Tracie Smit

Creates 360-degree brand development through elevated design, understanding consumer base, purchasing decisions of products, and identifying gaps in shelf presence.

• Provides knowledge of consumer goods trends, fashion, as well as all materials pertaining to packaging.
• Successfully increases revenue by over $1M annually creating innovative packaging design strategies that elevate brand identity and enhance purchase intent for clients including ULTA, Macy's, Kohl's, Dillard's, and JCPenney.
• Utilizes cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices to create impactful packaging designs, leading to increased revenue of 25% for clients such as Belk and Shoppers Drug Mart.
• Presents creative concepts to clients and implements continual feedback to achieve client satisfaction.
• Develops style guides to promote consistent branding across projects.
• Researches emerging technologies and develops effective strategies for integrating into existing campaigns.

Led a seventeen-member team of artists, product managers, marketing, and fragrance developers, consistently delivering innovative product and packaging design, brand-building visual programs, and top-shelf fragrances that strengthened brand awareness across all touchpoints

• Defined key business objectives and identified big-picture department strategy, resulting in 30% increase in revenue
• Led business leaders and creative teams through brand-defining and discovery process for each channel, differentiating positioning within and outside portfolio, contributing to 25% growth in sales
• Coached creative fundamentals and expression of brand benefits, which led to 40% increase in new sales growth
• Drove cross-functional collaboration enabling team to consistently exceed sales targets, resulting in 20% growth in overall revenue
• Exercised leadership in developing unique and engaging brand experiences helped to establish company as leading player.

Developed Creative Department from scratch at an in-house design and marketing services agency, leading day-to-day creative process while mentoring and guiding creative team to success

• Developed staffing plans, reporting structures, and conducted ongoing performance reviews for all creative staff, leading to 20% increase in productivity and $13M revenue growth in first year
• Led design efforts, resulting in innovative product and packaging designs that increased sales revenue by 15%
• Collaborated with senior management to drive dynamic visual communication materials, resulting in 125% increase in new business acquisition and $35M revenue growth
• Presented design concepts that exceeded client expectations, contributing to 10% increase in client satisfaction ratings, leading to repeat business and referrals
• Monitored progress of projects, keeping on schedule and within budget.

Launched new Creative Department that evolved from one person to thirteen-member team of artists, graphic designers, photographers, and illustrators, resulting in 400% increase in production capacity.

• Guided, taught, and mentored junior artists, resulting in 25% increase in staff retention and 20% increase in staff efficiency.
• Delivered creative direction and new product development that resulted in 500% growth in annual sales and 30% increase in customer satisfaction.
• Established and improved workflow systems, Standard Operating Procedures, and administrative procedures to improve staff compliance, leading to 15% increase in departmental efficiency.
• Managed resources efficiently, resulting in 25% reduction in costs and increased profit margins for company. Clients included Hallmark and Boscov's, resulting in 20% increase in new business acquisition and $12M revenue growth.

Developed and delivered comprehensive curriculum for beginning and advanced Adobe Photoshop courses.

• Responsible for teaching students technical skills and knowledge required to excel in graphic design industry, as well as providing them with hands-on experience in creating professional-level designs.
• Created engaging and interactive learning environment that allowed students to explore and experiment with their creativity while also helping them develop their skills and achieve their academic and career goals.

Led complete life-cycle development of graphic design, video editing, digital compositing, 3D animation, and web-based animation projects, contributing to more than $5M in new revenue for clients such as UAW-Chrysler, Ford, Compuware, UAW-GM, GTE, and Comerica.

• Developed video presentations and interactive programs for successful launch of PT Cruiser and Jeep Liberty that was showcased at The North American Auto Show.
• Developed and executed high-quality, innovative visual concepts that successfully met clients' business objectives, resulting in 20% increase in client satisfaction ratings and 15% increase in repeat business.
• Created motion graphics and video content for websites and applications.
• Created 3D models and animation for video games and other interactive projects.

• Honor Roll
• Dean's List
• Scholarship Recipient for Merit
• Study Abroad: Art History, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, England