home, cv, portfolio, The drawingboard, worlds, blog, contact me,
 
 
 

Did you ever go to school with one of those guys that knew what they wanted to do ever since they where toddlers? Yeah, I'm one of those. I' we always loved graphics, in all its forms. I' we dabbled and experimented with vast amounts of different styles and ways of achieving my creative goals. And I' we learned that one thing, that I feel is the cornerstone of a any type of creative personality. Namely, you have to love what you do. I'm in the lucky position of being able to say that my work is my hobby, and vice versa. And as long as I'm able to be creative, I'm a happy guy. I embrace the new and respect the old. And frequently try to combine the two.

I’m self-employed as a graphic designer at night, lovingly working on my own projects aswel as clientwork. Have been since 2003. Even tough I spend my day job as the Senior Art Director.

I listen to my clients, and I learn what makes them tick. After that the final product is a reflection of my client, with a small pinch of me mixed in.

My graphic art services include, but not limited to:
Graphic Design, logos, Brand identity, Web page design, traditional Media, print literature, calling cards, letterhead and more. 3D art and graphics, created with 3D and 2D software. Concept art, graphical manuals, production bibles. I can design complete series of 3D material from scenery to futuristic weapons. User Interface design for web, software or any device. Anything goes, I'm up for it all.

Kim Kaario Art Director  

Work Experience
• Senior Art Director Haahtela INC june 2011 - ongoing
• Production Manager for Borgåbladet branch/KSF-media from June 2010- june 2011
• Part of KSF media "future group" focusing on the longevity and evolution of the newspaper as a medium.
• Head of Art Direction for Borgåbladet branch/KSF-media from january 2008-2010
• Junior Art Director at Borgåbladet from May 2006 to december 2007
• Web designer and technical support at the evenemax.fi- project 1.6 - 31.8.06
• Summer and freelancer work at Scandinavia Offset Ab
• 20 weeks work study, (printing, art direction, post production) at Scandinavia Offset Ab 2004-2005
• Varying Freelancer projects starting from 2003

Other Experience
I'm part of a municipal group that is involved in evolving and judging finishing works of second level graphical studies. My title is municipal representative.

Education
• On sabbatical from Arcada Polytechnic in Helsinki.
• Art Director, 2005, Porvoo School of Arts and Crafts
• Military Clerk 2002, Uusimaa Brigade, Engineering Corps.
• College degree 2001, Porvoo.

Language skills
English, Finish, Swedish

Software Skills
Adobe / Freehand, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Acrobat, Distiller, Illustrator, Pagemaker, InDesign, Premiere, 3D / Autodesk Maya, Mudbox, McNeal Rhinoceros, Curious Labs Poser, E-On software Vue Espirit, Blender(basics)

( I aim to diversify my skills and im trying out and studying software like: 3D studio max, zbrush etc. )

Hobbies
Sci-fi, fantasy, technology, science, computer building/maintenance, snowboarding, paintball, photography, drawing, script writing, computer games in general, world of warcraft, Command & conquer, fallout, mass effect, civilization, pain e.tc.

Other
Deep knowledge of building, maintaining, controlling and problem solving of networks as well as as extensive knowledge of building/maintenance PC and Mac computers. I also have extensive knowledge about producing print-material as well as how to troubleshoot RIP and other print related problems.

Pressmaterial
Articles and editorials written about my projects.

Borgåbladet newspaper article 01 , Borgåbladet newspaper article 02

  Contact
 

So, what am I up to?
I was hired to Haahtela as an Senior Art Director a while back. After five years of working around journalists and advertisement graphics, I felt it was time for me to find new challenges. After all this time I had pretty much done every conceivable peace of newspaper graphic imaginable. The fact that newspapers are going trough troubled times right now, had also an impact on my decision to find other work. I felt heavy hearted to leave. It wasn't all in good terms, but I didn't want to leave with a door slammed in anger. Borgåbladet will remain, in many ways, as a family to me.

I was lucky, I had options of where to go. After a lot of figuring out, I chose Haahtela, a company witch had a very warm and ebracing feel to it. There where a few other things that tipped the scale in their favor. Their openness, the top brass where close at hand and available, the freedom they offered for my work and enough challenge for me, so that I can push my self to becoming better at what I do. Basically, my work entails building a graphical department from ground up. From work pipelines to a company wide graphical manual.

Older, but yet, oddly relevant stuff
Well, i create universes. I really do :) . Five years ago i wrote a sci-fi screenplay that i put on the backburner to focus on a another screenplay called Fireborn. I wrote for the Fireborn projects a complete world guide and characters, and all of their backgrounds, as well as screenplay, that originally was intended to be published in comic book form. The project never really god enough wind under its wings, even tough we got a lot of positive feedback. Now, a little older, smarter and with a bushier beard, i began working on a complete world guide, screenplay and production bible for a new universe, I have preliminary named Cambrian. Some of the tech in the universe is also in my portfolio, labeled as such.

But, oh nosies, that's not all.

I'm also sort of a researching spirit, that needs to understand things and better stuff, If i can. So i am doing extensive research on using 3d software more effectively and smartly as informational and advertisement graphics.

I cook a lot and bake also. Its sort of a way to block out the world when i need to. I'm not half bad at it. I have my mom to blame for this. She made damn sure no son of her ever felt inadequate in the kitchen :)

 
 
Colleagues, affiliates and references
Jan-Erik Andelin, head of media development www.ksfmedia.fi
Stefan Holmström, editor-in-chief for Borgåbladet www.bbl.fi
Camilla Berggren, editor in chief for Östra Nyland www.on.fi
Camilla Stjernvall-Malmberg, project leader for evenemax www.evenemax.fi
Nanne Nylund, art director, Svenska Teatern www.svenskateatern.fi
Tia Laurmaa, chief of sales, Salesmanager, Borgåbladet www.bbl.fi
Christian Aarnio, chief of Art Direction, JS Finland
Peter Nyberg, graphical Artist, Art Director www.iver.fi
Robin Bäckman, movies, animation, graphic design www.mediagarage.fi