Rodney Durso
Rodney Durso is Principal and Creative Director( previously founder of Stormhouse Partners, New York) has a track record of award-winning design and creative direction in a wide array of disciplines and media.
EXPERIENCE
INTERIM DIRECTOR, BUSINESS STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT; SKAGGS CREATIVE, NEW YORK CITY (2016 to 2017)
- Responsible for developing new client contacts and interactions for new business wins.
- Directed new internal agency strategy and initiatives.
- Assisted in client-side business development and strategy.
INTERIM DIRECTOR, BUSINESS STRATEGY & DEVELOPMENT; SKAGGS CREATIVE, NEW YORK CITY (2016 to 2017)
Start-up, non-profit arts org. Mission: providing unprecedented exposure opportunities for emerging artists by creating giant sized gallery-styled art installations on construction scaffolding in New York City, the surrounding area and Italy.
- Launched organization as a one-off outdoor art installation in 2008.
- Lead and managed day-to-day activities in strategy, design and development (built to staff of 5 and $250k annual budget).
- Creative direction and design of organizational branding, promotional, collateral, and web initiatives.
- Developed and managed creative and production partnerships needed for project implementation.
- Lead design, print production and installation of 10 over-sized outdoor exhibitions (from 1,500 to 10,000 square feet), featuring the work of more than 100 local, emerging artists. ArtBridge curation panels have included notables as; Eugenie Tsai, Brooklyn Museum, David Van der Leer, Guggenheim Museum, Charles Renfro, Diller Scofidio, Renfro, Gisue Hariri, Hariri and Hariri and artists, Vik Muniz, Lorna Simpson and Mickalene Thomas.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & BRAND CONSULTANT, NEW YORK CITY (2006 to 2008)
- Creative direction and brand consulting. Assignments Included work for DDB Worldwide, G2, New York and freelance clients.
- Created “Presenter’s Toolbox”, a workshop for mid & senior level designers on the presentation and sell-through of agency
creative work. Clients Include: Landor, NYC.
PRINCIPAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR; STORMHOUSE PARTNERS, INC., NEW YORK CITY (1999 to 2006)
- Founded agency from start-up to $1M in annual billings.
- Led and managed day-to-day agency operations with in-house staff of 5-10 (dependent on project load).
- Principal creative direction on all agency projects in: print, web, corporate ID and package design.
- Worked with brand and account professionals to establish client’s brand attributes and strategies, and converting those
strategies into successful, targeted design and communications solutions. - Established a close circle of creative and production partnerships to manage project over-flow.
- Identified new business prospects, and lead new business development efforts and contract negotiations.
Industries serviced: Health & Beauty; Pharmaceutical; Fashion; Higher Education; Food & Beverage; Not-for profit; Real Estate and Semiconductors. Clients included: Fordham University; Knorr Foods; Georgia-Pacific; Princeton University; Eleni’s New York; Essie Cosmetics, 2(x)ist Mens Wear, Friends of the High Line, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, Schering-Plough, Sony Music and FedEx.
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NATURAL PLANET, INC., NEW YORK CITY (1994 to 1998)
- Rodney Durso launched; developed and designed brand identity for a new consumer packaged brand consisting of top-tier whole herb Chinese teas and tea accessories.
- Designed product packaging for 20 SKU’s, including structural development and material sourcing.
- Devised product naming strategy and conventions. Worked with trademark attorneys to lock-down unique, own able product names and marketing tag-lines.
- Collaborated on product development, marketing efforts and brand strategy from start-up to a National product roll-out within 3 years of launch, with distribution in 300+ retail stores.
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & COMMUNICATIONS, CLARENDON MANAGEMENT, NEW YORK CITY (1991 to 1993)
- Designed and produced advertising, promotional materials, floor plan, art directed photo shoots of residential properties.
LECTURES, TEACHING, ADVISORY POSITIONS & MEDIA APPEARANCES
Advisory Council Member: www.GraphicDesign.com. (2011 to present).
Adjunct Professor, Parsons School of Design, teaching Senior level Presentation and Portfolio (2005-2008).
Guest lecturer, Parsons School of Design (2009-present), Topic: Entrepreneurship, Failure and Creativity.
Panel member at Annual Senior Portfolio Reviews at Parsons School of Design and F.I.T.
Panel member at Parsons School of Design, alumni discussion on the Business of Design.
Interviewed on FOX5 (2011) and Channel 12, Brooklyn, NY (2011, 2012) Re: ArtBridge.
Interviewed, Re: ArtBridge, on WDST, Woodstock, NY. 2012
EDUCATION & COMPUTER SKILLS
Boston University, Boston, MA: College of Communication, BS Advertising and Marketing.
School of Visual Arts, NYC. Courses with Masters Designers: Milton Glaser; Paul Davis and Ed Benguiat.
Computer skills include: Adobe CS5.5 for MAC OSX Yosemite 10.10.4 and many more.
RELATED COURSEWORK, WORKSHOPS, RESIDENCIES IN FINE ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
American Academy in Rome, Rome Italy: Painting Residency, May 2016.
Penland School of Crafts, Asheville, North Carolina: Painting studies, July 2015
Anderson Ranch, Aspen, Colorado, 2D-3D Collage studies, August 2009.
Penland School of Crafts, Asheville, North Carolina: Monoprint studies, August 2007.
Parsons School of Design: 6-week Intensive Architecture Studio, Summer 2007.
Haystack School of the Arts, Deer Island, Maine: Mixed Media studies August 2006.
Columbia University: 6-week Intensive Architecture Design Studio, July 2005.
PRO BONO WORK, BOARD MEMBERSHIPS & PERSONAL INTERESTS
Pro Bono work : Friends of the High line, Hudson Guild and Say Ah! – a health literacy initiative.
Rodney Durso is Founder & Board President, ArtBridge, a first of its kind public art initiative, www.art-bridge.org
Large format, abstract painting and collage (www.dursocreative.comm).