Hello!
Visual communication has been my passion throughout my career. I am a highly creative, results-oriented graphic design professional with outstanding conceptual, design, project management, and client service skills.
  
I bring award-winning experience to the table – with a solid background in developing, designing, and implementing customer-focused marketing strategies and campaigns for print, online and multimedia applications.  

I am successful at creating deliverables that help clients reach their marketing and communication objectives... and exceed expectations. 

I have had the opportunity to focus on education, agribusiness, and real estate industries in depth, however, I am open and eager to learn new markets, products, and services and apply solid design skills to whatever projects I am assigned.  

Finally, I offer a great work ethic, can work independently or with a team, and welcome the opportunity to contribute to the marketing/communications goals of a great company or organization.

Thank you for your consideration.

Gayle Allston Resume

Art/Creative Direction | Graphic Design | Project Management

Qualifications Profile

Highly creative, results-oriented graphic design professional offering proven conceptual, design, project management, and customer service skills:

• Award-winning design experience - print, online, and multimedia applications
• Trade show/event promotion, related graphics, and coordination skills  
• Skilled illustrator
• Copy writing/editing
• Success in building/maintaining client, vendor, and media relationships
• Proven track record for managing multiple projects within budget and deadline perimeters

Professional Experience

11/2024 to 1/2025
Coordinator 2 - Graphic Design			      
Nutrition Services | Houston Independent School District 

Graphic design in support of HISD Nutrition Services programs, campaigns, and initiatives.

5/2023 to 11/2024
Program Manager, Recruitment & Retention			      
Human Resources | Houston Independent School District 

Supported the Talent Acquisition/Human Resources department of the nation's eighth largest K-12 school district with concepts and graphic solutions designed to elevate recruitment, pre-hire, onboarding, compensation, and retention efforts, including print deliverables, web graphics, digital and social media marketing, and high-level communications for leadership.

• Executed social media marketing campaigns for HR Talent Acquisition, including design of paid/sponsored advertisements generating increased attendance at hiring events and 125% more quality career applications for the 23-24 school year.

• Designed marketing, graphics and signage, and candidate handouts to help streamline operations and enhance the candidate experience at 2024 hiring events. 

12/2019 to 5/2023
Manager, Graphic Design | innovative Projects			
Office of Innovation | Houston Independent School District 

Developed concepts and graphic design solutions, and managed deliverables for numerous HISD departments, including College Readiness, Career Readiness, Postsecondary Programming, Innovative Projects, Community Partnerships, School Choice, Student Enrollment, Equity and Outreach, Counseling and Compliance, Development & Donor Relations, Volunteers in Public Schools, and more.

• Provided graphic support for the extraordinary efforts made to support students/staff with tools for virtual learning during the COVID pandemic.   

• Developed a visual identity and materials for the Summer Student Leadership program (student intern opportunities), Student Teacher Corps (in partnership with iEducate, leading to placement of 300+ high school and college students at 65 schools, supporting 2000 students), HISD Pride Summit (in support of LGBTQ+ students), Wraparound Services, mentoring programs for at-risk and special student groups, and more.

2/2016 to 12/2019
Senior Graphic Designer						
Printing Services | Houston Independent School District 

Resumed position with HISD to design high-quality, compelling deliverables, serving departments and schools of the nation's eighth largest K-12 school district.  Special focus on communication and training materials for HISD departments including External Funding, Finance, College Readiness, Strategy and Innovation, and more.

• Developed visual identity for Printing Services online storefront

• Worked closely with External Funding for several years to develop a series of annual training manuals for teachers and school administrators including handbooks for Summer School, Title 1, Private Non-profit Schools, and others.

• Worked closely with HISD Finance department to develop and maintain a visual identity for the annual HISD Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), including versions for TEA. Developed templates for Finance to follow when preparing content/ data for these publications.


7/2015 to 2/2016
Senior Graphic Design Specialist					
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation | Ardmore, Oklahoma 

Designed a variety of print materials and digital deliverables in support of the Foundation’s mission to advance agricultural science and practice.

• In 2016, I received the “Grand Award” for logo design of Noble’s “Science Summit” and “Achievement Award” for logo design of “Noble Foundation 70th Anniversary” from Oklahoma College Public Relations Association.

3/2012 to 7/2015
Senior Graphic Designer						
Printing Services | Houston Independent School District 

Developed concepts and graphic design of print and multi-media projects for HISD departments, events, schools, programs, and initiatives.

• Contributed to a number of HISD projects recognized for excellence by the printing industry, including First Place in Graphic Design at the ACUP (Association of College & University Printers) conference, April 2015, for design of the HISD Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

6/2011 to 2/2012
Graphic Designer							
Complete Printing and Publishing | Carthage, Texas

• Completed successful re-design of an in-house magazine, brought fresh design concepts to all print projects, including customer advertising.

10/2008 to 4/2011
Editorial Assistant/Advertising Coordinator			
Pond Boss Magazine | Sadler, Texas 

National magazine focused on management of private lakes and ponds.

• Improved magazine through design direction and elevated proofing.

• Successfully coordinated and promoted national conference/trade shows in 2009 and 2011, increased sponsorship and revenue from both events.

• Enhanced Pond Boss online presence. Organized structure and content for new magazine website, working closely with web developers.

4/1997 to 10/2008
Graphic Design/Marketing Consultant				
Allston Designworks (self-employed) | Colorado and Texas

Graphic design and marketing consultant. Focus on residential real estate marketing. 

• Successfully grew client base and positioned Allston Designworks as a source of choice for quality graphic design and marketing consultation.

1/2000 to 10/2000
Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer				
BSA Hospice | Amarillo, Texas

Marketing coordination, graphic design, fund raising event planning, donations, vendor relations, and volunteer coordination for hospital hospice.

• Increased community awareness of mission through enhanced marketing

1/1995 to 5/1996
Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer				
Micro Data Base Systems, Inc, | Lafayette, Indiana

Designed advertising, collateral materials, and in-house communication tools. Coordinated national trade shows in NYC, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto. Travel.

• Directed function/production of high-end 20’x20’ trade show booth.

6/1994 to 1/1995
Production Coordinator/Graphic Designer 			
Kappa Delta Pi | West Lafayette, Indiana

Honor society for educators. Production management, publication design.

• Developed policies/procedures for adding ads to in-house magazine.

6/1993 to 6/1994
Senior Art Director							
The Majestic Group | Indianapolis, Indiana

Full-service ad agency. Art direction for national agribusiness clients.

• Created compelling animal health campaigns for Elanco (Ely Lilly). 

6/1986 to 5/1993
Art Director/Graphic Designer					
McCormick Advertising | Amarillo, Texas

Agribusiness ad agency.  Art direction/design. Supervised staff.  Travel.

• Developed logo for beef industry – still being used today.
• Won many awards for contributions to local, regional, national projects.
• Contributed to animal health campaign that increased sales over 200%.

Technical Proficiency
Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat) 
Microsoft Office
Mac and PC/Windows

Education
Associate of Applied Arts, 1984 | Commercial Art in Advertising
Texas State Technical Institute | Amarillo, Texas
•	President’s Honor Roll   
•	Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges