Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Affiliations
Custom
Timeline
Generic

MICHELLE DEAN

LA

Summary

Art Director and Brand Marketer with 15 years of experience shaping lifestyle, wellness, and interiors brands through emotionally rich, highly crafted design. Adept at leading a brands visual language, seasonal campaign development, photo and video shoot direction, and cross-channel brand storytelling—from concept to execution. Strong background in composition, typography, styling, and brand identity systems. Known for building cohesive visual worlds that resonate deeply while driving engagement and growth across digital and physical touchpoints.

Work History

Senior Art Director

Design Warehouse
10.2019 - 11.2022
  • Led all creative initiatives for a high-end home and interiors brand, owning the visual language across seasonal campaigns, national ads, and digital platforms.
  • Directed shoots, and built systems to ensure cohesive storytelling at every customer touchpoint.

Key Contributions:

  • Developed and executed fully integrated seasonal campaigns that increased brand visibility and contributed to double-digit growth in both DTC and B2B channels.
  • Directed all photography and video production, including casting, styling, set design, and on-set art direction—resulting in a 35% boost in social engagement.
  • Built modular email, web, and paid media templates that improved production speed by 40% and created visual consistency across departments.
  • Managed and hired freelance designers, photographers, and stylists—scaling the creative team to meet seasonal demand and improving overall execution quality.
  • Partnered with marketing and merchandising teams to ensure creative assets directly supported product sell-through and aligned with launch timelines.
  • Made collateral to support various marketing campaigns and visually communicate concepts.

Head of Content & Strategy

Guild LA
01.2017 - 11.2022
  • Owned the full content brand marketing lifecycle for this fashion-forward retailer—merging strategy with storytelling to elevate the brand across e-commerce, email, and physical retail.

Key Contributions:

  • Directed and deployed bi-weekly email campaigns that led to a 40% increase in open rates and a significant improvement in click-throughs.
  • Created a unified cross-channel content calendar that increased customer engagement and improved storytelling across web, email, and social.
  • Produced and directed on-brand photoshoots that boosted conversion and brought creativity to visual merchandising.
  • Hired and managed freelance content creators, designers, and stylists to meet seasonal demands with creative excellence.
  • Aligned online campaigns with in-store promotions to create a seamless and elevated brand experience.
  • Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.

Marketing Coordinator

Diane von Furstenberg
  • Supported marketing activations, event branding, and seasonal storytelling through campaign visuals and experiential planning.

Ecomm Marketing Lead

Joanna August Bridal
01.2016 - 12.2018
  • Owned marketing content strategy and ecommerce optimization, leading efforts to align storytelling, design, and customer experience.
  • Key Contributions:
  • Led all product storytelling and merchandising across site, digital ads, and seasonal campaign assets.
  • Built and tested email marketing flows, increasing open rates and improving customer retention.
  • Directed brand photoshoots and styled product launches, boosting online conversion and increasing social shares.
  • Collaborated with influencers and media to extend brand reach and solidify authority in the wedding space.
  • Managed freelance designers, stylists, and editors to support key product drops and seasonal collection launches.

Creative Consultant & Brand Marketing Strategist

To Be Magnetic
02.2017 - 01.2019
  • Led brand storytelling, content creation, and strategic marketing for this global wellness brand focused on personal growth and manifestation.
  • Key Contributions:
  • Directed social and email campaigns that significantly boosted membership subscriptions and course enrollments.
  • Elevated brand consistency and storytelling across multiple digital touchpoints, helping to strengthen overall brand identity.
  • Collaborated closely with leadership and creative teams to develop launch strategies that expanded community engagement.
  • Managed a team of content creators, editors, and freelancers to scale production for monthly and seasonal campaigns.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Arts

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
08-2012

Skills

Art Direction & Visual Storytelling
Expert in crafting cohesive, emotionally resonant narratives that span print, digital, and experiential touchpoints—building brand recognition through high-impact visuals

Brand Identity & Positioning
Specialized in defining and evolving brand identities that align deeply with audience values and market trends, ensuring consistent and compelling positioning

Campaign Concepting & Execution
Strategic thinker with a flair for concept development—designing campaigns that feel fresh, editorially rich, and aligned with performance goals

Photoshoot Direction (Casting, Styling, Set Design)
Confident and collaborative on set, bringing creative vision to life through thoughtful casting, intentional styling, and direction that elevates every frame

Graphic Design & Editorial Layout
Skilled in typography, composition, and layout design for both print and digital—creating assets that communicate clearly while captivating visually

Creative Team Management
Experienced in hiring, mentoring, and leading teams of designers, stylists, and editors—fostering a collaborative culture rooted in excellence and trust

Email, Ecomm & Social Asset Design
Fluent in crafting scroll-stopping, conversion-friendly assets tailored for ecommerce, CRM, and social platforms—each optimized for brand expression and clarity

Creative Strategy & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Thrives in working across marketing, merchandising, and product to translate goals into powerful creative solutions that deliver results

Digital Marketing & Content Creation
Brings a data-conscious yet human-centered approach to content creation—connecting with audiences through storytelling and brand voice

Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom)
Advanced proficiency across core design tools, enabling fast, thoughtful execution from concept through delivery

Project Management (Asana, Trello, Notion)
Organized and proactive in leading timelines, briefs, and deliverables—keeping projects moving and teams aligned across departments

Brand Messaging & Development
A strong writer and editor who knows how to craft and evolve messaging that speaks directly to a brand’s audience and values

Content Strategy & Brand Voice Alignment
Bridges the gap between creative and editorial—shaping content frameworks that ensure every asset is on-brand, on-message, and on-time

Affiliations

  • Film Photograhy
  • Herbalism

Custom

  • What I Do Best
  • Craft Cohesive Visual Worlds: From moodboard to final layout, I translate abstract brand values into emotionally resonant, elevated creative across every touchpoint.
  • Lead with Vision & Precision: Whether directing a photoshoot or building a campaign rollout, I bring clarity, calm, and a discerning eye to every creative detail.
  • Marry Strategy with Soul: I balance data-informed marketing needs with storytelling and aesthetics—always designing for resonance, not just reach.
  • Build & Inspire Creative Teams: I nurture talent, give thoughtful feedback, and create systems that make the creative process smoother, smarter, and more joyful.
  • Design for Longevity: My work centers on timelessness over trend—developing visuals that age well and build lasting brand equity.

Timeline

Senior Art Director

Design Warehouse
10.2019 - 11.2022

Creative Consultant & Brand Marketing Strategist

To Be Magnetic
02.2017 - 01.2019

Head of Content & Strategy

Guild LA
01.2017 - 11.2022

Ecomm Marketing Lead

Joanna August Bridal
01.2016 - 12.2018

Bachelor of Arts - Arts

University of Arizona

Marketing Coordinator

Diane von Furstenberg
MICHELLE DEAN