NICK J.W. VOSSBRINK

nick@vossbrink.net
vossbrink.net/design

940 Kiely Blvd. Unit J
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 260-9141


OBJECTIVE
I would love to be able to apply both my design and engineering 
skills towards creating something that I will proudly show to 
people later.


WORK EXPERIENCE

PRINTING PRE-PRESS | 2003-PRESENT 
Exact Image Printing
Santa Clara, California
Pre-press involves troubleshooting, problem solving, and reading 
minds as I have to figure out what designers are trying to do AND 
anticipate problems that they are unaware of. As a member of the 
pre-press department at a direct-to-plate offset printing company 
I used Quark XPress, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign to 
create plates for offset printing from digital artwork. 

GRAPHIC PRODUCTION | 2001-2003
TLC Graphics
Mountain View, California
TLC was predominantly a film-house where I used Quark XPress, 
Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop to create film for offset 
printing and silkscreening. In addition to pre-press, my work 
here involved typesetting and production for clients ranging from 
small, local printers and print brokers to companies like Wells Fargo. 

STANFORD UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
DYNAMIC DESIGN LAB | SUMMER 1999
Stanford School of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
I designed a tire tester for quarter-scale radio-control car 
tires. My work included researching actuators and sensors as 
well as prototyping the tester. I also worked in a team on 
assembly and customization of quarter scale radio control cars 
for vehicle control systems. This included designing mounting for 
sensors, circuitry, and computers. 

LABORATORY ASSISTANT | 1995-1998
Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant
Sunnyvale, California
My responsibility increased over four years from water quality 
sampling and lab testing to include independently managed 
weekend lab operations, design and redesign of experimental 
procedures, and training of newly hired employees. 


FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGN

HIDDEN VILLA | 2005-PRESENT
vossbrink.net/design/2d/hvilla/
I was responsible for most of the print design over this period 
as I created annual reports, brochures, newsletters, invitations, 
event programs, and mailers. In addition, I upgraded the previous 
"loving hands" look to a cohesive, professional appearance while 
cutting printing costs.

CITY OF SAN JOSE | 2006
vossbrink.net/design/2d/sj/
I designed the invitation, program, and tickets for Mayor Ron 
Gonzales's 2006 State of the City speech. They liked these so 
much that they requested that I design the accompanying annual 
report too.

CANTABILE CHORAL GUILD | 2000-2005
vossbrink.net/design/2d/cantabile/
I produced newsletters, concert programs, mailers, and brochures 
for Cantabile as well as for its two progenitors (Baroque Choral 
Guild and Cantabile Children's Chorus--whose websites I also 
redesigned). When they merged to form Cantabile Choral Guild, 
I created the new corporate identity--logo, stationery, business 
cards, etc.


EDUCATION

STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Bachelor's of Science
Mechanical Engineering: Product Design. 
Class of 2000, GPA 3.3, 3.5 in major.

COURSEWORK
Product Design
  Problem Solving, Brainstorming, Design Sketching, Prototyping, 
  Machining, and User-Centered Design
Engineering
  Electronics, Stress/Strain, Manufacturing, Mechanisms, Drafting, 
  Technical Writing, and C Programming
Art
  History of Design, Photography, and Design
Interest
  Architecture, Film, Religion, Drama, Geology, and 
  Human Computer Interaction

ACADEMIC DESIGN WORK
vossbrink.net/design/3d/walker/
vossbrink.net/design/3d/lamp/
For my senior project I designed and prototyped a walker for the 
elderly with improved ergonomics for increased safety and ease of 
use. I also designed and manufactured a desk lamp out of cold-rolled 
steel and acrylic. Other design projects included creating mobile 
phones for teenagers, backboard solutions for Laerdal Corporation, 
and a new line of garden tools.


INTERESTS

In my spare time I enjoy movies, museums, bowling, photography, 
baseball, soccer, Shakespeare, and Tolkien.