EXPERIENCE

INFORMATION PROCESSSING CONSULTANT – GRAPHIC DESIGN | UW-Extension; Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning | Madison, WI | December 2011-present

Lead designer for multimedia design projects, with a wide range of skills to fulfill the Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning (CEOEL) division’s mission to provide system-wide leadership, advocacy, and support for non-traditional learners. Creating innovative ways for all learners to access and connect with the University of Wisconsin.

  • Strategic development of integrated marketing communications for Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning and partner campuses
  • Leadership of brainstorming meetings and design projects for concept development
  • Designing conversion-focused online materials based on data, analytics, business goals, brand standards and refining the design process as needed
  • Art direction, mentoring, and collaboration with copywriters, videographers, designers and developers
  • Brand development for existing and new Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning programs including writing and publishing a comprehensive brand standards website
  • Continually learning and implementing new technologies into creative for multimedia applications

GRAPHIC DESIGNER | UW-Extension; Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning | Madison, WI | January 2008-December 2011

Fulfilling the Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning (CEOEL) division’s mission to provide system-wide leadership, advocacy, and support for non-traditional learners, and to create innovative ways for all learners to access and connect with the University of Wisconsin. Designing multimedia communications to deliver the message of CEOEL, the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Idea.

  • Designing multimedia communications to deliver the message of the CEOEL, the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Idea.
  • Brand development of strategic marketing communications for Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning programs
  • Social media development of all divisional social media marketing, including writing policy and building an editorial calendar
  • Program/product development of Continuing Education, Outreach & E-Learning partner program offerings and design of business collateral, advertising, and websites
  • Advertising for all programs through statewide online and print media

FREELANCE COMMUNICATIONS DESIGNER | Pixelzz Design, LLC | Madison, WI | July 2005-Present

Building a multi-disciplinary creative studio which focuses on branding, communications design, and digital media technology. Boutique services including custom illustration, infographics, lettering, and photography.

  • Consultation for online communications and marketing interactive design projects creating sitemaps, process flows, sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and live designs
  • Creating visual stories through the use of infographics

Clients have included Max Communications Public Relations, Charming Shops – Sonsi, Orchard Brands, The Swiss Colony, Chasing Fireflies, Fair Indigo, Freedy Johnston, and Greener World Solutions

GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Walnut Hollow®  | Dodgeville, WI | January 2007-January 2008

Working in the Corporate Marketing department to design and implement all in-house creative of advertising, marketing, public relations, product development, internet and sales materials. Collaborating with Product Development and Manufacturing Vendors to create effective product packaging programs. Creating project programs and collaborating with hardware, craft/specialty, and mass market retailers to effectively manage product placement.

  • Interaction Design of the Walnut Hollow online presence from a static HTML site to a fully functional e-commerce CMS
  • Corporate identity design involving various brands and target markets, including product packaging, signing, and crafting booklets for Walnut Hollow merchandise at major retailers
  • Advertising media design for trade and consumer magazines
  • Project management of all design projects from concept to final delivery

GRAPHIC DESIGNER/MARKETING SPECIALIST | Stardust Corporation | Verona, WI | March 2005—March 2006

Working in the Corporate Marketing and Advertising department in the development of in house-creative, taking on all marketing projects to create a consistent look and feel for the Stardust brand identity. Supporting all areas of corporate marketing and advertising.

  • Planning, design, and implementation of catalogs, advertising, catalog inserts, online catalogs, E-mail alerts, direct mail, and promotional materials
  • Developed graphic standards and created an overall corporate brand identity
  • Developed prospecting direct mail for potential customer base
  • Provide in house creative for marketing department, from developing concept, photoshoots, art direction of freelance contractors, design, layout, copywriting,and production/prepress
  • Planning and direction of photo shoots, editing of final image selects
  • Project specification and print and media buying
  • Quality assurance by reviewing color and attending press checks on print materials
  • Developed promotional programs in collaboration with sales staff

INTEGRATED CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT – GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Lands’ End |
Dodgeville, WI | September 2002­­—March 2005

Working within the Lands’ End internal agency on creative development and branding projects, all Sears Media, Style Guides, Look Books, and Advertising/Public Relations. Daily responsibilities including:

  • Assisting Creative Directors in brand development maintaining the overall look of the Lands’ End image
  • Designing packaging, weekly preprints, retail signage, look books, gift guides, press kits and many other items involving branding of the Lands’ End identity
  • Redesigned all corporate collateral, packaging, and labeling
  • Learning from Creative Directors and taking direction in their vision of copy and art. Additional collaboration with copywriters and other designers across other teams
  • Support of the Lands’ End Executive team in high-level projects
  • Working with print and color vendors to accurately develop all publications; with color reviews, quality assurance, and press checks
  • Editing of film and digital images from photo shoots

EDUCATION

FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY | Columbus, OH

Bachelor of Science Degree in Digital Communication – Concentration in e-Marketing; Studies included Graphic Design, Management Information Systems, Internet Marketing, e-Commerce, Marketing Behavior, Marketing Research, Systems Design, Systems Analysis, Visual Basic, Accounting, Web Design, HTML, Java Script, DHTML, CSS, and Web Site Development.

MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | Madison, WI

Associate Degree in Applied Arts – Commercial Art; Studies included Graphic Design, Typography, Photography, Illustration, Typesetting,Publication Design, Communications, Economics, and other required classes for the Commercial Art degree.

CERTIFICATIONS

KNIGHT CENTER FOR JOURNALISM IN THE AMERICAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | Austin, TX |Introduction to News Design, Introduction to Infographics, and Data Visualization & Data Visualization and Infographics with D3.JS

SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | Fennimore, WI | Embroidery Design

MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | Madison, WI | Website Development

Additional professional development certifications available on the Professional Development page.

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY & SKILLS

Extensive experience working with both Mac OS X and Adobe Creative Cloud desktop and mobile applications. Adapts easily to new technologies and seeks out new technologies, evaluating and impletmenting into daily workflow. Experienced with the following software and web-based applications:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe In Design
  • Adobe Experience Design
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Omnigraffle Pro
  • Sketch
  • ProCreate
  • UXPin
  • WordPress
  • Unbounce
  • Basecamp
  • Google Drive
  • Slack
  • Trello
  • Microsoft Office

Notable skills relevant to current creative needs:

  • Web Design
  • Infographics
  • Art Direction
  • Brand Development
  • Storyboarding
  • Animation
  • Illustration
  • Creative Brainstorming
  • Videography
  • Typography
  • UX/UI Design
  • Project Management
  • Wireframing
  • Sitemapping
  • Card Sorting
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Diagramming
  • Concept Modeling
  • Social Media
  • Strategy Development

AWARDS

2017 Award winner for UPCEA marketing awards (gold)

2016 Award winner for UPCEA marketing awards (bronze)

2015 Award winner for UPCEA marketing awards (gold and silver)

2014 Award winner for UPCEA marketing awards (gold and silver)

2011 Award winner for UPCEA marketing awards (gold, silver and bronze)

2010 Award winner for UCEA marketing awards (gold)

2009 Award winner for UCEA marketing awards (gold and silver)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS 

Design Madison (former education chair and secretary)

Interaction Design Foundation – Member