Shakeel Mohamed
Graphic Designer: Branding, Typography, Leadership
I’m inspired by
- Underdogs
- Walking
- Conversations
- Music
- Warmth
Reminders to myself
- Focus intensely, rest completely.
- Take more (design) risks.
- Explore more ideas than required.
- Design is a spiritual practice.
- When in doubt, talk it out.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it”
— Peter Drucker (attributed)
This quote beautifully captures my professional pursuits, motivation, and accomplishments in my life. From my experience in software engineering into my transition to graphic design, I love to take concepts from idea to reality.
About Me
I am a Graphic Design MFA Candidate at ArtCenter College of Design, set to graduate in spring 2025. My undergraduate Computer Science degree led me to six years of experience as a software engineer. Along the way, I discovered my passion for graphic design, particularly branding. With my diverse professional experiences as a foundation, I am excited for my career ahead as a designer. I am highly motivated and always ready to learn.
A few of my design heroes:
Debbie Millman, Wael Morcos, Brian Collins, Louise Sandhaus, Chris Do, & April Greiman.
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— Peter Drucker (attributed)
This quote beautifully captures my professional pursuits, motivation, and accomplishments in my life. From my experience in software engineering into my transition to graphic design, I love to take concepts from idea to reality.
About Me
I am a Graphic Design MFA Candidate at ArtCenter College of Design, set to graduate in spring 2025. My undergraduate Computer Science degree led me to six years of experience as a software engineer. Along the way, I discovered my passion for graphic design, particularly branding. With my diverse professional experiences as a foundation, I am excited for my career ahead as a designer. I am highly motivated and always ready to learn.
A few of my design heroes:
Debbie Millman, Wael Morcos, Brian Collins, Louise Sandhaus, Chris Do, & April Greiman.
Education
Candidate for a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, California
2022–Present
Self-Directed Design Education
The Futur
Remote
2018–Present
Courses and over 100 videos on industry insights, business, and the fundamentals of graphic design.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Emphasis in Business)
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
2015
Recognition
Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography (HMCT) Billboards
She Will (Poster Series)
2024
ArtCenter Student Gallery
She Will (Poster Series)
2024
Interview with Voyage LA Magazine
Daily Inspiration: Meet Shakeel Mohamed
2024
ArtCenter Portfolio Scholarship
2022–Present
ArtCenter Merit Scholarship
2022–Present
Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography (HMCT) Newsletter
Featured Typeface: Referential Mono
2023
ArtCenter Graphic Design Department Chair’s Office
Mark Rothko Poster
2023
Type Thursday Los Angeles
Presented TYPO Mexico City branding project to 30 designers.
2023
AIGA Portfolio Festival
Portfolio presentation to a live audience over Zoom.
2022
Candidate for a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, California
2022–Present
Self-Directed Design Education
The Futur
Remote
2018–Present
Courses and over 100 videos on industry insights, business, and the fundamentals of graphic design.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Emphasis in Business)
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington
2015
Recognition
Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography (HMCT) Billboards
She Will (Poster Series)
2024
ArtCenter Student Gallery
She Will (Poster Series)
2024
Interview with Voyage LA Magazine
Daily Inspiration: Meet Shakeel Mohamed
2024
ArtCenter Portfolio Scholarship
2022–Present
ArtCenter Merit Scholarship
2022–Present
Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography (HMCT) Newsletter
Featured Typeface: Referential Mono
2023
ArtCenter Graphic Design Department Chair’s Office
Mark Rothko Poster
2023
Type Thursday Los Angeles
Presented TYPO Mexico City branding project to 30 designers.
2023
AIGA Portfolio Festival
Portfolio presentation to a live audience over Zoom.
2022
Experience
Organizations
Skills
Freelance Graphic Designer
Assisted a team of three designers with brand identity development. Created and refined presentation deck templates for a higher education client. Produced style guidelines and production files for a performing arts client. Analyzed, refined, and presented typographic choices for two clients.
Assisted a team of three designers with brand identity development. Created and refined presentation deck templates for a higher education client. Produced style guidelines and production files for a performing arts client. Analyzed, refined, and presented typographic choices for two clients.
ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, California
2022–Present
Pasadena, California
2022–Present
Graphic Designer and Research Assistant
Designed a wide array of print, digital, and video communications for events hosted by the Division of Professional Development and Industry Engagement. Researched the career status of 150 recent graduates based on their digital presence to inform the College’s annual curriculum planning.
Designed a wide array of print, digital, and video communications for events hosted by the Division of Professional Development and Industry Engagement. Researched the career status of 150 recent graduates based on their digital presence to inform the College’s annual curriculum planning.
Lead Graphic Designer
Designed the brand identity for Salgirah, an international religious festival across 21 countries in 11 languages, revised annually. Branded signage was displayed in multiple cities, notably at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Designed the brand identity for Salgirah, an international religious festival across 21 countries in 11 languages, revised annually. Branded signage was displayed in multiple cities, notably at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, California
2023
Pasadena, California
2023
Student Orientation Leader
Led script development, directed shoots, and added motion graphics to a five-minute welcome video for new students, in collaboration with three student orientation leaders. Assisted orientation activities for over 600 incoming students and co-hosted a social event for 75 incoming graduate students.
Led script development, directed shoots, and added motion graphics to a five-minute welcome video for new students, in collaboration with three student orientation leaders. Assisted orientation activities for over 600 incoming students and co-hosted a social event for 75 incoming graduate students.
ntrsct designs
Remote
2018–2022
Remote
2018–2022
Independent Designer and Founder
Operated an independent design studio offering branding, strategy, apparel, and social media design services. Designed deliverables for 12 clients, exploring a variety of visual solutions. Pivoted from operating as a B2C apparel brand to providing B2B design services across multiple industries.
Operated an independent design studio offering branding, strategy, apparel, and social media design services. Designed deliverables for 12 clients, exploring a variety of visual solutions. Pivoted from operating as a B2C apparel brand to providing B2B design services across multiple industries.
Splunk, Inc.
Seattle, Washington
2015–2021
Seattle, Washington
2015–2021
Software Engineer
Led a team of three engineers to develop a data simulation engine for sales staff to demo products to prospective customers. Frequently collaborated across roles, teams, and departments to automate manual tasks. Presented three technical sessions and hosted interactive booths at two conferences.
Led a team of three engineers to develop a data simulation engine for sales staff to demo products to prospective customers. Frequently collaborated across roles, teams, and departments to automate manual tasks. Presented three technical sessions and hosted interactive booths at two conferences.
Organizations
Type Thursday Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
2023–Present
Los Angeles, California
2023–Present
Facilitated an inclusive community for designers and coordinated venues for typography critiques around the Greater Los Angeles area.
AIGA
Seattle, Washington
2022–Present
Seattle, Washington
2022–Present
Volunteered at the 2022 AIGA National Design Conference assisted with event registration, note taking, and supply management.
Skills
Strong Working Knowledge
Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, AfterEffects, Premiere Pro, Keynote, Midjourney
Familar With
Photoshop, Glyphs, TouchDesigner, MadMapper, Blender, LiveSurface, Artivive
Presentation and Facilitation
Strategic thinking, copywriting, product management, collaboration, project management, community building, scrum/agile facilitation
Programming
JavaScript, p5.js, Node.js, React, Python, Java, C, C++, HTML, CSS, Git