COMPASS TO BLISS CREATIVE

March 2020—Present

 

Principal Owner + Chief Creative Officer

Small business owner of Compass to Bliss LLC, a design agency focused on finding opportunities to ignite growth, inspiration and improvement through a creative lens. Compass to Bliss is the catalyst that manifests newly hatched strategies and beautifully inspired design solutions. By providing the compass that leads to thoughtful, engaging experiences, we help to connect our customers to their consumers, elevating their brand. Providing expertise in the realm of graphic design, web/digital design, brand strategy and photography. Learn more about the business at www.compass2bliss.com

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PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT

2015—February 2020

 

Senior Art Director 

• Manage, develop and implement creative strategies and innovative design solutions for Internal, B2B and B2C markets. 

• Develop consumer-centric campaigns and experiences which elevate the business and drive their position as a leader within the industry. 

• Help to manage workload within the department; ensuring deliverables are met with accuracy, precision timing and within brand guidelines. 

• Inspire, lead and mentor others in design thinking, creative expertise, technical skill set and professional development. 

• Facilitate design thinking workshops that produce successful, human-centered results. 

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VICTORINOX SWISS ARMY, INC.

2010—2015

 

Graphic Design Manager

• Manage the design and work-flow for web and print related projects within the creative department. Ensure consistency of brand voice, visual language and messaging across all channels within the North American marketplace.

• Plan, direct and facilitate in-studio and on-location photo shoots. Manage timelines, locations, photographers, products, producers, stylists, make-up artists and models. 

• Develop brand and style guides to create a consistent presence across all web and email touch-points. 

• Drive the creative direction and global development of the new e-commerce website and digital consumer platform.

 

Senior Graphic Designer & Web

• Create inspired designs which improve the aesthetic across print, digital, trade shows, advertising, branding and packaging for all five product categories. 

• Help to manage and maintain relationships with third party vendors, including: printers, photographers, freelance writers and web developers.

• Discover and develop best practices for web and implement processes to improve overall project outcomes and efficiencies.

• Mentor, inspire and teach others through the implementation of Creative Light Box Sessions to help educate and inspire others within the company.

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OTHER DESIGN EXPERIENCE

Karen M. Butler Designs, Principal (2005—March 2020)

Beekley Corporation, Graphic Designer (2007—2008)
Urban Behavior, Graphic Designer (2006—2007)
Lewtan Industries, Graphic Designer & Department Manager (2005—2006)

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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

AIGA Connecticut | American Institute of Graphic Arts

• President (2016—2018)

• Director of Membership (2015)

• Communications Chair (2014)

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SKILLS

Adobe CC

• InDesign

• Photoshop

• Illustrator

• Dreamweaver

• XD

• Lightroom

• Premier Rush

Invision

Microsoft Office

HTML

Workfront

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SPECIALTIES

Creative Direction

Art Direction

Print Design

Digital Design 

Experience Design
Design Thinking
Facilitation
Page Layout

Branding

Illustration

Packaging
Photography

Prototyping

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