Kurt Pakan is an art director.

Official Bio | Unofficial Bio

Official Bio:

Kurt Pakan is the principal of PAKAN, Inc. He has worked as an Art Director, Graphic Designer and Creative Supervisor for the past 20 years. He graduated with honors from Kent State University (where he was awarded a 4-year athletic scholarship) with a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration, has taught as an adjunct professor at RIT and has mentored many beginning designers and art directors.

Kurt has been involved in development and creative implementation of repositioning, rebranding, and newly branded programs for banks, digital camera, digital imaging, pharmaceutical, document imaging, vineyards, distilled spirits, textbook publishing, and software development companies. He combines a fine artist's sensibility with the marketing savvy of a marketing communication executive to develop targeted yet emotive brand identities and communications programs.

He has worked specifically for brand identity firms as well as ad agencies. He currently gets called upon by many advertising agencies and direct clients for his ability to understand or help develop a market position and to develop an overarching brand identity. He developed explanatory illustrations for a neurology textbook for first-year medical students. He has developed and authored many brand identity guideline programs for companies such as Eastman Kodak Digital Imaging, Thomson Learning, Sirsi (library software), East Irondequoit Public School Systems and Datacon (legal software and services).

He has received numerous design awards from Print Magazine, Graphis International, the Addy competitions, Strathmore Paper, and Graphic Design USA. He has received Best of Show awards both locally and internationally (International Brand Awards).

Kurt has been employed by Forward Branding, Saatchi & Saatchi, Buck & Pulleyn, the Wolf Group and several other agencies and design firms. He has been a member of American Institute of Graphic Artists, Rochester Advertising Federation, and Graphic Artists Guild.

Unofficial (And More Interesting) Bio:

Why did you choose this career?
I loved to draw and design as a young person. I always read about artists and thought they were the coolest people in the word—along with professional athletes.

Favorite song?
I listen to many different types of music. I particularly like R&B, acoustic rock, soul music, and have developed an more recent appreciation of jazz and classical. I use music to motivate, inspire, and create a mindset in which to encourage free thinking.

Favorite book?
The Last Shot (a basketball biography)

Favorite recreational activity?
I jog and lift weights. Look at artwork, follow sports, spend time with family. Also draw, paint, design.

You think the world would be a better place if:
We all slowed down a little.

The most profound thing you've ever heard or seen or experienced is: 
You are what you think about all day. You can't change anyone, only the way you act and react.