About Me
As Creative Director I take pride in determining the best ways to visually represent a company’s identity. I have an extensive track record of building internal teams and working with external clients. My experience includes over a decade of leading diverse teams of designers, copywriters and project managers, mentoring and fostering their growth and development, ideating on high-level projects, and pitching and presenting the work to clients and senior leadership.
In addition to my current role, I have also worked as a CD for a global communications agency, on the client side for a major entertainment retailer, and worked as a design manager for a professional sports organization. My experience includes working for both large and small companies, and in several cities both nationally and globally. I am an energizing person, not only with my work but in my work ethic and style. I have the ability to draw people together to share in ideas so that they feel they own it together. I am proud of my work, but realize it really belongs to the client and the customer.
On a personal level, my interests include European travel and the study of art, design and history; coaching youth soccer, playing chess and staying fit.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
SheerID
2020 - Present
Sr Director, Brand and Creative
A player-coach who focuses on team leadership, brand strategy/stewardship, hands-on design and project management. Inspire and nurture a team of senior design and content experts, as well as outside contractors and agencies. Elevate and complement SheerID’s current in-house capabilities in delivering on-time, on-message creative while informing new and innovative ways to tell the SheerID story. Oversee creative for web, print, digital. Thought leader, functional designer and collaborative partner with Product and Content teams.
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Freelance: R\West
2019 - 2020
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Portland Creative Conference | Cre8con
2015 - Present
Creative Director
Creative lead of vision and brand for annual event held every September at The Armory Theater. Responsible for art direction and design of all conference initiatives ranging from print, presentation and digital materials. Pro bono.
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Opus Agency
2016 - 2019
Creative Director
Lead Opus creative team to develop amazing experiences that drive our clients’ brands and help develop big, smart, brand-focused ideas. Efficiently express those ideas across all media types – consumer, retail, live events, digital, film, video, social, mobile, and environmental. Pitch our work with intelligence and energy and be perceived as a thought leader to our clients, throughout Opus and in the creative community. Responsible for managing and mentoring the creative team.
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SRM
2015 - 2016
Creative Director & Brand Strategist
Lead a team of multidisciplinary graphic and web designers, and a project manager. Provide creative leadership, including oversight of project vision and design, contribution to client strategic brainstorming and planning, and ensure cross studio collaboration between designers, interior designers and architects. Ensure the quality of all deliverables coming out of the studio. Creation of annual business plan for the studio, maintain billable hour targets, and ensure all projects are on budget and schedule. Conduct annual review process with team members, and ensure opportunities for professional development and growth. Client engagement, contract execution and oversight. Lead new business development for the studio including identifying new business opportunities through networking, creating and delivering new client presentations, RFP responses/proposal preparation and community outreach. Participation in firm wide leadership efforts including annual team retreat, firm wide strategic planning, and weekly leadership meetings.
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Waggener Edstrom Communications
2010 - 2015
Creative Director
Lead a diverse team of multidisciplinary print, web and presentation designers, project managers, and copywriters. Mentor and foster their growth and development. Responsible for performance reviews and new hires. Manage multiple projects ranging from brand identity packages, to web, print and environmental design to data visualization and infographics. Maintain creative and quality control from concept through completion. Work strategically with internal Microsoft, Tech, Consumer, Social Innovation and Healthcare teams to generate ideas for pitches and proposals and present to clients and executive leadership. Extensive travel both nationally and globally to partner with regional account teams and clients.
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Hollywood Entertainment | Game Crazy
1998 - 2010
Creative Services Director 2004 - 2010
Art Director 2000 - 2004
Senior Designer 1998 - 2000
Responsible for all creative output, with oversight of the creative team and creative processes; Ideation, presentation and execution of branding and marketing communication campaigns; Art direction of promotional elements and ensuring in-store initiatives are effectively converted from print to web; Ensuring the professional development and readiness of the creative team, and self and staff development; Responsible for establishing and maintaining corporate brand identity for 1500 stores nationwide, including design of point-of-purchase, collateral, packaging, advertising, direct mail and corporate communications.
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Portland Trail Blazers
1997 - 1998
Design Manager
Graphic Designer for advertising campaigns, promotions and marketing materials for Trail Blazers and affiliated companies (Seahawks, PDX, Post Up Productions); Hire and direct contracted graphic designers, illustrators and photographers; Art direct and coordinate photo shoots including NBA game nights. Liaison with NBA Photos, edit all incoming film, including all game photography; Manage company photography budget including the purchase of film and equipment.
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Saatchi & Saatchi, various small ad and design firms, and a bit (actually, quite a lot) of world travel
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EDUCATION
University of Colorado at Boulder | BFA, with a minor in History
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
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SKILLS
Team Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Leadership Development, Creative Direction, Creative Strategy, Ideation, Graphic Design, Adobe Creative Suite, Brand Identity.
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CONTACT
email: Sunkingxiv@comcast.net
phone: 503.312.9234