Ruby Kapka

 CV/Resumé

 Intro
Ruby Kapka is a designer, printer & craftsperson living and working in the Bay Area, CA. Her work spans many modalities, materials, and processes. She makes it a priority to always continue learning new skills.

 Businesses & Jobs

2021 - presentOwner, Designer, Producer
Trick Mantra
Crockett, CA
Everything and anything related to my knitwear business, Trick Mantra. I wear all the hats.  Design from the ground up, website design, product design, line sheet design. An amalgamation of all my various skills.
2018 - 2020Owner, Craniosacral Therapist
Kapka Bodywork
Lafayette, CA
After attending bodywork school at Massage Therapy Institute in Davis, CA in 2017-2018, I opened my own private practice specializing in Craniosacral Therapy. Kapka Bodywork closed permanently  in 2020.
2016 - 2017Owner, Designer, Printer
of NSFW Presse
Brooklyn, NY
Various Risograph print jobbing & design work for clients. Art prints, flyers, ephemera, wedding invites, business cards.
2015 - 2017Production Manager 
Head Letterpress Printer 
Volunteer Coordinator
at Ugly Duckling Presse
Brooklyn, NY
Letterpress printed covers and flyleaves for books & chapbooks,  invitations, ephemera, etc. Interfaced with designers for covers and optimixed artwork for print. Sourced production for outside printing and binding. Kept a production schedule and trained volunteers. Hand bound chapbooks. Trained print technicians.

2015-2017Head Letterpress Printer
Shop & Production Manager
Graphic Designer: Print & Digital
at Swayspace
Brooklyn, NY
Handled all print-related needs. Managed the print schedule, prepped files for both letterpress and for print via offset or digital. Worked on graphic design for web and print. Trained print technicians.
 Education

2018Certified Massage Therapist
Craniosacral Therapy
Massage Therapy Institute
Davis, California

2010 - 2013BFA – Craft: Book Binding, Letterpress
Oregon College of Art & Craft
Portland, Oregon

2012Typography, Book Binding, Letterpress
Burg Giebicenstein Kunsthochschüle Halle
Halle, Germany

 Skills

Digital
Professional level in Adobe Suite
  • InDesign 
  • Illustrator
  • Photoshop 
  • Lightroom

  • Procreate
  • Canva

  • Slack
  • Basecamp

  • Dropbox
  • Google Sheets/Docs
  • Outlook
  • MS Office

  • Shopify
  • Mailchimp
  • MailerLite
  • Constant Contact
  • Substack

Web

  • HTML
  • CSS

Visual

  • 35mm photography
  • 110 film photography
  • Digital photography

    Material

    • Hand & machine knitting
    • Sewing (garments & utilitarian)
    • Garment Pattern Drafting

    • Risograph
    • Letterpress
    • Screen Printing

    • Illustration 
    • Painting (gouache)

    Language

    • German – conversational
    • Spanish – basic


     Character / Personal
    Traits & approach

    I’m hardworking and quick learning. I like to work toward grasping a wholistic picture of a project and then approach it from various angles to solve the design problem. I enjoy working outside of average design and materials parameters when the “straightforward” answers aren’t working. I am persistent but self-aware to not be stubborn.

    I’m good working in teams and groups. I will take charge when I feel it’s appropriate but am also happy to have someone else lead when it’s right.

    I have an expansive way of thinking but am able to narrow down focus when I need to.

    I like to keep my energy light and not let small things drag me down. I’m kind and considerate, and employ direct, yet tactful communication.

    Over everything else, I value a respectful and kind working environment.

    Needs

    I need my employer to be honest, direct and kind. I need my coworkers to be considerate and respectful in how they approach collaborating on work.

    I’m open and enthusiastic about taking on new work and I will thrive in the right environment.

    contact
     2023