Experience:

2008 - present: Animal Adventure LLC. - Design Director  

At Animal Adventure we're simply wild for style. We create high-quality, original plush products that parents trust and that make kids around the world smile. We also believe passionately that smart design and good taste don't have to cost more. Our products are both fashionably hip and timelessly classic, and always the right price for your retail market. 

Clients Include but are not limited to:

• Target • Walmart • Amazon • K-Mart • Kohl’s • Hershey’s • M&M’s World • Macy’s • Shopko • Ghiradelli • Menards • Claire's • CVS • Sam’s Club • Costco • Super Value • Dillard’s • Hezlberg Diamonds and many more

2013 - present: Design Director

Design Director responsibilities include:

• Manage, motivate and mentor internal design team

• Provide conceptual creative leadership in order to maintain company visual brand integrity

• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings with cross functional teams

• Accountable for the creative interpretation/ visual personality of all lines in the company’s portfolio     

• Responsible for design trend research and assessment – as well as the practical implementation of relevant research into Animal Adventure’s product mix

• Manage all aspects of the Company’s external relations with design resources, freelancers and suppliers relative to all Design Department activities

• Recruit and develop the creative talent required to support the company’s creative needs and objectives

• Facilitate ongoing creative brainstorming sessions with Design team to support new product development initiatives

• Maintain and update a database of active projects in the design pipeline

• Work with Sales team as the internal creative lead for all key account custom projects/programs

• Domestic and international travel for market research 

2012 - 2013: Senior Designer   

Senior Designer responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with internal departments to design products that take into consideration the needs of the customer

• Contribute to the overall development and work with the design team to ensure all product deadlines are met

• Research ideas, concepts, colors and trends that achieve overall product strategy and customer objectives

• Assist in the development of product and seasonal trends, directions, themes, concepts, color, fabric, and styling and/or form function

• Create technical product specifications and clearly communicate them to international and domestic suppliers

• Conduct timely sample evaluations and ensure all products meet the specifications, quality and expectations of the customer

• Stay abreast of market trends through regular competitive shopping and other resources to identify recurring trends in order to ensure we are developing product to support our customer’s merchandising strategies

2008 - 2012: Designer  

Designer responsibilities include:

• Identify, conceptualize and design assigned soft toy products that support growth strategies for new and existing product lines and maintain integrity of the Animal Adventure brand

• Assist in the presentation of conceptual designs and other supporting materials to Design, Marketing, and Management

• Create technical product specifications and clearly communicate them to international and domestic suppliers

• Research ideas, concepts, colors and trends that achieve overall product strategy and customer objectives

Additional Experience - Freelance

Product Design: 2016 DryeSupply LLC

• Conceptualized and illustrated product visuals

• Created factory product specifications

Illustrator: 2014 Constantine TV Series NBC

•  Conceptualize and execute 65+ fine art illustrations to be used on the “Constantine” TV Series produced by the National Broadcasting Company

Graphic Designer: 2012 - 2013 The Cash Creators

• Corporate Identity Design Including: Logo Design, Web Banner Design, Web Icon Design  

Graphic Designer: 2010 - 2011 We Pay More Pawn

• Corporate Identity Design Including: Logo Design, 3D Business Model  

• Product/ Advertising Design Including: Banners, Signs, Flyers

Graphic Designer: 2007 - 2009 Dry Drivers

• Corporate Identity Design Including: Logo Design, Website Header, Website Spot Illustrations

• Product/ Advertising Design Including: Posters, Coasters, Magnets, Table Tents, Promotions

EDUCATION: 2007 Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Bachelor of Science: Comic Design

SKILLS: COMPUTER

Adobe Creative Cloud

        • Photoshop • Illustrator • Indesign • Bridge

Microsoft Office

        • Word • Excel • Power Point • Outlook • Entourage

Skills: ARTISTIC

Illustration

        • Traditional Illustration • Digital Illustration • Comic Illustration

Conceptual Designs

        • Product Design • Packaging Design

Painting/ Drawing Mediums

        • Oil • Acrylic • Water Color • Digital • Graphite • Ink • Charcoal • Pastel