Build the organization's comprehensive education program each semester — selecting and developing the class and workshop slate, then scheduling and staffing it.
  • Oversee a team of 20+ instructors and volunteers, handling everything from scheduling and contracts to recruitment and new workshop development.
  • Design and produce all class-related marketing materials, building print-ready brochures in Adobe InDesign.

Graphic Design, Web & Digital Marketing

  • Independently designed, built and have maintained the organization's website for 11 years, hand-coding HTML, CSS and JavaScript and self-teaching new tools as needed.
  • Build to WCAG and Section 508 standards, including semantic HTML, alt-text authoring, keyboard-accessible interactions and W3C validation.
  • Design all print and digital marketing materials (brochures, social graphics and promotional collateral) using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.
  • Edit and produce video content for promotional use with Adobe Premiere.
  • Led a full domain migration from .com to .org.
  • Manage all social media channels and email marketing campaigns to promote gallery events, exhibitions and classes.
  • Identified the need for streamlined class enrollment and implemented an Eventbrite-based online registration system, resulting in a notable increase in student volume.

Art Instructor

  • Organize and lead diverse art classes for all age and skill levels.
  • Maintain consistent and innovative teaching techniques to increase community engagement and student retention.
  • Promote the nonprofit's educational mission through community initiatives, including art demonstrations, collaborative projects and workshops.

Owner & Freelance Designer

Tif Does Art: Nottingham, NH

2010 – present

Design & Illustration

  • Take on freelance illustration and graphic design commissions, including custom portraits and branded artwork for individual clients.
  • Design and hand-code my own portfolio website (tifdoesart.com) in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, showcasing work across illustration, digital design, watercolor, pastel and needle felting.
  • Sell handmade fine art and fine craft, from drawings and paintings to fiber art and more.

Client Web & Marketing

  • Rye Art Study: served as marketing lead through 2019, handling print materials, event press releases and website maintenance. Built and maintained their WordPress site, then evaluated the organization's membership and event needs and migrated them to Wild Apricot, rebuilding content and configuring the platform so staff could manage registration, membership and email independently.
  • Work across multiple website platforms: WordPress, Squarespace and Wix, evaluating and building on each to stay current with the tools clients use.

Instruction & Speaking

  • Teach workshops at venues including Exeter Fine Crafts, Seacoast ArtSpot, Kittery Adult Education, Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, NE Smith Library and Phillips Exeter Academy.
  • Serve as an artist guest speaker, most recently for Phillips Exeter Academy's “Art as Activism” program.

Gallery & Illustration Assistant / Digital Lab Monitor / Writing Lab Tutor

New Hampshire Institute of Art: Manchester, NH

January 2008 – May 2010

Illustration Assistant / Digital Lab Monitor

  • Supported the Illustration Department Head with a variety of administrative and operational needs, including classroom organization, artwork installation and editing event newsletters.
  • Maintained digital labs and provided technical assistance to students, troubleshooting computer issues and helping them with software features.
  • Provided hands-on assistance and instruction to students using the full Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Offered constructive feedback and critiques to students on their assignments, helping them improve their work.
  • Recognized for my department knowledge, friendly demeanor and willingness to go above and beyond to assist both students and faculty.

Gallery Assistant

  • Supported the Gallery Head in organizing and promoting art shows, handling everything from creating promotional content to coordinating with visiting artists.
  • Managed all aspects of show installation, including hanging artwork and maintaining the gallery's appearance.
  • Transformed a defunct student gallery into a successful venue through collaborative teamwork, making it a vibrant space for students, faculty and visiting artists.

Writing Lab Tutor

  • Guided students of all backgrounds by assessing individual strengths and weaknesses to develop personalized strategies for improving their writing skills.
  • Encouraged active learning and revision strategies to help students refine their writing.
  • Provided one-on-one and group instruction to students, helping them overcome writing difficulties and improve overall skills.
  • Implemented a variety of strategies to help students of all levels strengthen their writing and revision processes.

Design Editor / News Editor / Writer / Editorial Cartoonist

Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Valley Star: Valley Glen, CA

January 2002 – May 2005

Design Editor

  • Responsible for overall paper design and layout. Worked with both writers and photographers to discuss future issues and suggest layout improvements.
  • Directed all aspects of newspaper design and layout, ensuring a cohesive and professional aesthetic for each issue.
  • Collaborated with writers and photographers to plan future content and implement effective layout improvements.
  • Achieved statewide recognition for excellence in paper design, earning the JACC Pace Setter Award in both 2004 and 2005.

News Editor

  • Oversaw all aspects of content production, from conceptualizing and pitching story ideas to final publication.
  • Proofread and edited all final copy, ensuring accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
  • Managed a team of reporters and photographers, assigning coverage for major events and daily stories.
  • Cultivated and maintained relationships with sources to gather vital information for articles.
  • Guided stories from concept to completion, acting as a central point of contact for staff and managing the entire workflow.
  • Reported directly to the Editor-in-Chief on news articles, staff updates and future/strategic content plans.

Writer / Editorial Cartoonist

  • Produced a wide range of content, including news, features and opinion pieces, earning multiple awards for excellence.
  • Created original graphics, cartoons and illustrations that provided commentary on current news headlines.
  • Worked directly with editorial leadership to create weekly cartoons that aligned with the paper's voice and mission.
  • Achieved top honors for my work, including a first-place award for Editorial Cartoon at the 2005 JACC competition.

Front-line Coordinating Manager / Cash Office Associate

T.J. Maxx: Londonderry, NH; Canoga Park, CA; Granada Hills, CA

August 1998 – August 2007

Frontline Coordinating Manager

  • Managed daily front-line operations, including answering phones, resolving customer and associate complaints, and updating register programs.
  • Trained new associates on all aspects of the store, including register operations, merchandise and processing procedures.
  • Recognized for efficiency and store-wide knowledge, and gained familiarity with diverse merchandise and clientele by working across different locations.

Cash Office Associate

  • Managed daily cash transactions and submitted detailed reports to management.
  • Reconciled cash tills at the start and end of each shift, resolving discrepancies and accounting for errors.
  • Maintained the safe's contents and communicated with managers to ensure an adequate supply of cash was on hand.
  • Ensured accurate recordkeeping and loss prevention by strictly following all company policies and procedures.
Education

New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH

Bachelor's Degree in Illustration, May 2010

Graduated Summa Cum Laude · Dean's List 2008, 2009, 2010

Los Angeles Valley College, Valley Glen, CA

Associate's Degree in Journalism, May 2005

Full Academic Achievements · 2003, 2004, 2005

Londonderry High School, Londonderry, NH

High School Diploma, 1999

National Honor Society · Art Academic Award · Donuhue Art Scholarship