Jo-Ann LaForge
As a little girl I used to help my dad do paste ups and printing when he had his print shop in the basement of our home. I loved helping him out and learning everything I could about his trade. Dad always said that ink flowed in our veins. This was my first introduction into the Graphic Arts Field. I have come a long way since those early days.
I started my career working at The St Paul Companies in their in-house print shop. I have been adaptable to new technologies as my profession changed. After working at The St. Paul Companies I worked for a couple of smaller businesses before I accepted a Graphic Design position at Anderson Performance Improvement Company (APIC) in Hastings, Minnesota. I loved the challenge this job provided me. I was responsible for creating all the communications for the incentive and recognition programs we developed for fortune 500 and 1000 companies. I have had the pleasure of working with AT&T Wireless, Sprint, CenterPoint Energy, Kohler, Scottrade, MetLife, and RadioShack to name a few. I developed strong relationships with their branding department to make sure all communications were on brand. I played a major roll in migrating our incentive programs to an online environment, working closely with the web developers to ensure brand guidelines were being followed.
I enrolled at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in the fall of 2012; I graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design in December 2015.
In March 2016 I accepted a graphic design position with JLL, a commercial real estate firm in Minneapolis. I am responsible for all the creative marketing needs for all business lines within JLL. As the only graphic designer for the Minneapolis office I have had the opportunity to produce a verity of deliverables including wall graphics, 3D models, rebranding of buildings, logos, websites, brochures, email marketing, 100+ page offering memorandums, tour books, posters, event invites both electronic and print, name tags, building signage both indoor and outdoor, and Powerpoint presentations. I manage and prioritize all design projects providing quality work while adhering to very tight timelines.
I am well versed in both print and online design and have advanced skills with Adobe CS software. I have a positive attitude, thrive on a challenge, I am dedicated, have a critical eye for details, and love to delight my customers. There is no job or obstacle too big to handle.
In my spare time I enjoy woodworking, making my own furniture and boxes of all shapes and sizes, I also make my own hardware for my boxes. I love to sew just about anything from quilts to my own clothes to car and snowmobile seats. To relax I slip away to the cabin in Sandstone, MN where I enjoy snowmobiling, making snowmen and listening to the sounds of nature on warm summer nights. I am an avid photographer and especially enjoy taking photos of flowers.