About Ephraim Schum
While pursuing a degree in graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts, Ephraim served as a junior designer in an internship with Hall & Partners in Petersburg, Virginia. He decided that while focusing on design for the world of print was important, it simply wasn't enough. So, he began teaching himself HTML for web design well into the wee hours of many mornings.
In late 1996, Ephraim received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and moved back to McLean, Virginia to begin working as a graphic designer with Schum & Associates, a design and advertising firm started by his father in 1981. He was primarily responsible for the design of identity and stationery packages, brochures, and media kits but saw the need for new services that could be added to the company's already long list. Ephraim designed the company's first website and started an interactive arm which enabled Schum & Associates to offer website design as another valued service to clients. In September 1997, Ephraim married his wife, whom he had met in a typography class while at VCU.
In early 1998, Ephraim joined Alpert & Alpert as senior designer. He brought his style of simplicity in layout and typography to logo, brochure, and collateral design. This was instrumental in reaching a broader range of clients. He enjoyed working within a team where others had similar experience in designing websites. As he helped establish and grow the company's area of interactive services, he recommended related software and hardware improvements for the company.
In early 1999, Ephraim and his wife welcomed their first child and moved to Ashburn, Virginia. At this time, he signed on with Invisions Group/Iconix Group of Bethesda, Maryland. For the first time, Ephraim served as senior designer in a larger agency environment where he focused exclusively on the design of the graphic user interface of websites. Bringing his experience with the coding of sites and his design talent to each project, Ephraim worked closely with both the design and production team to develop and implement GEICO’s first online customer website. The agency grew and was soon sold to a company primarily focused on providing only back-end, application development services.
In late 2000, Ephraim rejoined Schum & Associates to take on a larger role as senior art director. Currently, he leads and fosters the collaboration of the creative team in the development of ideas and themes, design, production, quality assurance, and delivery of all of the firm's print and web services. He also sharpens his knack for copywriting. He manages numerous client relationships and enjoys working directly with clients as he finds it to be "the most natural and clear way to understand their communications needs." Additionally, Ephraim determines project costs, provides status updates, facilitates approvals, and develops new sales by identifying and recommending further services to support a client’s ongoing communication needs. He is adept at negotiating and maintaining supplier contracts with prepress, printing, photographers, and web programmers and continues to find ways to improve and update the firm's print and web promotions.
Ephraim's work has been featured in American Corporate Identity, How, The Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington's Annual Show, ADDY Awards, and a variety of local and regional newspapers. He has recently taken an interest in pursuing voiceover work after lending his voice in a 30-second, regional radio spot for his client, Tysons Tunnel. Ephraim has three children who he enjoys watching draw superheroes and horses.