CAREER SUMMARY

A highly skilled, design obsessed, multidisciplinary designer specializing in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, and Branded Environments. Experience in industries such as sporting goods, interior design, food & beverage, and consumer packaged goods, working on top brands such as Wilson Sporting Goods, Disney/Pixar, Chuggington, Pretzel Crisps, Brach’s, Now & Later, AutoLite, Hershey’s Kisses, Bud Light, MillerCoors, and more. Develop and maintain relationships with key clients while delivering the highest quality products and services.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Branding & Identity · Branded Environments · Packaging Design · Print Production · Logo Design · Typography · Product Design · Creative Strategy · Creative Development · Concept Development · Marketing Campaign Design · 3D Mockups · Exhibit Design · Design Management · Art Direction

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Compass Group, Chicago, IL 04/2024 – Present
Senior Graphic Designer

• Conceptualize and execute custom, branded, in-person experiences highlighting the bespoke capabilities of Compass Group and its subdivision, Levy Restaurants

• Design branded, long-format proposals including infographics, food menus, sub-brand identities, mood boards, product mockups, and more for national and international sports, cultural, and entertainment venues

Wilson Sporting Goods, Chicago, IL 04/2013 – 11/2023
Global Graphic Designer

Acted as Senior Designer and Senior Packaging Designer. Expertise in premium packaging, branded environments, campaigns, exhibit design, product catalogs, photography, and product design.

Senior Graphic Designer & Senior Packaging Designer 03/2020 – 11/2023

• Led key projects with a high level of autonomy across a variety of responsibilities, including research, brainstorming, design, presentations to stakeholders, print production, and vendor management.

• Designed Wilson’s premium golf ball family visual communication system spanning several sub-brands.

• Managed the design of complete golf sets, covering bag geometry, club design, shaft graphics, logo design and/or refinement, color way exploration, finish and material choices, and packaging design.

• Designed high-priority marketing campaigns, participating in research, applying strategic thinking, contributing to critiques and brainstorms, and creating product and tech logos and graphics. Developed initial sketches and concept layouts, refined in-progress layouts, and produced posters, in-store displays, web banners, and collateral.

• Taught designers advanced printing techniques and print production.

• Created high-resolution, digital 3D mockups for stakeholder reviews and critiques.

Graphic Designer 06/2017 – 03/2020

• Acted as design lead for PGA show across multiple years, handling 90 percent or more of the design work. Led, and participated in, directional brainstorms, planning sessions, digital mockups, stakeholder buy-in, and product merchandising. Managed all production work for handoff to exhibit vendors which required a solid understanding of construction documents.

• Acted as the Art Director and Photography Assistant, as needed, for both in-studio and real-world photo shoots.

• Utilized advanced techniques in production such as metallic poly board, matte metallic, matte hybrid metal texture, spot and gloss finishes, embossed and debossed elements, and custom window die cuts.

• Onboarded new designers.

Contract Graphic Designer (Full-Time) 04/2013 – 06/2017

• Designed in-store POP displays, posters, and customized in-store installations for brick-and-mortar golf shops. Offered different design solutions for different budgets.

• Led logo design for several projects.

• Designed product catalogs overseeing overall layout, asset and copy collection & creation, stakeholder reviews, and pre-press production. Included three versions for various global markets.

• Acted as the go-to person for file-optimization ensuring project quality, efficiency, and accuracy.

Marquardt+, Chicago, IL 12/2014 – 06/2015
Communications Director: Graphic Design and Branded Environments

Lead graphics and managed graphic design and environmental design projects for both internal and external clients.

• Acted as the Lead Graphic Designer for Dupont Surfaces (Corian & Zodiac) exhibit which was the Winner of Best in Show - Small Exhibit at NeoCon. Work included graphics, layout, and logistics.

• Designed graphics for Okamura’s Merchandise Mart showroom refresh including wall graphics, 3D fabricated signage, floral research & design, and abstract conference room artwork.

• Assisted with the installation, merchandising, and lighting of spaces.

• Designed comprehensive new Tribeca Flashpoint College marketing campaign including new curriculum grids, subway ads, and business cards.

ViroDesignLab, Chicago, IL 08/2011 – 09/2014
Senior Graphic Designer and Packaging Designer

Conceptualized and executed start up brands, including services such as packaging, exhibit, brand identity, brand strategy, and website design.

• Maintained existing packaging and created new packaging for the start-up brand of Zico Coconut Water. At that time, Zico began to be internationally distributed by the Coca-Cola company which required additional oversight, rules, and regulations and a keen attention to detail.

• Led the design efforts for Woats oat snack's start-up brand, overseeing the complete conceptualization. Responsibilities included naming, copywriting, logo design, packaging design, branded collateral, exhibit design, product photography, and web design. Attended the California premiere, managing the setup and operation of the snack and exhibit.

• Created graphics for GGI’s custom NeoCon exhibit which incorporated product displays, storage, and various spaces for engaging in creative conversations with GGI representatives.

• Designed custom apparel for Pretzel Crisps special edition “Bold & Spicy” product line.

Creative Go-Round, Jr. Design Director, Chicago, IL 07/2011 – 05/2012

• Taught college students how to apply their design training to real-world projects by leading individual and group critiques, brainstorms, and reviews.

Skyline Exhibits Metro Chicago, Exhibit Designer, Chicago, IL 09/2010 – 12/2010

PROGRAM SPECIALIZATIONS

• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop

• Package Rendering with Origami and KeyShot

• 3D Modeling with SketchUp.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communication Design, Concentration in Branding,
Harrington College of Design, Chicago, IL, Graduated with High Honors

Associate of Applied Arts, Graphic Design,
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI, Summa Cum Laude