Visual Design // Art Direction
Editorial and Book Design, Brand Identity, Design Systems, Educational Publishing, Presentation Design, Marketing Communications and Campaigns, Project Management
2020 – Present
Lead Product Designer at McGraw Hill | New York, New York, USA
• Developing concepts into visually engaging designs and media assets (art; photo; video; sound; animation) that appropriately align with and extend product strategy and goals and user needs.
• Working with cross-functional teams to concept, design, research, acquire, track, and seek approval for all media assets: art; photo; video; sound; animation.
• Creating lo-fidelity assets such as storyboards, wireframes, flows, mockups, as well as visual design comps.
• Creating print and digital prototypes and mockups for user testing and product development.
• Developing Design Systems for better transitions between products both print and digital
• Collaborating with other designers, illustrators and animators within the organization for big picture awareness
• Developing the design rationale and explaining visual choices to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders.
• Translating stakeholder requirements into user flows, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes that lead to intuitive user experiences
• Developing the media strategy based on research inputs and content strategy. Clearly articulate choices to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders.
• Partnering with Researchers to assist with user research and iterate on designs based on findings
• Developing engaging and purposeful media from concept through final delivery.
• Ensuring delivery and multiple production hand-offs within a strategic initiative.
• Advocating for the user throughout product development.
• Researching with real users through observation during classroom visits and one on one interviews.
• Understand and synthesize other research methods into design strategies.
• Working with vendors to coordinate and produce full media programs for assigned projects.
• Manage external vendor media coordinators. Work with vendor to monitor and report project status and guide work to ensure media assets meet expectations for quality, scalability, alignment to media strategy, budget, and schedule.
Lead Product Designer at McGraw Hill | New York, New York, USA
• Developing concepts into visually engaging designs and media assets (art; photo; video; sound; animation) that appropriately align with and extend product strategy and goals and user needs.
• Working with cross-functional teams to concept, design, research, acquire, track, and seek approval for all media assets: art; photo; video; sound; animation.
• Creating lo-fidelity assets such as storyboards, wireframes, flows, mockups, as well as visual design comps.
• Creating print and digital prototypes and mockups for user testing and product development.
• Developing Design Systems for better transitions between products both print and digital
• Collaborating with other designers, illustrators and animators within the organization for big picture awareness
• Developing the design rationale and explaining visual choices to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders.
• Translating stakeholder requirements into user flows, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes that lead to intuitive user experiences
• Developing the media strategy based on research inputs and content strategy. Clearly articulate choices to cross-functional teams and key stakeholders.
• Partnering with Researchers to assist with user research and iterate on designs based on findings
• Developing engaging and purposeful media from concept through final delivery.
• Ensuring delivery and multiple production hand-offs within a strategic initiative.
• Advocating for the user throughout product development.
• Researching with real users through observation during classroom visits and one on one interviews.
• Understand and synthesize other research methods into design strategies.
• Working with vendors to coordinate and produce full media programs for assigned projects.
• Manage external vendor media coordinators. Work with vendor to monitor and report project status and guide work to ensure media assets meet expectations for quality, scalability, alignment to media strategy, budget, and schedule.
2010 – Present
Freelance Designer / Art Director | Based in New York City
Focus on overall branding and systems. Clients include Kickstarter, Google, The North Face, NikeID, American Express, Hunter Douglas and Encyclopedia Britannica.
November 2010 – January 2012
Freelance Designer at Lime Twig Group | Pasadena, CA, USA
• Applied established designs and themes to post-secondary education campaigns, which included pieces such as brochures, flyers, books, and training materials, among multiple other documents.
• Re-imagined and refreshed post-secondary design campaigns, pitching designs to design team.
• Created mock-ups and templates for alumni publications
• Designed long-form, collegiate publications for professional distribution.
Freelance Designer / Art Director | Based in New York City
Focus on overall branding and systems. Clients include Kickstarter, Google, The North Face, NikeID, American Express, Hunter Douglas and Encyclopedia Britannica.
November 2010 – January 2012
Freelance Designer at Lime Twig Group | Pasadena, CA, USA
• Applied established designs and themes to post-secondary education campaigns, which included pieces such as brochures, flyers, books, and training materials, among multiple other documents.
• Re-imagined and refreshed post-secondary design campaigns, pitching designs to design team.
• Created mock-ups and templates for alumni publications
• Designed long-form, collegiate publications for professional distribution.
September 2009 – August 2010
Design-Production Manager at National Geographic School Publishing | Evanston, IL, USA
• Developed project plans to take prototypes from concept into physical project production.
• Designed specialty pages around developed campaigns, successfully integrating themes into supplemental materials.
• Created style guides for textbook series, incorporating internal and external design standards.
• Hired company to verify technical map production and communicated with potential companies to determine best fit.
• Reviewed proofs and approved final designs for print in each stage of production.
• Liaised with web content staff to produce correct online content, successfully communicating project calendars and managing deadlines.
• Developed extensive photo coordination plan with internal photography department, creating efficient delivery system.
• Reviewed proofs and approved final designs for print in each stage of publication.
• Managed the production of the science program and its various components, including teacher’s guides, comprehension workbooks and web content.
• Coordinated department workflows by setting staff meetings, schedules, managing editors and designer schedules.
• Created strategies for successful communication between managing editors and designers.
• Liaised with web content staff to produce correct online content, successfully communicating project calendars and managing deadlines.
• Facilitated positive, creative growth in staff to increase department accomplishments.
• Created style guides for textbook series, incorporating internal and external design standards.
July 2006 – August 2009
Senior Designer at Ronan Design | Chicago, IL, USA
• Specializing in educational book design and production.
• Managed development and production of four textbook series from concept to final product, consistently delivering projects on-time and on-budget for clients.
• Managed projects for multiple clients and communicated calendar and budgetary information.
• Created style guides and templates for each textbook series used by outside, international production company.
• Liaised with outside, international production company to produce project materials on time.
• Corrected page proofs and designed programs for interactive whiteboards.
Design-Production Manager at National Geographic School Publishing | Evanston, IL, USA
• Developed project plans to take prototypes from concept into physical project production.
• Designed specialty pages around developed campaigns, successfully integrating themes into supplemental materials.
• Created style guides for textbook series, incorporating internal and external design standards.
• Hired company to verify technical map production and communicated with potential companies to determine best fit.
• Reviewed proofs and approved final designs for print in each stage of production.
• Liaised with web content staff to produce correct online content, successfully communicating project calendars and managing deadlines.
• Developed extensive photo coordination plan with internal photography department, creating efficient delivery system.
• Reviewed proofs and approved final designs for print in each stage of publication.
• Managed the production of the science program and its various components, including teacher’s guides, comprehension workbooks and web content.
• Coordinated department workflows by setting staff meetings, schedules, managing editors and designer schedules.
• Created strategies for successful communication between managing editors and designers.
• Liaised with web content staff to produce correct online content, successfully communicating project calendars and managing deadlines.
• Facilitated positive, creative growth in staff to increase department accomplishments.
• Created style guides for textbook series, incorporating internal and external design standards.
July 2006 – August 2009
Senior Designer at Ronan Design | Chicago, IL, USA
• Specializing in educational book design and production.
• Managed development and production of four textbook series from concept to final product, consistently delivering projects on-time and on-budget for clients.
• Managed projects for multiple clients and communicated calendar and budgetary information.
• Created style guides and templates for each textbook series used by outside, international production company.
• Liaised with outside, international production company to produce project materials on time.
• Corrected page proofs and designed programs for interactive whiteboards.
July 2003 – April 2006
Freelance Designer at National Restaurant Association Education Foundation | Chicago, IL, USA
• Book design and project management for the ServSafe training materials, including textbooks and other instructional guides, including customization for specific fast-food chains.
• Art direction on photo shoots.
August 2002 – September 2005
Senior Designer/Art Director at PISTIL Magazine | Chicago, IL, USA
• Independent Magazine dedicated to Urban Professional Women and Activism.
• Designed individual theme from conception to final production for each new issue, incorporating ideas from staff into overall theme.
• Engaged other members of the creative team and working directly with writers, editors, designers, photographers and illustrators, to produce bi-annual magazine.
• Managed photo shoots, art directed illustrators for specific articles, junior designers to assist in production and design.
• Worked directly with writers, editors, designers, photographers and illustrators
July 2001 – March 2002
Junior Designer at The National Publishing Company | Streamwood, IL, USA
• Editorial design.
• Responsibilities included: layout design, typesetting, color correcting, with a concentration on prepress set-up and proofing of the publication The National Locksmith®.
March 2000 – February 2001
Junior Designer at Dowling & Pope Advertising | Chicago, IL
• Responsibilities included: developing advertisements with Account Executives for various publications, with a concentration on photography and layout design.
Freelance Designer at National Restaurant Association Education Foundation | Chicago, IL, USA
• Book design and project management for the ServSafe training materials, including textbooks and other instructional guides, including customization for specific fast-food chains.
• Art direction on photo shoots.
August 2002 – September 2005
Senior Designer/Art Director at PISTIL Magazine | Chicago, IL, USA
• Independent Magazine dedicated to Urban Professional Women and Activism.
• Designed individual theme from conception to final production for each new issue, incorporating ideas from staff into overall theme.
• Engaged other members of the creative team and working directly with writers, editors, designers, photographers and illustrators, to produce bi-annual magazine.
• Managed photo shoots, art directed illustrators for specific articles, junior designers to assist in production and design.
• Worked directly with writers, editors, designers, photographers and illustrators
July 2001 – March 2002
Junior Designer at The National Publishing Company | Streamwood, IL, USA
• Editorial design.
• Responsibilities included: layout design, typesetting, color correcting, with a concentration on prepress set-up and proofing of the publication The National Locksmith®.
March 2000 – February 2001
Junior Designer at Dowling & Pope Advertising | Chicago, IL
• Responsibilities included: developing advertisements with Account Executives for various publications, with a concentration on photography and layout design.