In my 7+ years of experience in advertising and branding agency environments, I’ve had the good fortune to work with a variety of great clients and coworkers across a wide variety of verticals including spirits, restaurants, hospitality/travel, news, and consumer packaged goods. Along the way I’ve learned a few rules of thumb (often times the hard way) that I try to follow in my work:
Collaborate as closely as possible with the client.
They know their business better than I do.
Be open to good ideas coming from outside the creative team.
In the end, all that matters is that the final product is as great as it can be.
Have a point of view.
My job is to provide extra value to the client, not to simply give them what they ask for.
Be a decent human being.
No disagreement is worth getting personal about. It’s only advertising, and in the end the work is better when people genuinely like and trust each other anyway.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Art Director
Wunderman Thompson
(Current Employer)
Starting as a long-term freelancer, and then as full time employee, I have been working on a variety of B2B & B2C demand gen campaigns for Dell.
Freelance Senior Art Director & Designer
Austin, TX
(Aug. 2018 - Aug. 2019)
Projects included:
One World Observatory – Branding updates
GSD&M – Popeyes social content concepts
data.world – Training materials design
Buzz Angle Music – Annual report design
Senior Art Director / Designer
Our Man In Havana, NYC
(Sept. 2014 - Jun. 2018)
As part of the core creative team reporting directly to the ECD, I helped shepherd a wide variety advertising and design projects from initial concept to final production, was instrumental in winning several new business pitches, and helped Hyatt hotels launch their fastest growing brand. Clients included USA Today, Pyure Organic Stevia, Nando’s Peri Peri, Rémy Martin and Univision.
Freelance Art Director / Designer
Grey Group, NYC
(June. 2014 - Aug. 2014)
Developed creative and on-brand tactical executions and collateral which aided in the successful launch of a new pharmaceutical product for the Eli Lily brand.
Freelance Art Director
McGarryBowen, NYC
(Apr. 2014 - Jun. 2014)
Concepted and executed B2B and B2C social media content for Verizon Wireless, which helped the brand increase engagement and grow their follower base.
Freelance Designer
Stag & Hare, NYC
(Oct. 2013 - Apr. 2014)
Assisted in redefining and expanding visual identity systems for clients such as Aaron’s Rental, Max Brenner Chocolate, and Coca-Cola Freestyle, enabling them to tell more engaging brand stories.
EDUCATION
Southern Methodist University
MA - Creative Advertising
(2011 - 2013)
University of Puget Sound
BA - Asian Studies
(2001 - 2005)
HARD SKILLS
Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD)
Presentation & deck-building
Producing production-ready deliverables (both print and digital)
Strong written communication
SOFT SKILLS
Big picture conceptual thinking as well as hands-on design chops (I can get in the weeds and work out the nitty gritty of the design)
Working collaboratively with writers, fellow designers, accounts, strategy, and CDs/ECDs
Communicating with and managing outside vendors (web developers, animators, printers, photo & video editors, and freelance design staff)
Mentoring junior creatives
MEDIA
I have experience concepting and designing for:
360º advertising campaigns
Branding design projects
Packaging design
Websites
Social media
Digital video
Digital banners (both DCO and old school)
Actual banners
Print collateral
Emails
Out of home