Creative Director at era//404 Creative Group, Inc.
Greater New York City Area
- Current
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- Freelance UI Designer at NYPHP
- Creative Director at Lyrek, Inc.
- Creative Director at era//404 Creative Group, Inc.
- Past
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- Freelance Designer at Loewy Design
- Freelance Graphic Designer at Heartbeat Digital
- Graphic Designer at Performancebase.com
- Education
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- Ferris State University
- Recommended
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5 people have recommended Don - Connections
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67
connections
- Industry
- Graphic Design
- Websites
Don Citarella’s Summary
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Don graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication from Ferris State University. At FSU, he began as a Media Production student worker and rose to become the campus's interim graphic designer. He founded the Visual Communication program's "Design Works" organization to better prepare design students for their careers. Before graduating, Don had already won a number of design awards, including the GRAAF's Addy Award.
Prior to graduation, Don was hired to work for Performancebase, and other online businesses in New York City during the dot-com surge. It was at these businesses that he realized the problems with existing design groups and began writing the business plan for a new type of studio, soon to be era//404.
In August of 2001, Don left the dot-com world to pursue these endeavors. The company grew quickly—already a network of 22 contractors—and two years later, he asked his brothers to join the team.
Don currently lives in New York City with his cat, Floyd.
Don Citarella’s Specialties:
Visual Communication, Type and Grid Strategy, Award-winning design, Color Theory, ActionScript 2.0, HTML, JavaScript, DHTML, Smarty Templating System
Don Citarella’s Experience
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Freelance UI Designer
NYPHP
(Internet industry)
July 2008 — Present (3 months)
Consulting with clients for recommendations on marketing and usability impact. Concepting and design of interactive user interfaces for web and application development. UI Encoding and Development using PHP, AJAX, Javascript, ActionScript 2.0.
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Creative Director
Lyrek, Inc.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Computer Software industry)
April 2001 — Present (7 years 6 months)
Manage application workflow and design, interface with clients and developers to enhance usability and increase customer satisfaction.
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Creative Director
era//404 Creative Group, Inc.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Graphic Design industry)
August 2000 — Present (8 years 2 months)
era//404 Creative Group, Inc. was founded by Don Citarella in August 2001 with the sole purpose of changing the way companies look at visual communication.
The Network
era//404 is a network of designers, developers and artisans located all over the world. The hub of the network are the engagement managers, based in New York City. Prospects and clients meet with the engagement managers to discuss their needs and skilled members of the team are selected for the work. While design may be created in Denver, CO, the programming may be moved to Sao Paolo, Brazil. era//404 designers in Switzerland may interface with developers in Calgary, Alberta.
You've always been told that on the wheel of time, money, and quality, you can have two options at most. Welcome to the new era. -
Freelance Designer
Loewy Design
(Graphic Design industry)
2003 — July 2006 (3 years)
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Freelance Graphic Designer
Heartbeat Digital
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Graphic Design industry)
April 2002 — October 2005 (3 years 7 months)
was contracted by Creative Director Tim Carpenter and Design Director Chris Whaites for multiple projects while they sought a designer for a full-time position. Over the course of the two years I worked one a variety of exciting projects for internal development and for their end clients, including the redesign of the Heartbeat Digital site (www.heartbeatdigital.com) which won the prestigious DesignInteract site of the week (http://www.designinteract.com/sow/040405/) in April 2005.
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Graphic Designer
Performancebase.com
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
May 2000 — November 2001 (1 year 7 months)
Management of all print and web materials generated by Performancebase.com
Creation of business materials for the sale of Performancebase.com services
Identity and Branding Development
New Media and Online sites, tours and marketing pieces
Production Management to vendors for print materials
Reported directly to Marketing Director
Don Citarella’s Education
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Ferris State University
Bachelor of Science, Visual Communication, 1996 — 2000
WFSU Radio DJ, Campus Cable Channel VJ, Occupational Research and Assessment (ORA Inc.) Webmaster, Crowe Chizek and Company Intern (1999), Manager of River Town Coffee House (FSU's off-campus café) and I make a mean Cappuccino...
- Activities and Societies:
- FSU Design Works (Campus Design Organization) President 2000, Grand Rapids Area Advertising Foundation (GRAAF) member, American Center for Design (ACD) "Students in Design" organization member, Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Honors Forensic Society Student Lieutenant Governor (Province of the Lakes), Interim Campus Graphic Designer for Ferris State University,
Additional Information
Don Citarella’s Websites:
Don Citarella’s Groups:
Design Works, NYPHP, DesignInteract, Communication Hotlist, QBN, HOW Magazine, ISES New York, NYC Web and Graphic Designers (Google Group Admin)
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era404 Network -
Ferris State University Alumni
Don Citarella’s Honors:
Grand Rapids Area Advertising Foundation (GRAAF) "Addy" Showcase Award
Net Diver Notable Site
Golden Web Award
Communication Arts/DesignInteract Site of the Week (HeartbeatSoftware.com)
Communication Arts/DesignInteract Interview
Communication Arts/DesignInteract Holiday Card Mention
Guest Speaker at The School of Visual Arts (SVA)
HOW Magazine - Behind the Design (Brooklyn Wine Company)
Book Acknowledgements: Michelle Rago "Signature Weddings", Charles Bock "Beautiful Children"
Don Citarella’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- expertise requests
- business deals
- getting back in touch
