Highly experienced Senior Graphic Designer/Art Director passionate about design, concepts, communications, and branding with focus on packaging, all aspects of print media and advertising, identity and brand-building in both print and digital formats. I have worked with both consumer-direct and B-to-B environments, with much experience with CPG.

Excelling in cross-functional team environments, I have been responsible for the concept, development and production of packaging, print collateral, advertising, POS displays, web graphics and digital assets, logos, identity systems and brand development strategies.

Design and advertising experience has covered virtually every market, primarily on lifestyle products including; food & beverage, craft beer & wine, culinary & restaurant, health & beauty, sports & fitness, residential real estate, retail marketing & in-store graphics. I hold extensive experience in craft beer, confectionary, children's educational toys and residential/mixed use real estate markets.

Also hold working knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] and have the ability, technical experience and expertise to readily understand, interpret and integrate the applicable regulations to design. Experienced in directly dealing with federal and state regulatory agencies in regards to consumer packaged goods and printed collateral.

I work client-direct and as a freelancer for both in-house design departments and agencies, either on-site or remote. All long- and short-term work assignments as well as single-project roles are welcome. I am also seeking a home in a full-time position.

PROFESSIONAL

Feb. 2001-Present - Freelance Senior Graphic Designer/Art Director
Responsible for the concept, development and production of identity systems, brand development, print and digital media, packaging, POS displays, catalog design, advertising, creating digital assets for websites, social media and other online media. 

Other responsibilities Include; networking, client meetings and presentations, developing proposals/estimates, budgets, bookkeeping, invoicing, printer and vendor sourcing and relations. Experienced in offset litho, flexographic, rotogravure, letterpress, digital and pad printing processes and proper file setup.

Clients include; Kohl's, Briggs & Stratton, BMG Music, Monster Cable, Kawasaki, 24 Hour Fitness, Star Trac Fitness, Wella/Sebastian, Bare Escentuals, Sulzer Medica/Centerpulse, W Hotels/CB5 Restaurant Group, Lotus Bakeries (Anna's and Biscoff brands).

August 2021 - Feb. 2022 · Custom Finishes, Inc. · Senior Designer
Responsible for the concept and design of large format custom vehicle wraps and graphics, as well as in-store and business wall and window graphics. Also designed custom stickers for various companies for general use and promotion. Responsible for layout and production adjustments of client supplied files to prep for print.

Feb. 2019-July 2010  · Harken, Inc. · Graphic Designer
We did the fun stuff- (well, sort of). We made our ads, catalogs, store and trade show displays, brochures, packaging and web and social media presence look as good as our products perform. I am one of several gears in the creative team that works as hard as our equipment. We worked as a cross-functional team, sharing ideas and workload to bring the brand message forward while trying to have as much fun as possible. I always put in the extra effort to help keep important projects moving when other team members have their plates full, and am not afraid to take on new rolls in addition to my own to benefit the company and department. I put my foot forward to be an interim web/social content designer to develop web graphics, banner ads in addition to designing layouts and content in Adobe Spark and WordPress, plus designing emails in Constant Contact until a new web/social creative arrived.

Jan. 2018-June 2018 · Generac Power Systems · Graphic Designer
Responsible for the design and development of brochures, sell sheets, advertising, direct mail, signage, packaging and displays across Generac's wide range of residential and industrial products. Suppported PR, web, digital marketing and social media teams with the creation of design assets.

April 2017-Oct 2017 - Kohler Co., Global Power - Contract Graphic Designer
Responsible for the art direction of photography, design and development of print material, advertising, signage, displays, ads and social media digital assets for Kohler’s generator and engine businesses with a wide product range, tagrting both B2B and B2C. Created an integrated campaign for residential generators, centered around a user-centric website concept along with a direct mail and social media to drive consumers to the micro-site.

May 2005-Dec. 2014 - Ghirardelli Chocolate Company - Freelance Print & Packaging Designer, Image Retoucher
Working in a cross-functional team, I was responsible for the design and production of product packaging, POS displays, print collateral and catalogs, digital design for ads and social media, product/display renderings and complex photo retouching, image reconstruction and manipulation. Worked both on-site and remote. Designed the Intense Dark product line packaging - this became, and still remains, the number one seller of all Ghirardelli product categories.

Sep. 2011-Apr. 2012 - LeapFrog Enterprises - Senior Packaging Designer
Working as a full-time contractor, responsible for the execution and implementation of the rebranding for the entire line of hardware and software products for the LeapFrog reading system, including new and existing products for both domestic and international markets. Redesigned original supplied dieline for a new product, creating both a more aestheically pleasing/on-target package in addition to saving over $14K in production costs.

Oct. 2006-Aug. 2007 - Discovery Channel Stores - Packaging Designer
Managed, created and executed the design of product packaging and manuals through all phases, including; photography, structural design and creation of dielines, complex photo retouching and image manipulation, layout and pre-press. Head of project tracking and management of freelance designers. Was a key contributer on the team creating the development of a new packaging design and category identifier system for Discovery Kid's new line of RC toys.

Oct. 2005-Sep. 2006 - Discovery Channel Stores - Graphic Designer
Working with the Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams, developed, designed and produced signage for window, in-store experience and merchandise displays, also responsible for the design and production of promotional collateral and seasonal catalogs. 

April 2003-July 2004 - Bailey Gardiner, Inc. - Art Director
Responsible for the concept and execution of print and digital media, advertising and brand development for agency clients, as well as the management and creative overview of creative staff and freelancers. Clients include Shea Homes, Centex Homes & Destination Properties, Archstone Communities, Pueblo Bonita Resorts, The Burn Fitness, W Hotels and Stanford Hotel Group.

Sep. 1999-Feb. 2001 - JT Racing - Graphic Designer/Art Director
Worked with an in-house staff of designers and photographers—responsible for the advertising, packaging, POS displays, print collateral, catalog design and the brand development of JT’s paintball and motocross lines.

Oct. 1997-Mar. 1998 - Big Bang Idea Engineering - Graphic Designer/Production Artist
Designed print ads, packaging and collateral material for agency clients including Gold’s Gym, Polaris Pool Systems, Eagle Creek Travel Gear, Reebok­ and Taco Bell.

Before that, I used to fix nuclear reactors. Seriously.

MOTIVATIONAL

Published in:
Get Noticed! Self Promotions That Work 
Creative Edge: Letterhead and Business Card Design
Identity Solutions
Communication Arts Advertising Annual

San Diego Addys 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005

TECHNICAL

Educated at San Diego City College - Graphic Design and Illustration

Mac & PC Knowledge - Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, MS Office, MacOS

American Institute of Graphic Arts - Member 1996-2019, Volunteer 2007-2012