Mr Ronald Keller

Biography/ Background

Born in Basel, Switzerland to a Dutch mother from the Netherlands East indies and a Swiss father, Ron grew up in a multilingual and multicultural environment. During his childhood he lived in places as diverse as Geneva, Brussels, Hong-Kong, San Francisco and Lausanne where he eventually started his career by working for a large multinational firm. Over a period of 5 years he moved from sales and promotion to the marketing department where he produced artwork and layouts in support of brand and product managers. Eventually, Ron put together a portfolio and enrolled at the ArtCenter College of Design Europe. In 1996 he transferred to the Los Angeles campus and in 1998 he was awarded a Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts by the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. From then on, Ron has been working as a graphic designer and visual artist using every opportunity to draw inspiration from an early and sustained exposure to a variety of cultures and lifestyles. Lately his work has shifted towards experimentation with animation and motion graphics. Fascinated and inspired by the likes of Marcel Duchamp, Bauhaus and Marshall McLuhan to name but a few, his personal focus is on the creative process and how this process relates to communication theories. More a generalist than a specialist, his work is versatile, draws on a multitude of references and seems to be in constant need of a catalyst.

Career & Bio
After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Business Administration in 1989, Ron was hired by multinational company Philip Morris International based in Lausanne Switzerland where he spent 5 years working in sales, promotion and marketing for the domestic market. When in 1994 the ArtCentre College of Design Europe accepted his application he resigned from his position as Posm & Marketing Coordinator to enrol in their Bachelor of Fine Arts program. In 1996, Ron transferred to the Los Angeles campus of the ArtCentre College of Design in Pasadena and in 1998 he graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Packaging. Over a few years of freelance work and participation in various visual arts projects - he moved from Los Angeles to Copenhagen and eventually back to Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2005, the need for change and personal growth motivated him to move his family to Adelaide, South Australia, where he renewed old family ties and studied for a Master Degree in Design Studies - Digital Media at the University of Adelaide. Graduating in 2006 he then worked as a freelance designer for the School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design and the School of Computer Science - also enjoying regular casual contracts as a demonstrator, tutor and lecturer in Digital Media for the former. He is currently honouring a one year full-time contract with the School as Project Officer for Marketing and Promotion.

Portfolio: http://homepage.mac.com/kerodesign/portfolio

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts - Visual Communication ACE (Artcenter College Europe), Vevey/VD, Switzerland ACCD (Artcenter College of Design), Pasadena/CA, USA

Master Degree of Design Studies - Digital Media UA (University of Adelaide), Adelaide/SA, Australia

Graduate Certificate of Design Practice - Digital Media UA (University of Adelaide), Adelaide/SA, Australia

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 5 Feb 2008