My Passion
I am a big-picture person! My natural ability is to dig deep to understand a client’s unique needs. I have a drive for teasing out THE most important message to craft a campaign to elevate the message, promote the brand, and present engaging visuals that engage audiences.
I offer rich experience and expertise in navigating and contributing to the entire design process. I enjoy being an integral part of a creative team and working with fellow creatives and stakeholders from discovery, project planning, collaboration, concept, and design to delivering projects that achieve results.
Skills & Abilities
Creative/Art Direction
•Participate in client discovery meetings and facilitate brainstorming sessions
•Direct concept development, copywriting, and design work for print and web
•Vet and assign freelance resources
•Promote collaboration and teamwork
•Maintain quality of creative product and ensure it is delivered on time and within budget
•Research current trends and technology
Design
•Implement Design Thinking and Agile Workflow
•Creative concept and design production with targeted messaging
•Develop branding with a coordinated look and feel across several media types
•Direct photography, illustration, and video vendors
•Storyboard, write, film, and edit videos for web and social media
•Write project specs and work with vendors to produce a quality end product
UI/UX
•Systematic sitemap and wireframe development
•Responsive prototypes designed with mobile considerations and best practices
•Integrated useability and accessibility best practices
•Expertly optimized asset export and management
•Experienced in WordPress, Craft, October, and Shopify content management systems
•Basic HTML and CSS knowledge
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, Acrobat
•Microsoft Office: Word, Powerpoint, Excel
•Presentation: Prezi, Loom, WriteMaps
•Productivity: Miro, Slack, Trello, Filecamp, Airtable
•Interpersonal Communications: Crucial Conversations, What the Heck is EOS?, Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, Start With Why
Employment History
Hauschild Design, Kalamazoo, MI — Owner/Art Director: 2012 - Present
•Maximize marketing budgets by defining needs, iterating concepts, prototyping solutions, and testing results to create effective communication strategies for both B-to-B and B-to-C clients
•Expertly craft marketing tools that enhance business objectives clearly and creatively such as identity, websites, collateral, direct mail, interior and exterior signage, presentations, forms, and more
•Seamlessly coordinates with photographers, programmers, copywriters, social media managers, and printers to craft a superior product
•Researches and vets vendors, manages production, and provides expertise that saves time and money.
LKF Marketing, Kalamazoo, MI — Creative Director: 2016 - 2023
•Collaborated with more than 30 clients, nine account executives and managers, and seven creative teammates using Design Thinking and Agile Methodology that exceeded expectations
•Developed and refined agency-wide work-flow and processes, served on the leadership team to plan and advise firm growth
•Art directed and concepted high-quality design work for both B-to-B and B-to-C clients including branding, print and digital advertising, websites, videos, apps, tradeshows, and more
LKF Marketing, Kalamazoo, MI — Associate Creative Director: 2007 - 2012
•Collaborated with three account executives and fellow creative teammates to align client objectives with strategic planning under a cohesive brand system
•Art-directed and concepted high-quality design work that exceeded expectations for both B-to-B and B-to-C clients including branding, print and digital advertising, websites, videos, presentations, tradeshows, and more
•Led production meetings to coordinate workflow with both internal staff and external vendors, and formalized the design and print production processes
•Art-directed and concepted high-quality design work that exceeded expectations for both B-to-B and B-to-C clients including branding, print and digital advertising, websites, videos, presentations, tradeshows, and more
•Led production meetings to coordinate workflow with both internal staff and external vendors, and formalized the design and print production processes
LKF Marketing, Kalamazoo, MI — Senior Graphic Designer/Graphic Designer: 1993 - 2007
•Ideated concepts and design with a focus on effective messaging for various media, including; identity, websites, collateral, direct mail, interior and exterior signage, packaging, outdoor, trade shows, presentations, video, and more
•Art-directed photography, illustration, writers, and print vendors to bring a concept to life
•Expert in photo manipulation, asset management, and file prep for pre-press production
•Served as liaison between contracted network administrator for in-house information systems management, workstation/software upgrades, and general troubleshooting for PC and MAC
Associated Design Services, Portage, MI — Production Artist/Graphic Artist: 1991 - 1993
•Assisted Art Directors with concept and design from pencil roughs through final art on mechanical keylines
•Developed a system for producing electronic art files as well as an asset management protocol
•Initiated, designed, and maintained a file backup system
•Managed art department supply inventory control
Education
•Central Michigan University, MI — Bachelor of Arts: Graphic Design/Industrial Engineering
•Kalamazoo Valley Community College, MI — Business Management Coursework
Community Service
•Children’s Nature Playscape, Kalamazoo, MI — Communications Committee: 2021-present
•Kalamazoo Kiwanis Club, Kalamazoo, MI — Served on various committees, Board of Directors, and as President winning a distinguished president award: 1998-present
•Constance Brown Hearing Center, Kalamazoo, MI — Fund Raising Committee: 2011-2017
•Kalamazoo in Bloom, Kalamazoo, MI — Board of Directors and volunteer gardener: 2004-2005
•MSUE Master Gardener Program, Kalamazoo, MI — Volunteer: 2002-2003