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Chris Parks

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Chris Parks Senior Art Director	print this page

We like to tell people that Chris Parks stepped out for lunch and came back 15 years later. In the early 90s, Chris launched his career at Greteman Group as a graphic design intern. Now, as a senior art director, he’s come back home — the natural evolution of a dynamic career that’s earned him a national reputation as a distinctive brand builder and founder of his own successful agency, UpDesign Bureau.

His journey began in the pages of a comic book. Like many kids, Chris never missed the latest issue of his favorite titles. But what he enjoyed about them was anything but typical.

“I loved the symbols,” Chris explains. “The bat. The spider. I asked myself how these simple symbols conveyed motivation and character. How, as a designer and illustrator, you could distill visual language to its basic elements to deliver the most meaning.”

Hmm, doesn’t sound like a lot of fun for a 10-year-old, but it worked for him! With the inspiration of comics gnawing on his psyche, Chris began a long love affair with drawing and illustration — eventually detouring into sculpture. While studying the art at Wichita State University, he became involved in the local sculpture scene (yes, there is one), and met sculptor Chris Brunner, the husband of Sonia Greteman.

Through this meeting, the up and coming designer got his foot in the door of Greteman Group, where he quickly knew he’d found his calling. After his internship, he journeyed to other firms, building his skills and developing his unique, award-winning illustrative style.

In 2001, his entrepreneurial tendencies got the best of him. Along with Chaney Kimball (our interactive designer), he co-founded UpDesign Bureau, where he attracted a number of high-profile local and regional accounts, plus some very tasty national assignments, including Big Dog Motorcycles and the Coleman Company.

After five years of dealing with the administrative and financial details of running his own business, Chris knew it was time to re-focus on what he loved best: creative brand building. With his firm now folded into Greteman Group, Chris delivers highly seasoned expertise in identity and brand development, print design, 3D and environmental design, and illustration.

Chris brings another highly valued skill that is often missing in today’s workplace: mentoring. He has always gladly served as a resource for young designers, letting them hang out at his shop when time allowed and soak in what they could. Chris also maintains strong relationships with designers around the country, and regularly gives presentations to student and design groups.

“I don’t believe there should be trade secrets in creative design,” he says. “I benefited from great mentors during my early career, and I feel I should return the favor.”

At home, Chris focuses his energies on raising his two boys. No word on whether he lets them read his comic books.