ABOUT KIRK WIDRA M.ED
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Photo by Robert Szatmari
As an educator Kirk, has focused his career on addressing the complex relationships across education, technology, culture, leadership and personal fulfillment. Kirk holds both a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design. His extensive and continuing teaching career includes positions with New York’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), The Art Institute of Philadelphia and Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art and Design.
With over 20 years of experience as a designer and marketing consultant, Kirk specializes in brand development and multi-platform marketing strategies. His full-service freelance consulting serves a diverse clientele that includes The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Please Touch Museum, The Philadelphia Bike Cab Alliance, Continuum Recovery Management Specialists, Laurel Benefit Advisors and Joan Shepp Boutique. His work has been featured in numerous national and local publications.
A dynamic and inspiring public speaker, Kirk leads diverse and timely discussions and workshops on education, branding, creative marketing and strategic planning. Framed by his own unique brand of humor, Kirk discusses ways to pursue personal growth, creativity, innovation, tolerance and effective communication while, most importantly, living a balanced and purposeful life.
With over 20 years of experience as a designer and marketing consultant, Kirk specializes in brand development and multi-platform marketing strategies. His full-service freelance consulting serves a diverse clientele that includes The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Please Touch Museum, The Philadelphia Bike Cab Alliance, Continuum Recovery Management Specialists, Laurel Benefit Advisors and Joan Shepp Boutique. His work has been featured in numerous national and local publications.
A dynamic and inspiring public speaker, Kirk leads diverse and timely discussions and workshops on education, branding, creative marketing and strategic planning. Framed by his own unique brand of humor, Kirk discusses ways to pursue personal growth, creativity, innovation, tolerance and effective communication while, most importantly, living a balanced and purposeful life.
VITAE
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Kirk Widra M.Ed.
Phone: 267.253.8595 Email: kirkwidra@gmail.com Website: www.kirkwidra.com Linked-In: www.linkedin.com.k.widra Bookings: www.theprotalks.com/kirk-widra |
QUALIFICATIONS
Exceptional broad based creativity with superior strengths in design, development, instruction, and problem solving strategies.
EDUCATION
Masters of Educational Leadership: Argosy University - 2010 (Honors, 4.0 GPA)
Bachelors Degree of Graphic Design: Art Institute of Philadelphia - 2006 (Honors 3.98 GPA)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Moore College of Art - Continuing Education and Youth Programs: 2013 – present
Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design
- Instructor of traditional and computer graphic design (Illustrator In-Design and Photoshop on both Mac and PC platform)
- Develop and teach courses in graphic design and digital production
- Conduct student evaluations, and career guidance for diverse student body
- Assist in open house events, promotions and community outreach programs
International Volunteer HQ Africa Program (Morocco): 2014 - sabbatical
Visiting Instructor of Education, English and Computer Literacy
- Developed and taught faculty courses in international teaching pedagogy assessment modeling and curriculum development
- Performed faculty evaluations and provided strategies for improvement
- Authored multimodal teaching guide for future instructors
Art Institute of Philadelphia: 1996 – present
Associate Professor of Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design and Advertising
- Develop and teach classes in fashion marketing, sales and promotion, computer graphic design and advertising
- Co-write new course offerings and curriculum updates for ongoing ACICS and Middle States accreditation effort
- Serve as faculty chair for Middle States accreditation effort
- Perform student evaluations and provide career guidance for student internship and mentoring programs
- Ongoing design, instruction and delivery of training modules concerning curriculum creation, rubric development and assessment design for faculty
- Assist in production of various marketing materials and events for departmental promotions and community outreach program
Fashion Institute of Technology / New York City: 1993 – 1996
Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design and Display Exhibit Design
- Instructor of visual merchandising, 3-dimensional design, and graphic design
- Performed student evaluations, and provided career guidance for student internship and professional development programs
- Assisted in production of marketing materials for special events, fashion shows, and city-wide promotions
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Biscaro Brothers Baked goods; a division of Shottower LLC. - 2002-2004
Assistant Brand Manager
- Directed and managed brand identity for award winning line of confections
- Responsible for design and production of over all brand identity
- Created and managed product web site content
- Cultivated public awareness through various promotions and special events including trade show management
Daffy Dan’s Inc. -1993-2000
Director of Visual Merchandising: Philadelphia
- Responsible for design and production of all displays, graphics, fashion coordination, and store promotions for the Philadelphia stores on a monthly basis
- Implemented computer technology to improve productivity and quality of in-house graphics department
- Created “Open Window” project - providing a store window as a showcase for art and design
- Functioned as public relations manager, cultivating public awareness through various promotions and special events.
- Hired and trained full time staff and seasonal free-lancers
FREELANCE
Kirk Widra: educator . designer . consultant -1993-present
Principal Designer
- Provide consulting services to educational institution on various subject matters including technology development strategies, rubric / assessment design, social media planning and brand management
- Development of branding and repositioning strategies
- Provide product research and development for retail offering
- Graphic design of all types of promotional materials.
- Social Media planning and management
- Lead seminars / training modules on subject matters pertaining to design, brand management, marketing and product development and issues in education
AWARDS
- The Art Institute of Philadelphia Teaching Excellence Award for (2013 - 2014)
- Featured site on Weebly.com for kirkwidra.com branding + design (2012)
- “Crowd Favorite Award” for the Phlower Power Window Contest (2002)
- Portfolio featured in Visual Merchandising Store Display Magazine (1997)
- Philadelphia Magazine “Best of Philly”: Best Window Displays (1994)
- The Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Award (1992-1993)
CONFERENCES
- International Conference on Education and New Developments (END) 2015 Porto Portugal (presenter)
- International Journal of Arts & Sciences (IJAS) 2013 Malta (presenter)
PUBLICATIONS
June 2016
- Work featured in Retail Management: A South African Perspective 2e, by Nic Terblanche, CD Pentz, Karen Corbishley, Petrus Venter, Mariëtte Frazer, Justin Beneke, Juan-Pierre Bruwer | Publisher: Oxford University Press South Africa
- Monster.com: 6 Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer in a Retail Job Interview: by Catherine Conlan
- Fashion Group Philly Presents Protecting the Brand Business Forum on Design, Copyright, and Trademark Issues: Fashion Group International (Philadelphia)
- City Paper Philadelphia: They Do Windows: by Charyn Pfeuffer
- Philadelphia Inquirer: The Challenge: Design A Bag Apt For An English Style Guru By Diane Goldsmith, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
- VM+SD: Portfolio featured in Visual Merchandising Store Display Magazine
- Philadelphia Magazine "Best of Philly”: Best Window Displays
- City Paper Philadelphia: You can party with million-dollar sizzle for a few bucks by Denise Cowie, Knight-Ridder News Service
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA)
- Fashion Group International (FGI)
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
- Collab: The group of design professionals who support contemporary design at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (alumni)
REFERENCES
- Furnished upon request