Resume

An experienced visual journalist for the LA Times for 15 years, Leslie Carlson created many a daily map, as well as breaking news graphics in print and online. She was a major contributor to the Pulitzer Prize winning Altered Oceans series, including research and graphics. In addition to graphics work, Leslie has generated stories about the environment. She has extensive training in producing 3D graphics, and has demonstrated painting and drawing expertise. She was part of the startup of the Outdoors Section and contributed both stories and graphics to it. She has a BA in Biology from Pomona College.

Professional Experience

LOS ANGELES TIMES 1994 – 2009
Editorial Graphic Artist (1996 – 2009)
Full time illustration and design of news infographics for all sections of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper and its website, latimes.com. Responsible for researching, developing and creating charts, maps, diagrams, and comprehensive information graphics on a variety of subjects, including major environmental and science issues. Provided continuous interaction with editors, reporters, coordinators, and other editorial staff, and also included part-time graphics coordination in order to produce a daily paper.

Completed global warming of arctic permafrost: "Methane Time Bomb" by Margot Roosevelt project in 2009. Created both print and flash graphics for major story on environment: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-global-warming-methane22-2009feb22,0,6678890.story
2008 Wrote, researched, photographed, reported, and developed infographics for news article dealing with critical habitat and peninsular bighorn sheep in the southern deserts. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sheep_pg,0,1548698.photogallery Article was commended in Knight Science Journalism Tracker: http://ksjtracker.mit.edu/?p=7333
2007 Completed five part series called "Chasing Memory," illustrating complex biochemical process in the memory-making part of the brain, using 3D illustration and cartooning. link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-081907memory_synapse-f,0,1799758.flash
2006 "Altered Oceans" series won the Pulitzer. Involved over two years of research and development of infographics that became part of the series, both online and in the newspaper. Created color palette and map icons to unify the look of the series. As part of the story created extra research and graphics on the carbon cycle that were not used in final edit.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oceans,0,5846371.htmlstory
Participated in startup of the Outdoors Section and contributed both stories and graphics from June 2003 until end of the section in 2006.
Participated in Technical Committee that met weekly and was responsible for acquiring a 3D model library. Coordinated GIS Training for staff. Researched and tested equipment and software upgrades.
Software platforms used include Flash, Illustrator, Freehand, Photoshop, Strata 3D, Form Z, Arcview, MapStudio, and Natural Scene Designer.

On-line Designer (1994 – 1996)
Full-time Designer of an on-line service, "TimesLink." Job included development of prototypes for new Web site, extensive interface design and development of graphics for service.

Completed design of Beach Guide on website. Designed TimesMirror corporate website.
Awarded "Top Ten of the Times" for design excellence.

MAHER, KAUMP & CLARK ADVERTISING 1988 – 1991
Art Director
Clients included Becton Dickenson, Medasonics, Serono, Coburn Optical, Acco Cotton, Medical Materials, Evergreen Scientific, Helix/InHealth. Employed as full-time Art Director for 4-color print ads, brochures, booth graphics. Included client contact, management of production department, press checks, vendors, photo-shoots, budget.

MEDLIN & ASSOCIATES ADVERTISING, INC. 1982 – 1984
Art Director
Full-time Art Director for various clients, including Alpine Stereo. Included client contact, management of production department, press checks, vendors, photo-shoots, budget.

HUERTA DESIGN 1980 – 1982
Designer
Full-time designer for various clients, including Tyco and State of California, and production art for many L.A. ad agencies.

FREELANCE 1982 – 2008

Pearson Publications, Design and production: Designed economic textbook charts. 2008
Backpacker Magazine, Illustrator: "Phenomenon" section: Monthly infographic for 2 years. 2005-07
2001 Director, Writer, Animator: Creator of 2 minute computer animated short film called “Shrimp & Crab Cocktail;” premiered Dec. 1, 2002, in International Festival of Cinema and Technology in Paris. Completed film in Maya 3D software at Gnomon School of Special Effects in Hollywood, California.
UCLA Designer: Created cover illustrations for UCLA Performing Arts Quarterly and UCLA Viewbook, 1993, executed in Photoshop. Designed promotional brochures, packages, and direct mail pieces on a full-time freelance basis. 1986-95
Viridis, Art Director and Animator: CDI interactive game called AnnaTommy including development of look and feel of game. Also created 3d animation on 3D Studio. Completed 7-second animation for the Auto Club using Explore software--built model, textures, animation and rendered out to D1. Operated Explore software on SGI computer for Nissan industrial film. 1994
BRC Animation, Computer Animator: Animated computer graphics sequences for the movie "POSTCARDS," a nine-screen, circle-vision movie for KAL airlines for the World's Fair. Electric Image, COSA After Effects, Photoshop, Animation Stand, and Painter were used on Macs. 1993
Cimity Art, Artist Assistant: Star Trek VI: Designed graphics and art to appear on large screen displays on bridge of Starship Enterprise to illustrate major story points. Research, preliminary storyboards, assisted Art Director, executed layouts and parts of backlit animation. Continuing freelance work on various illustration projects. 1988-91
Getty Museum, Designer: Designed and produced Catalogue of Acquisitions for three years as in-house freelancer. 1982-84

Skills and Specialties

Artist and writer specializing in science and environment.

Technical Skills

Flash Training, KnowledgeWorks,Inc. – L .A. Times-sponsored weeklong course, 2007 and 2009
GIS training in use of Arcview for mapping of data, 2008
Access to Lynda.com online training in all Adobe CS 4 products, 2008-9
Interactive Design, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA 2006
Strata 3D, L.A. Times-sponsored weeklong training course, 2005
Investigative Journalism Computer Assisted Research Conference, 2004
ESRI conference, 2003
Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources Fellow: attended 9-day Environmental Journalism Workshop on the Klamath River July, 2004
UCLA Extension Journalism classes in Feature Writing, News Writing 1&2, and Writing for the Media, 2002-2003
Maya training in character construction and character animation, Gnomon School of Special Effects, Hollywood. Completed "Shrimp and Crab Cocktail," a 2 minute animated film with original characters generated entirely in Maya 3D software, 1998-2001
Macromedia Flash 4 weeklong intensive training, Lynda Weinman, Ojai Digital Arts Center, 2000
Alias 3D Modeling class, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 1998
Advanced Painting and Composition, Peter Liashkov at Art Center, subsequent private painting workshops 1996-98
Intro to the Art & Industry, Basic Animation Mechanics and Head Drawing, American Animation Institute, 1991-1992
Otis Institute of Parsons School of Design, two years of Oil Painting with Franklin Liegel
Art Center Extension Graphic Design and Marker Comp Courses

Other

Flash Actionscript 2.0, Adobe Illustrator CS4, Adobe Photoshop CS4, Strata 3D, Maya, Natural Scene Designer Pro, Excel, Word, Powerpoint.