About Me
15+ Years of Professional Experience.
I bring more than 15 years of experience in multimedia design as an experienced graphic designer, web developer, motion artist, and developer. I’ve made contributions to a wide range of industries, including jewelry, marketing, writing, hosting, music, law, healthcare, and non-profits. My multi-cultural clients and varied portfolio showcase my adaptability and skill set.
My training in digital video editing and filmmaking at The Pennsylvania State University and the New York Film Academy broadens my view on design. Notably, I spent seven years as the Lead Designer and Contributing Writer for The Manhattan Short, the largest short film festival in the world.
My broad experience has been further enriched by the fact that my job path has led me through newspapers, publishing houses, design studios, and marketing agencies in Pennsylvania and New York.
I completed a number of certificate programs on Coursera and Udemy to advance my knowledge in HTML, CSS, front-end development, and the use of AI technologies like ChatGPT and Midjourney.
I am also a martial artist and have trained in multiple disciplines including Tang Soo Do Karate, Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do Adaptive Combatives, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’m also a part-time youth martial arts instructor.
Chris Cayden
Career development highlights
Key career accomplishments
Seasoned graphic and web designer with 15+ years experience successfully leading digital projects from concept to completion. Skilled in WordPress and adept at leveraging generative AI to boost design capabilities. Record of delivering innovative solutions that exceed client expectations and drive business results.
CV Highlights.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Web developer, graphic designer, and digital strategist
I am a seasoned Graphic Designer and Web Developer with more than 15 years of devoted experience in the digital realm. I combine creativity with technological knowledge to develop appealing digital storytelling.
Prominent Career:
Led global non-profit campaigns for the National Bible Association that annually reached over 10 million users. Redesigned Serum X-Y Chromosome’s identity creatively, which resulted in a significant 45% increase in social media traffic within a quarter.
Prolific Design Acumen:
Nominated many times for ‘Best Poster Design’ at prestigious film festivals, recognized by the U.S. Senate Chaplain for creating best-selling book cover.
Knowledge of cutting-edge AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Claude 2, and Midjourney, as well as advanced technical proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, and Unbounce. Extensive knowledge of brand consistency, SEO optimization, and e-commerce development.
Notable Engagements:
Currently using AI tools for SEO and visual design, I optimized user experiences remotely for Liquid Web and working as a freelancer for Crash Tactical and BRAVI SMP.
Continuous Learner:
Possess certifications from prestigious organizations such as Coursera, Google Cloud, University of Michigan, and Udemy, as well as advanced expertise in ChatGPT, AI for Market Research, and CSS3 Flexbox.
Communication Maestro:
Combine outstanding problem-solving talents with unmatched communication abilities, constantly driven to succeed.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Liquid Web
Manage daily WordPress upkeep, create engaging Unbounce landing pages, and craft captivating static/motion graphics for heightened social media user engagement.
Serum X-Y Chromosome, Inc
Handled website design and development, SEO optimization, video animation production, logo creation, and e-commerce shopping cart setup.
National Bible Association
Managed day-to-day digital and print operations, encompassing web design, non-profit Google Ad Grant administration, supplemental SEO optimization, and social media management.
The Manhattan Short Film Festival
Administered daily internet operations and design requirements, such as SEO, email campaigns, online marketing, and website content refreshes. Crafted HTML web pages for diverse marketing and email initiatives.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS
Film Studies and Digital Video Editing
The New York Film Academy
Coding
Coursera – CSS3 Flexbox – Mastering the Basics
Coursera – Build Responsive Page UI using Flexbox
Coursera – Practical Use Cases of CSS3 Flexbox
LearnQuest – HTML Front-End Developer
University of Michigan – Introduction to HTML5
Generative AI Tools
Coursera – ChatGPT AI for Market Research
Google Cloud – Introduction to Generative AI
Udemy – ChatGPT Masterclass: A Complete ChatGPT Guide
Udemy – ChatGPT Marketing: Create Complete Campaigns w/ ChatGPT AI
Udemy – ChatGPT Masters: AI Prompt Engineering, Midjourney, Chat GPT
Udemy – ChatGPT – The Complete Guide to ChatGPT & OpenAI APIs
Udemy – Artificial Intelligence for Business
Udemy – ChatGPT & Prompt Engineering
Udemy – Midjourney Mastery Create Visually Stunning AI Art
SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMMING
Extensive Knowledge of most Adobe programs:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Premiere
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Media Encoder
- Adobe Spark
- Adobe Firefly
Extensive knowledge and experience in:
- WordPress (Divi, Elementor, Guttenberg)
- Shopify
- WIX
- Squarespace
- HTML5
- PHP
- CSS
- Figma
- Canva
- Python
EXECUTIVE SKILLS
- Proficient in graphic design, including blog visuals and web/marketing materials
- Thrives in high-tempo settings, consistently meeting deadlines
- Excellent multitasking: can manage multiple tasks concurrently
- Experienced in social media designs and SEM
- Knowledgeable in SEO and brand development strategies
- Highly organized, ensuring daily activities are streamlined
- Strong interpersonal capabilities
- Expertise in task prioritization
- Adept at problem-solving
- Solid technical know-how
ROAD TO SUCCESS
Nothing comes easy, Ringo Starr said “Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues, And you know it don’t come easy.” Working as a freelancer has been both rewarding, and a struggle. I am determined, focused, and single-minded when it comes to my chosen profession.
Would I change anything? Not. One. Thing. Every struggle has made me even more focused, every mistake is a lesson. Luckily I have made a career of learning and growing, keeping up with current trends and technology. Onward!
My Tech Skills.
- ChatGPT/Bard/Claude 90%
- Wordpress Design and Development 95%
- DIVI and Elementor 95%
- Social Media Marketing 90%
- Adobe Creative Suite 95%
- Graphic Design 95%
- Shopify 95%
- HTML + CSS 85%
- Logo Design 90%
- Figma 80%
- SEO 86%