Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Timeline
Generic

THOMAS KING

North Aurora,IL

Summary

Dynamic Design Lead with a proven track record of enhancing brand excellence through impactful visual and experiential design. Skilled in leading diverse teams and guiding designers to create cohesive, on-brand assets across multiple platforms. Experienced in overseeing the entire design process from concept to execution, fostering innovation and alignment across departments. Passionate about developing design systems that improve user experience and strengthen brand loyalty, while collaborating with key stakeholders to achieve long-term brand objectives.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

BRANDING AND MARKETING MANAGER

City of Aurora Illinois
06.2024 - 05.2025
  • Manages the department workflow, assigns projects, and reviews proposals and designs.
  • Works with vendors to procure print, digital, and promotional materials.
  • Coordinates projects with other departments to fulfill requested outcomes, including, but not limited to, design, marketing, print, and promotional product purchasing while upholding City of Aurora Brand Standards.
  • As the City's primary photographer, I covered 163 events in 2024 and 54 in 2025.
  • In 2024, 96 Graphic Design projects were completed, and 25 have been completed in 2025.

BRANDING AND MARKETING MANAGER

City of Aurora Illinois
06.2024 - 05.2025
  • Manages the department workflow, assigns projects, and reviews proposals and designs.
  • Works with vendors to procure print, digital, and promotional materials.
  • Coordinates projects with other departments to fulfill requested outcomes, including, but not limited to, design, marketing, print, and promotional product purchasing while upholding City of Aurora Brand Standards.
  • As the City's primary photographer, I covered 163 events in 2024 and 54 in 2025.
  • In 2024, 96 Graphic Design projects were completed, and 25 have been completed in 2025.

BRANDING AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

City of Aurora
07.2023 - 06.2024
  • Supports and guides brand identity through the development of cohesive visual assets and communications.
  • Refreshed the city's branding and created a one-page support guide to ensure consistency across departments.
  • Designs a wide range of deliverables, from logos to long-form documents, while also providing professional photography and post-production editing.
  • Developed sub-branding for the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and led a photography project to update 356 employee ID photos.

BRANDING AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

City of Aurora
07.2023 - 06.2024
  • Supports and guides brand identity through the development of cohesive visual assets and communications.
  • Refreshed the city's branding and created a one-page support guide to ensure consistency across departments.
  • Designs a wide range of deliverables, from logos to long-form documents, while also providing professional photography and post-production editing.
  • Developed sub-branding for the Mayor's Office of Economic Development and led a photography project to update 356 employee ID photos.

GRAPHICS MANAGER

Star Incorporated, Inc.
05.2022 - 07.2023
  • Streamlined the graphics production workflow to improve efficiency and reduce turnaround time by 30 percent.
  • Established a routine equipment maintenance program to ensure optimal performance and minimize downtime.
  • Implemented a color management system to achieve greater color consistency across all outputs.
  • Consolidated vendors to increase purchasing power and reduce costs, while consistently exceeding production deadlines and delivering high-quality results.

ART DIRECTOR | FREELANCE ARTIST

Self Employed
12.2015 - 06.2023
  • Established and maintained long-term client relationships in graphic design, photography, and videography, with a portfolio that includes Chicago Billboard, Iconic Concepts (Live Nation), All-Tech Decorating, Flowing Grace UMC, JJ Community (FIAT USA), St. Xavier University Jazz Program, and West Aurora High School Band.
  • Created logos and visual assets for a wide range of applications-from promotional materials and gifts to uniforms and a large-scale 9-foot by 28-foot mural for the West Aurora High School Band's Centennial celebration concert series.
  • Designed branded merchandise for high-profile musicians such as Aerosmith, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Bowie, Nirvana, Kiss, Sublime, and Soundgarden, managing the full creative process including concept design, copywriting, overseas production coordination, sample review, and final product photo shoots.
  • Additionally, developed All-Tech Decorating's YouTube channel and LinkedIn presence, producing compelling visual content and storytelling videos that highlighted project milestones and the creative problem-solving of employees.

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Milescraft, Inc.
05.2021 - 05.2022
  • Developed and sourced equipment for an in-house photo and video studio to enhance content creation capabilities.
  • Produced visual imagery aligned with brand standards for both web and print, and created short-form video content to support new product launches.
  • Designed a new, updated format for technical publications and proactively updated existing materials ahead of schedule.
  • Streamlined the authoring process to increase efficiency and ensure timely project completion.

DIGITAL PRINT ROOM PRODUCTION OPERATOR

Personalization Mall, Inc.
10.2020 - 05.2021
  • Produced production files efficiently and in alignment with established procedures, working closely with the rotary production supervisor to minimize defects.
  • Developed an innovative method for reloading heavy paper rolls without re-webbing the printer, increasing efficiency by approximately 50%.
  • Researched and implemented a solution to identify and correct oversaturation issues in art files, resolving a problem that had previously resulted in over $200,000 in rejected product in a single year.
  • Additionally, improved the use of existing technology to enhance team communication and operational efficiency.

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Tyndale House Publishers
07.2017 - 03.2020
  • Envisioned and designed complementary marketing assets-including bookmarks, flyers, and author signing posters-for new book releases, ensuring alignment with updated branding standards.
  • Compiled a comprehensive cover reprint checklist that streamlined the processing timeline and eliminated costly rework due to missed elements.
  • Enhanced book cover creative workflows by utilizing the in-house photo studio and equipment, which reduced reliance on external vendors, eliminated image licensing fees, and improved visual consistency and brand authenticity.
  • Additionally, developed an efficient cover submission workflow by separating background, artwork, and text elements to support a smooth transition into the upgraded Cover Expressions platform.

DIGITAL PRINT TECHNICIAN

Boombah Inc.
12.2014 - 06.2015
  • Managed printing operations with a focus on maximizing production efficiency and minimizing printer downtime.
  • Led the successful scale-up of wide-format printing capacity from 12 to 30 printers to support revenue growth and increased demand.
  • Conducted thorough quality checks to ensure layer and cutline accuracy prior to robotic cutting, maintaining high production standards.
  • Optimized the printer floor plan layout to effectively integrate a new climate-controlled print room, enhancing environmental control and overall output quality.

DIGITAL PRINT TECHNICIAN

Boombah Inc.
12.2014 - 06.2015
  • Managed printing operations with a focus on maximizing production efficiency and minimizing printer downtime.
  • Led the successful scale-up of wide-format printing capacity from 12 to 30 printers to support revenue growth and increased demand.
  • Conducted thorough quality checks to ensure layer and cutline accuracy prior to robotic cutting, maintaining high production standards.
  • Optimized the printer floor plan layout to effectively integrate a new climate-controlled print room, enhancing environmental control and overall output quality.

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

National Binding Supplies
01.2011 - 08.2012
  • Implemented workflow improvements that closed gaps in the invoicing and shipment tracking processes, resulting in greater operational accuracy and efficiency.
  • Modified the pick and pack process to ensure a sequential flow of paperwork, enabling timely invoicing and prompt communication of tracking information to customers.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Digital Design and Animation

Rasmussen College
Aurora, IL
01.2014

Associate of Applied Science - Science in Multimedia

Rasmussen College
Aurora, IL
01.2012

Skills

  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • InDesign
  • Illustrator
  • Photoshop
  • Premiere Pro
  • Audition
  • Bridge
  • Acrobat DC
  • Microsoft Office365
  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Publisher
  • SOLIDWORKS Composer
  • HTML
  • CSS

Awards

  • Emmy Nomination, Producer, Midwest Chapter, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, 2014
  • Winner, Summer Road Trip Photo Contest, Wyoming Department of Tourism, 2014

Timeline

BRANDING AND MARKETING MANAGER

City of Aurora Illinois
06.2024 - 05.2025

BRANDING AND MARKETING MANAGER

City of Aurora Illinois
06.2024 - 05.2025

BRANDING AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

City of Aurora
07.2023 - 06.2024

BRANDING AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

City of Aurora
07.2023 - 06.2024

GRAPHICS MANAGER

Star Incorporated, Inc.
05.2022 - 07.2023

TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Milescraft, Inc.
05.2021 - 05.2022

DIGITAL PRINT ROOM PRODUCTION OPERATOR

Personalization Mall, Inc.
10.2020 - 05.2021

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Tyndale House Publishers
07.2017 - 03.2020

ART DIRECTOR | FREELANCE ARTIST

Self Employed
12.2015 - 06.2023

DIGITAL PRINT TECHNICIAN

Boombah Inc.
12.2014 - 06.2015

DIGITAL PRINT TECHNICIAN

Boombah Inc.
12.2014 - 06.2015

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

National Binding Supplies
01.2011 - 08.2012

Bachelor of Science - Digital Design and Animation

Rasmussen College

Associate of Applied Science - Science in Multimedia

Rasmussen College

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