Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

PATRICK H. CONNER

Nehalem,OR

Summary

My passion lies in the creative process and constant curiosity for great design propels me as a forward-thinking, multi-disciplinary seasoned creative. Storytelling is my vehicle for transporting consumers and immersing them in an experiential moment. Retail is the muse and my superpower is bringing to life environments through my unique design sensibility and thought-provoking power of channeling amazing brands.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Design Director, NA Retail Brand Creative

NIKE
02.2017 - 11.2020


  • Directed the concept, design, and development of innovative and original retail environments and programs that reflected Nike's design ethos and improved the consumer retail experience.
  • Influential in overseeing design excellence from initial store designs to opening (new, renewal and relocation) & closing, all in tandem with cross-functional teams.
  • Energized a cross-functional design team by managing their workflows, project scopes, budgets, process, and expanding their knowledge of the brands marketing/ business strategic goals.
  • Coached, created opportunities for individual development, performance management, recognition and rewards. Fostered innovative thinking, collaboration, and teamwork.
  • Collaborated with the team to develop the right approach for each project, factoring in the needs of the Consumer, the Brand, business partners, and proformas.
  • Directed the design process for unique Wholesale projects (Nordstrom, Dicks Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, House of Hoops), working with external partners and vendors throughout the process, and preserved branding standards with assigned accounts.
  • Inspired and oversaw the Retail Story Team to create, refine, and execute forward-thinking graphic, environmental, digital, and immersive experiences that pushed creative boundaries and evolved the consumers journey.
  • Presented the studios work with leadership to gain appropriate input, ensure overall alignment, and effectively communicated back next steps to the design team.

Sr. Creative Director, Retail + Brand

Skagen Denmark
01.2014 - 02.2017


  • Developed seasonal creative direction for Skagen's Global Direct retail ecosystem, with online to offline connection.
  • Lead a team of brand merchants, product developers, retail designers, visual merchandisers, production, editorial, digital, and marketing partners to ensure project goals and priorities were aligned with Skagen's retail brand and business strategies.
  • Lead a seasonal brand design process of clear ideation, focusing on product, strategy, and story for all brand channels.
  • Successful track record of innovative use of emerging technology to build impactful environments, consumer engagements and interactions in support of the brand.
  • Designed innovative strategies to increase brand awareness for new product launches and reignited established platforms.
  • Inspired and developed innovative brand storytelling for seasonal product platforms and retail flows.
  • Maintained and curated the Skagen brand standards, personality, voice, and visual representation across all global retail, visual merchandising, digital marketing, email, web, social, direct, in-home campaigns, and visual consumer touch-points.
  • Successfully oversaw the deliverables, timelines, and budgets for the design and implementation of all retail environments and activations, globally.
  • Directed and styled seasonal photo shoots for print, digital, and social media, reviewing each element against appropriate product story, standards and brand expectations.
  • Collaborated directly with marketing and advertising teams to maintain brand consistency across all seasonal campaigns.
  • Developed visual standards and style guides for all product categories.
  • Researched emerging technologies and developed effective strategies for integration into existing platforms and campaigns.
  • Created briefs, rfp's, and coached external partners and agencies on all contract projects.

Sr. Design Director, Creative

Watch Station International
01.2011 - 01.2014


  • Directed an internal design team of architects, designers, stylists, visual merchandisers, graphic designers, social media experts, and web design team throughout all phases of the brand trajectory.
  • Specialized in the creative direction, art direction, and storytelling for design assets at both wholesale and retail, always ensuring the consumer is at the heart of the brand.
  • Collaborated and strategized with senior leadership to create, refine, and evolve consumer led retail moments by developing scalable, operationalized, highly functional, and brand appropriate design solutions.
  • generated and implemented new brand standards for global execution for all brand moments, ensuring consistency, scalability, and accuracy across all channels.
  • inspired our graphic design team to create a variety of brand and promotional assets intended to bring the WSI brand story to life in an efficient and aspirational way.
  • Oversaw the creative process, design collaboration, brand story-inception, and production for all WSI brand deliverables, globally.
  • Established and nurtured key marketing initiatives for global consumer standards, retail environments, wholesale franchise shops, seasonal calendars, paid advertising, product launches, brand asset creation, product marketing, website, packaging, and WSI visual identity.
  • Guided a diverse creative team to envision and execute original, creative, strategic concepts that led to the enhanced evolution of the WSI consumer and brand trajectory.
  • Coordinated with sales, merchandising and production to maximize the profitability of the product through value engineering and the development of special programs for key wholesalers.

Sr. Global Creative Director

Fossil Group
10.2005 - 01.2011


  • Design liaison to the executive team in order to gain support and alignment on all consumer led retail concepts, seasonal brand stories, brand initiatives, and immersive retail and wholesale environments, globally.
  • Key Influencer leading the team in the creative evolution and design execution process for all Creative Direction, Storytelling, Visual Merchandising, Retail Concepts, Graphic Identity, Storyboarding, Ideation, Graphic Design, Print, Environmental, Interactive, and Brand Experiences.
  • Set the creative direction for the accessory category and translated product stories at retail, wholesale, and digital that aligned with cross-channel marketing and visual initiatives.
  • Developed retail expansion plans by identifying and designing tiered retail and wholesale concept models to allow for positive growth within our b+m sector.
  • Led the executive team in the quick ideation for all fast paced, new flagship retail, or high-profile temporary brand installations, utilizing sketches and quick ideation sessions to expedite projects for original retail environments, displays, fixtures, or new consumer touch points for retail, brand, and wholesale shops.
  • Collaborated with internal and external teams to ensure the brand directive is met in store, product assortments are on schedule for certain flagship creative, traditional marketing collateral is on-time and installed at the appropriate time, visual merchandising documentation is complete and standards are at 100%
  • Successfully collaboratively between cross-functional global teams to ensure the "why" is understood, articulated, and communicated on any major roll-out from brand or retail.

Director of Creative

BKM
02.2000 - 10.2005


  • Managed the internal architecture, design, and creative marketing studio responsible for delivering inspiring planned corporate campuses and unique brand headquarter offices.
  • Identified and oversaw creative strategies that increased sales through utilizing internal capabilities, real-time design, technology integration, asset management, custom design, and quick-time manufacturing.
  • Presented design concepts and proposals to clients and was instrumental in the growth of new business, as well as, maintaining existing clients through providing consistent new design approaches to their business unit.
  • Conducted 1:1s and monthly dashboard reviews with the team to ensure effective design and business plan execution,
  • Delivered coaching and shared best practices; Maintained an active presence in regional markets to network, understand trends, advance, and communicate the firms capabilities to create preference, and ensure development of new business.
  • Lead key client design charette strategies with internal marketing counterpart and A+D Directors to support large corporate brands with planning, designing, and executing their new campus environments.
  • Nurtured and developed a positive, team-oriented design and sales environment, ensuring financial goals and deadlines were met, and in-line with the design ethos of the company.

Lead Studio Designer + Illustrator

MSD Air Interiors
08.1998 - 02.2000


  • Studio Design Lead that focused on the programming, conceptual design, schematics, budget management, installations and design implementation for private aircraft interiors and business jet centers.
  • Actively contributed to the production of major components of a thorough set of interior construction documents and final presentation collateral.
  • Fostered a productive partnership with the client and project delivery team through regular communication, collaboration, and weekly site visits.
  • Collaborated with the project teams serving as concept champions throughout the project.
  • Applied knowledge of construction methods and timelines for aircraft interior applications.
  • Maintained awareness of, and appropriately apply, new methodologies, practices, codes, and products.
  • Conducted field verification and site visits as needed.
  • Created all project renderings, digitally and by hand sketching, for clients presentations.

Education

Master of Arts - Education

George Fox University
Newberg, OR
02.2025

Bachelor of Arts - Art & Interior Design

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
06.1998

Skills

  • Team Supervision and Oversight
  • Concept Development
  • Design Briefings
  • Team Direction
  • Company Branding
  • Project Presentations
  • Design Implementation
  • Workflow Management
  • Visual Merchandising
  • Flagship Retail Concepts
  • Seasonal Story Development

Timeline

Design Director, NA Retail Brand Creative

NIKE
02.2017 - 11.2020

Sr. Creative Director, Retail + Brand

Skagen Denmark
01.2014 - 02.2017

Sr. Design Director, Creative

Watch Station International
01.2011 - 01.2014

Sr. Global Creative Director

Fossil Group
10.2005 - 01.2011

Director of Creative

BKM
02.2000 - 10.2005

Lead Studio Designer + Illustrator

MSD Air Interiors
08.1998 - 02.2000

Master of Arts - Education

George Fox University

Bachelor of Arts - Art & Interior Design

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY

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