JASON SAFIR

 

 

Interactive new media and performance artist, video producer and comedy writer engaged in human-computer interaction and computational design.

435 W 57 St. #5A

New York, NY 10019

 

 

646 373 4839

jason@jasonsafir.com

www.jasonsafir.com

 

  Academic

 

New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY

Masters of Professional Studies, Interactive Telecommunications Program, 2010

 

Concordia University, Montréal, QC

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Computation Arts, Honours, 2008

Graduated with Distinction (3.92 GPA)

Awarded membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society, honoring students in the top TIER in the Fine Arts

 

Centennial College, Montréal, QC

Diploma of Collegial Studies, Social Sciences, 2003

Acheived honor roll status in three semesters

 

 

  Art Direction

TRIBE Media Corporation, 2010- TO DATE

User Interface Designer and Developer, Los Angeles, CA

Web design and development for one of America’s most widely used Jewish news site, reaching an average of over 400,000 users each month. I was recruited to head the re-design of the JewishJournal.com; a site that contains over a hundred categories of Jewish related media and content. Other responsiblities include web consultation and development of external blogs that target entertainment professionals.

 

New York Center for Juvenile Justice, 2010- TO DATE

Web Designer and Video Producer, New York, NY

Established a strong judicial aesthetic and branding model and produced event videos for the New York Center for Juvenile Justice (NYCJJ), whose mission is to spearhead an effort to transform the way children under 18 years of age are judged and treated in New York courts. The Center was established by Judge Michael A. Corriero, who was a judge for twenty-eight years in the Criminal Courts of the State of New York.
Highly succesful judicial events have been conducted at:

  • Columbia Law School, April 5, 2011
  • John Jay College, April 6, 2011
  • New York State Office of Children & Family Services, April 7, 2011
  • Syracuse University, April 11, 2011
  • Albany Law School, April 7, 2011
  •  

    MTV Networks, 2009

    Web Developer, New York, NY

    Recruited as a web designer to help assist in the design of web user interfaces and advertisements at mtvU, an important subsidiary of MTV Networks. mtvU broadcasts to more than 750 colleges, with a combined enrollment of more than 7.2 million students. Challenges included designing sites with fresh and vibrant content that suited MTV's target to design better sites that was highly optimized for search engine optimization.

     

    AMG Film and TV Studios, 2010

    Web Developer, Los Angeles, CA

    Designed web pages and content for accomplished television commercial and film producer Aaaron Greenberg. Greenberg was the Associate Producer of NBC’s “My Name Is Earl”, and ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” and also works as a director for high-profile clients such as Discovery Kids, The Sharper Image, HP, and FearNet.

     

    The Legend of Beaver Dam, 2010

    Web Designer, New York, NY

    Collaborated in the production of this thriller musical short film which played in many world-class film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival. Responsibilities for the film involved designing its web site and visual designs to ensure that the film received proper exposure as it toured the globe on the film festival circuit.
    My work for The Legend of Beaver Dam has been linked from the following prestigious film web sites:
  • Sundance Institue, 2011 Sundance Film Festival Announces Short Film Program, December 6, 2010
  • Toronto Film Scene, Review: Short Cuts Canada, September 18, 2010
  • CHARTattack, TIFF Review: The Legend Of Beaver Dam, September 16, 2010
  • The Huffington Post, Toronto Film Fest Day 6: Hello, Lapland!, September 15, 2010
  • Twitch Film, Short Film, Short Review: THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM, September 9, 2010
  • Fangoria, Get some “BEAVER” with new horror/comedy short, September 2, 2010
  • TIFF.net, Toronto International Film Festival, The Legend of Beaver Dam, 2010
  • thestar.com, Montreal duo to open Midnight Madness at TIFF, September 2, 2010
  •  

    College Football Breakdown, 2010- TO DATE

    Webmaster, Westchester, NY

    Blueprinted, designed and developed this highly resourceful and highly ranked college football web site. Challenges included developing an easy-to-use interface design, integrating the site into a CMS and developing an on-site payment module which is integreated onto the backend of the site.

     

    Food Allergy Kid SPoT, 2010

    Cartoonist/Animator, New York, NY

    Food Allergy Kid SPoT’s mission is to entertain, empower and educate children with food allergies and adults by providing knowledge in several different formats. Responsibilities involved creating fun and playful animations, performed by an animated character named, Dr. Ask, to help inform and educate children about their food allergies.
    Food Allergy Kid SPoT's web site has garnered press and from the following web sites:

  • examiner.com, Interactive website launches for children with food allergies, July 14, 2010
  • PRWeb, Food Allergy Kid SPoT Launches First-Ever Website For Children With Food Allergies, July 6, 2010
  • NorthJersey.com, Site aims to educate kids with food allergies, June 3, 2010
  •  

    maman, bébé et café, 2006-2008

    Creative and User Experience Director, Montreal, QC

    Developed a playful interactive Flash web site for maman bébé et café, a destination in Montreal that nurtures parents and young children alike. The dynamic nature of the site communicated well the message and qualities of the "maman, bébé et café" brand, and was noticed by business competitions resulting in major awards such as the “Concours Québecois Entrepreneuriat” and a nomination for the “Prix “Femme d’Affaire du Québec”.
    maman, bébé et café has achieved recognition from the following TV networks and news publications:

  • CBC Living Montreal (TV), maman, bébé et salsa, March 26, 2007
  • Workopolis TV, Sanity for Mat Leave Moms, April 23, 2007
  • Cafeine TQS (TV), Anouk suit un cours de salsa maman bébé, May 24, 2007
  • QUÉBEC INC., Création de micro-enterprises et légère augmentation des ventes en équipement pour enfants., September 2007
  • Oh!bébé, Cafés branchés pour dorloter les jeunes familles, 2007
  • The Chronicle Montreal, There's plenty of baby business in NDG, February 21, 2007
  •  

    Paul Gratton, 2008

    Interactive Designer, Mont-Tremblant, QC

    Established a sleek Flash interface design for prestigious Canadian painter Paul Gratton. Challenges were to present his acclaimed paintings into a web canvas by documenting all his paintings. The interactive design breathes life into his canvases by adopting a full-screen web experience of the painter's work.

     

    MSI Solutions, 2005-2007

    Creative Design Manager, Montreal, QC

    Responsible for the design of all web based applications across the company which included application user interface (UI) design, animation, prototyping and marketing creative. Webmastered daily site content for all client websites.

     

    Le Nouvel Hotel, 2004

    Online Content Developer, Montreal, QC

    Collaborated in all online aspects of the hotel. Challenges included complete site re-architecture and redesign, absorption of site materials and re-branding of all site content.

     

    Fanny of Westmount, 2002-2004

    Web Designer, Montreal, QC

     

     

      Selected Festivals and Exhibitions

     

    Wash Your Mouth, Montreal 24 Hour Film Festival, Cinema Beaubien, Montreal, QC, 2010

  • Lead Actor, Film Editor
  • V.A.U.G.H.N., ITP Spring Show 2010, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY

  • Director, Producer, Writer, Lead Actor, Designer, Post Production, Computer Engineer
  • Vaughn's Motivational Seminar, ITP Thesis Week, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY, 2010

    Rusty Business, ITP Winter Show 2009, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY, 2009

  • Video Producer, Interface Designer, Performer, Computer Engineer
  • Rusty Business, 8th Annual NIME Concert: New Interfaces for Musical Expression, Southpaw Music & Entertainment, New York, NY, 2009

    A Simple Cup, ITP Spring Show 2009, Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY, 2009

  • Designer, Animator, Computer Engineer
  • The Frutigers, The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC,The Digital Media Student Association, Montreal, QC, 2008

  • Animator, Interface Designer, Voice Overs
  • Vaughn's Fitness Evaluation, The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC, The Digital Media Student Association, Montreal, QC, 2008

  • Performer, Interface Designer, Voice Overs
  • Safex OD, The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC, The Digital Media Student Association, Montreal, QC, 2008

  • Director, Writer, Lead Actor, Post Production, Animator
  • Modern Living, 2008 Academy of Art Video Art Awards, Finalist for "Most Funny" Video, La Sala Rossa Concert Hall, Montreal, QC, 2008

  • Director, Writer, Lead Actor, Post Production, Animator, Graphic Designer
  • Modern Living, Intermedia Cyber Arts Screenings, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, 2008

     

     

      Performance Art

     

    Vaughn Murphy (online nonlinear artwork), 2011
  • Selected to be showcased at the 2010 Interactive Telecommunications Program Winter Show and presented at NYU Tisch ITP Thesis Week.
  • Rusty Business (digital animations, multi-channel computer installation), 2009
  • Performed at the 8th Annual ITP New Interfaces for Musical Expression Concert at the Southpaw Music & Entertainment venue in Brooklyn, New York. Over 200 people attended the event. New Interfaces for Musical Expression Concert is an event that exposes the most late-breaking work on new musical interface design.
  • Selected to be presented at the 2009 Interactive Telecommunications Program Winter Show
  • Little Orlando (sculptures with animated video, DVD players), 2008
    Vaughn's Fitness Evaluation (online nonlinear artwork), 2007
  • Presented at the The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC. A selective showcase of art projects deeply rooted in digital media technology.
  •  

     

      Interactive Art and Media

     

    Vaughn Murphy's PowerBooks! (digital video for custom screen configuration), 2010
  • Selected to be presented at the 2010 ITP Winter Show
  • Received publication at BBC News, Furtherfield and Brooklyn Art Project
  • A Simple Cup (social network visualization), 2009
  • Selected to be presented at the 2009 ITP Spring Show
  • Featured on Greenwala's design channel, Looking Glass Photography and Peter Bihr on Social Media Web 2.0 and Digital Life
  • Puck Music (physical computing object, visualization), 2009
    The Joy of Technology (interactive animations), 2008
    Collective Shadow (computer installation with Hugues Bruyère and Maxime Bergeron), 2006
  • Showcased on Studio Banana TV and Processing Blogs
  • The Frutigers (online interactive series of animations), 2006
  • Selected to be presented at the The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC. A selective showcase of art projects deeply rooted in digital media technology.
  • Underwater (0:24 loop, online digital animation), 2006
    He Don’t Got Game (online nonlinear artwork), 2005
    Memory Box (interactive electronic wooden box), 2005
  • Exhibited on Rhizome's ArtBase, the largest online art database foe new media art.
  • Featured on absolutearts.com
  •  

     

      Video Art and Animation

     

    Dr. Ask (animation segments for Food Allergy Kid SPoT), 2010
  • Developed for the largest food allergy online community for kids, with an eye toward a social networking component for older children. Recognized by PRWeb, among the most prestigious health resource web sites.
  • Wash Your Mouth (2:04, digital animation), 2010
  • Film production for "Film Racing", one of the most prestigious short film competition organizations. Presented at the 2010 Montreal Film Race exhibit at Cinema Beaubien on September 30, 2010.
  • The Joy of Smoking (2:42 loop, digital animation for custom screen configuration. Screen integration into head sculpture), 2009
    Modern Living (4:52, digital animation series), 2008
  • Presented at the The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC. A selective showcase of art projects deeply rooted in digital media technology.
  • Showcased on Rhizome Artbase
  • Safex (4:27, digital video), 2007
  • Presented at the The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC. A selective showcase of art projects deeply rooted in digital media technology.
  • The Cook (8:42, digital video with Jesse Konter), 2007
    Sweat (2:07 loop, digital video), 2007
    The Frutigers (online interactive series of animations), 2006
  • Presented at the The 2008 Edition of Exposed: MIMIC. A selective showcase of art projects deeply rooted in digital media technology.
  • Soma (photographic series with David Goldapple), 2006
    Mr. Technosis (7:33, digital video), 2006
    The Kissing Gourami (print installation), 2005

     

     

      Selected Publications and Press

     

    BBC News, Technology and art fuse in NYC, May 17, 2010

    We Are NY Tech, Jason Safir - New Media and Performance Artist (interview), May 10, 2011

    Brooklyn Art Project, Vaughn Murphy's PowerBooks, April 26, 2011

    Greenwala, Supporting Interactive Ways to Save Energy, February 8, 2011

    Furtherfield, Self Help Technology That You Can't Live Without, February 2, 2011

    absolutearts.com, Jason Safir:"Memory Box" - Digital Art, 2006, April 13, 2011

    NYU Tisch ITP Thesis Week, V.A.U.G.H.N., April 9, 2010

    ITP Book: The Center for the Recently Possible, V.A.U.G.H.N., pg. 171, May 2010

    Networked Museum Review, Live Stage: 8th Annual NIME concert, December 2, 2009

    Tisch ITP, SPECIAL EVENT: NIME Presentations at Southpaw, December 4, 2009

    Looking Glass Photography, ITP Spring Show 2009, May 18, 2009

    Peter Bihr on Social Media, Web 2.0 and Digital Life: Impressions of ITP Springshow, May 13, 2009

    The 2008 Edition of Exposed: Mimic - Exhibition Catalog, Safex, Vaughn's Fitness Evaluation, The Frutigers, Concordia University, pg. 11, 14, May 2008

    Studio Banana TV, Collective Shadow, April 18, 2008

    Rhizome Artbase, Modern Living, 2008

    Processing Blogs, collectiveShadow, August 22, 2007

     

     

      Prizes and Awards of Excellence

     

    Ryerson Scholarship, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, 2008
    Graduated with Distinction, Concorida University, Montreal, QC, 2008
    Academy of Art Video Art Awards Finalist, Academy of Art Video Art, Montreal, QC, 2008
    Membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, Montreal, QC, 2007
    Honor Roll Status, Centennial College, Montreal, QC, Winter 2003
    Honor Roll Status, Centennial College, Montreal, QC, Spring 2003
    Honor Roll Status, Centennial College, Montreal, QC, Fall 2002

     

     

      Writings on New Media

     

    New Media Glossary, online hypermedia glossary. Supervised with Chris Salter. Summer 2006

    Are We Built for the Machines, written essay. Summer 2006

    Supplying the Demand of Our Needs, written essay. Summer 2006

    Middle East Nostalgia, written essay. Summer 2006

    Extended Memory, written essay. Winter 2006

    Photography and Memory, online hypermedia glossary. Spring 2005

    Art of the Digital Age, written essay. Spring 2005

     

     

      Applications and Skills

     

    Computer Languages:

    Web Development:

    Video Production:

    Graphic Design:

    Office:

    Actionscript

    Flash

    Final Cut Pro

    Photoshop

    Word

    PHP

    Dreamweaver

    After Effects

    Illustrator

    Excel

    Java (Processing)

    Fireworks

    Toon Boom Studio

    InDesign

    Access

    HTML/CSS

    Swift 3D

    DP Lighting

    QuarkXPress

     

    MaxMSP/Jitter

     

    Studio Shooting

    Acrobat