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# Design & Creative Direction

Location United StatesDesired Salary 80 -  USD/hourlyWork preference Full Time, ContractLinks Joined5 Mar 2026Field / Industry Creative & Design

* SharePreferences:Status: Actively lookingRelocation: NoNotice Period: ImmediateSkill Assessments:This user has not passed any tests yet

Languages:  English -

Report
[Overview](#overview)

## About Me

I am an award-winning creative lead with a hands-on, buck-stops-here approach to building brand experiences. I specialize in solving real-world challenges through idea-led design, whether in experiential, retail, or digital environments. I believe craft is the first consumer take-away in the application of commercial design, and that strong ideas deserve strong execution. I am a procedural hawk who thrives on discovering efficient ways of working through complex projects, cumbersome deliverables, and new challenges.

I have a strong focus on developing young designers and art directors, helping to bring out their skills and grow their confidence through mentorship and structure. Over the years, I have led teams in creating head-turning brand experiences and content that engages consumers across multiple channels. My leadership style emphasizes clarity, consistency, and hands-on involvement to raise standards and deliver measurable impact.

My experience spans from leading design execution for retail and ecommerce projects to directing high-volume mechanical review cycles and digital routing. I have successfully managed and developed creative teams, including global art directors, and contributed to significant business growth through strategic client partnerships and innovative processes.

I am proficient in multidisciplinary design leadership and expert in Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Blender 3D, and other creative tools. I have a deep understanding of pre-press production, color theory, typesetting, and studio photography processes. Additionally, I am adept at integrating emerging technologies such as AI-enhanced workflow optimization and generative design applications to maintain a competitive advantage.

I am seeking to join a team where I can continue to create compelling brand experiences and mentor the next generation of designers, driving both creative excellence and business success.

## Skills

### [Collaboration](https://jobicy.com/talent/collaboration.md)[Microsoft Office](https://jobicy.com/talent/microsoft-office.md)[Team Leadership](https://jobicy.com/talent/team-leadership.md)[Strategic Thinking](https://jobicy.com/talent/strategic-thinking.md)[Social Media](https://jobicy.com/talent/social-media.md)[Graphic Design](https://jobicy.com/talent/graphic-design.md)[User Experience Design](https://jobicy.com/talent/user-experience-design.md)[Web Design](https://jobicy.com/talent/web-design.md)[Adobe Photoshop](https://jobicy.com/talent/adobe-photoshop.md)[Digital Design](https://jobicy.com/talent/digital-design.md)[Adobe Illustrator](https://jobicy.com/talent/adobe-illustrator.md)[Illustration](https://jobicy.com/talent/illustration.md)[Blender](https://jobicy.com/talent/blender.md)[Adobe Creative Cloud](https://jobicy.com/talent/adobe-creative-cloud.md)[Squarespace](https://jobicy.com/talent/squarespace.md)[2D Animation](https://jobicy.com/talent/2d-animation.md)

## Education

Kutztown University  June 2008  Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design

## Experience

Design Director – Freelance @ VML Commerce  April 2025 - Present Lead a team of 4 creatives developing consumer activation campaigns, brand experiences and seasonal design systems for Molson Coors and Nestle Waters. Sketching and refining functional display concepts, developing social content and on-prem branded premium tools. Leading design execution across retail and ecommerce focused projects.

Design Director @ TracyLocke  March 2015 - April 2025 Led experiential brand campaigns in the alcohol CPG space specializing in industrial design concepting and photoshoot direction. Created idea-led activations, consumer experiences, and digital toolkits, from seasonal pulses to full brand world rollouts, that delivered measurable impact. Managed and developed a five-person core team and oversaw a global team of art directors based in India. Helped grow a $6M RFP win into a $12M retainer over five years. Co-developed the agency’s internal photoshoot sell-in process, now a seven-figure revenue stream. Directed high-volume mechanical review cycles and digital routing. Enforced consistency and raised standards through procedural clarity and hands-on leadership.

Sr Art Director @ Alcone (The Marketing Arm)  May 2013 - March 2015 Created activation campaigns for personal care, beauty (Unilever), and OTC pharma brands. Designed for shopper programs, sampling, pop-ups, and guerrilla events. Brought brands to life through tactile, high-impact physical spaces. Adapted creative across retail and live environments. Mentored junior designers and improved team output with a focus on structure and creative integrity.

Art Director @ Match Marketing (Public Label)  Aug 2010 - May 2013 Developed shopper marketing campaigns for alcohol, CPG, and OTC pharma. Designed POS and on-premise materials for grocery, liquor, and hospitality channels. Adapted campaigns for compliance and market-specific execution. Led production and cross-functional collaboration on channel-specific promotions.