Norman Fournier's Career Autobiography
A number of my career milestones.
I have worked as a professional Art Director and Designer since 1974 when I was given my first and dream job as a Layout Artist for the Edmonton Journal. This was my apprenticeship in advertising.
I was trained by Morris Prediger, the Art Director, who hired me based on my juvenile portfolio and a practical examination of my skills. Mr. Prediger was my immediate supervisor.
I was one of five Layout Artists, including the Art Director and his Assistant. We were responsible for satisfying the layout and specialized artwork needs for the accounts of 25 Retail, 2 National and 5 Classified Sales Representatives. Uniqueness and persuasion were emphasized.
I joined Sean Wagar and Carter McKeague and formed Madmen Art, Graphics and Design in 1977. We had a few small retail accounts; a custom tailor, a downtown mall, a real estate company.
Appropriately-named Madmen became the in-house creative department at Groves Stewart Advertising. I was appointed Art Director. We had large retail accounts; furniture stores, departments stores, car dealerships.
Sean Wagar formed The Directors Creative Design Associates. I joined as Designer. We had some larger retail accounts, a cabinet manufacturer, and projects for The Bay in Edmonton.
I joined Hunter Daniels as Art Director. We had large retail accounts like Eatons for Western Canada and ITV.
I relocated to the Lower Mainland in 1980 and joined Green and Huckvale Advertising as Art Director. Our accounts were hotels, the automobile club, government and some large retail.
In 1984 I became a freelancer.
I eventually designed corporate communications, trade show exhibits or advertising for a long client list as the President of Fournier Communication Art Inc.
My reputation is based on creative communications design with high production standards. My work has been recognized with awards of excellence for advertising creative, exhibit design, printing excellence, greeting card design, and typographic design.
My training was acquired on the job, and was similar to an apprenticeship, working with talented artists like Morris Prediger and the late Sean Wagar, briefly with Paul Kuzma, most notably with Green and Huckvale and many other designers I respect and try to emulate. I am further educated by my trusting, patient clients.
I have always attended career-oriented specialized courses, including courses and seminars on Media Buying and Planning, Visual Literacy, Practical Financial Tools for Business, Goldcare Indutiae Mastermind Business Seminar, and other business- and design-oriented conferences and seminars. I have also been a design competition adjudicator and I was honoured to be a hosted delegate by the Canadian government to the UN-sponsored 2000 World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs on the 75th floor the World Trade Centre overlooking the Statue of Liberty in New York, New York.
I am proud to be from the Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada.
I strongly support indigenous peoples rights and work to ameliorate conditions for special needs children.
I like to both play the piano and play in the mountains. Most of all I like to work. If you have some, please give me a call. I am happy to help.
Contact
Norman Fournier offers art direction, corporate identity, advertising, exhibitry and www creative. He can be reached at 780 476 3817 or