Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Jewelry Design, Watercolors, Illustration & Oil Painting
Timeline
BusinessAnalyst
THERESA WENDT

THERESA WENDT

Kalamazoo,MI

Summary

Deadline-driven Graphic Designer focused on overseeing projects from concept through final delivery. Successfully creates brand messages, strategies and key graphic productions. Resourceful and hardworking life-long student, passionate about CPG and digital design and empowering leadership skills illustrated over 20 years of industry success.

Overview

20
20
years of professional experience

Work History

Graphic Designer

Newell Brands
07.2021 - 02.2023
  • Created visual solutions for variety of brands under Newell umbrella: Yankee Candle, Bubba, Contigo, Berol, Paper Mate, Coleman,
  • Sharpie, Parker and Prismacolor
  • Researched and presented trend recommendations for decorative patterns for drinkware products to refresh product and promote new sales
  • Participated in collaborative design sprints to provide wide variety of concepts in short amount of time that were then culled down and developed into viable designs for products, packaging, window displays, in-store signage, mini-catalogs & promotional mailings
  • Developed mascot (illustration) and packaging for Latin American kids’ brand, Berol Recreo colored pencils; Brand Team was delighted with result and sales improved
  • Taught classes online for Staples and Michaels demonstrating products and usage techniques; received student rating of 4.75 out of 5.

Art Director

Polyform Products
10.2009 - 02.2019
  • Sole in-house graphics support person
  • Provide all graphics development and direction
  • Juggle multitude of design projects between myself and outside resources in very fast-paced and demanding manufacturing environment
  • Developed and led offsite freelance staff to assist with workload while reducing spend by 50%
  • Established standards of project turnover and process to ensure efficiency and consistency
  • Established standardized naming and filing conventions to ensure proper file maintenance, efficiency, organization and accuracy
  • Researched and provided competitive analyses to support design direction
  • Presented findings to sales staff and senior management to give design recommendations
  • Provide conceptual design & mockups for entire lines of new products for sales pitches to companies such as Target, Michael’s and
  • Walmart increasing market presence and shelf space
  • Designed and executed microsite for children's brand, Pluffy and illustrated downloadable project sheets and games/puzzles in addition to updating design theme quarterly
  • Increased Brand interaction and visibility in market
  • Proposed rolling change to bring sub-brands into clearer more consistent branding hierarchy, recognizing Sculpey as umbrella brand
  • Provided sketches/concepts for photo shoots, attending as needed
  • Attend press checks regularly to ensure quality and consistency of packaging
  • Participated and contributed to New Product Development; as expert user of product, provided regular recommendations for products and competitive research
  • Provided designs and worked with Industrial Designers to make product designs executable from manufacturing standpoint
  • Designed & executed email blasts via Mailchimp as well as Social Media ads for Facebook and Instagram
  • Researched industry trends and evaluated competitive pieces to enhance creativity and gather fresh ideas

Art Director

Norton Rubble & Mertz
09.2008 - 10.2009
  • Provide design solutions in very fast-paced, small, full-service agency
  • Provide both hand-drawn and computer generated illustrations as needed for sales-aids, storyboards and concept presentations
  • Clients include Crown Imports LLC/Corona Beer, CIBA VISION, James
  • Hardie, Ferrara Pan Candy Company, Chicago Brick Oven, McKesson and Carstens.

Senior Graphic Designer

Sanford Corporation
10.2002 - 06.2008
  • Provided effective graphic solutions over range of brands, styles and delivery vehicles
  • Sanford was home to such well-known brands as
  • Sharpie, PaperMate, Prismacolor and Expo
  • Attended tween conferences and researched tween market to develop appropriate brand voice, look and feel as well as design “filters” bringing consistent look, feel and voice to brand
  • Through extensive research, clearly defined and documented Foohy Brand Essence from finalization of Brand Position to development of visual identity and execution
  • Oversaw and collaborated with creative team to provide end result of complete
  • Brand Identity
  • Brand gained approximate 20-30% increase in placement in existing accounts as well as breaking into new retailers and saw approximately 10% increase in sales largely due to graphics and pricing
  • Served as internal graphic consultant and source on Project Emerald (eco-friendly product initiative)
  • Initially collaborated with outside agency but due to budget constraints, became sole Art Director/Designer producing logo, packaging, and P.O.P
  • Actively participated in one-on-one focus groups in San Francisco and Chicago in discovery phase then continued to do competitive market research to ensure relevant market presence
  • Success on Project Emerald led to similar role for Project "Pink@Work" umbrella cause marketing campaign for breast cancer
  • Project unified separate brand initiatives to gain stronger more consistent market presence
  • Art Director/Designer of logo, collateral, print advertising, catalog, P.O.P
  • And all inclusive company-wide style guide. Led industry as one of first companies to unite our brands to support one cause
  • Led Creative Team in health and wellness initiative called “Move It & Lose It.” Helped most individuals to lose between 10 and 20 pounds, get more active, collaborate with others and generally improved health and morale.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design, Art

Wayne State University
Detroit

Fashion Merchandising, Business

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI

Skills

  • Advanced knowledge of Mac/PC in Adobe CS (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop), Acrobat, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Keynote, Canva
  • Working knowledge of HTML, Dreamweaver, Figma, Social Media Marketing, Mailchimp, Klaviyo and After Effects
  • 12 years retail management, managing staffs up to 20 people & $35M sales volumes with such companies as Target & Best Buy
  • Excellent organizer & communicator
  • Analytical, deadline driven, efficient multi-tasker
  • Ability to not only understand trends but put them to practical use
  • Collaborative and flexible creative professional with over 20 years experience providing efficient and effective graphic design solutions,
  • Leading teams, managing projects, developing strategies and engaging target audiences Proven track record of developing successful, innovative consumer packaging, and marketing campaigns that improve brand visibility and increase revenue
  • Possess excellent eye for detail and nuanced understanding, bridging gaps for successful solution
  • Trend Research
  • Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud
  • Production Standards
  • Logo Design
  • Digital Imagery/Image Manipulation
  • Digital Design
  • Advertising
  • Website Graphics
  • Mockups and Prototypes
  • Visual Design
  • Sketch Drawings
  • Social Media Platforms
  • Selling and Influencing
  • Branding

Jewelry Design, Watercolors, Illustration & Oil Painting

  • Avid lifelong painter and Illustrator
  • Self-published Children's books
  • Polymer Clay artist specializing in jewelry, wearable art & purses
  • Business website: www.chartreuzegallery.com

Timeline

Graphic Designer

Newell Brands
07.2021 - 02.2023

Art Director

Polyform Products
10.2009 - 02.2019

Art Director

Norton Rubble & Mertz
09.2008 - 10.2009

Senior Graphic Designer

Sanford Corporation
10.2002 - 06.2008

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design, Art

Wayne State University

Fashion Merchandising, Business

Western Michigan University

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THERESA WENDT