Project Management Product Development

Mathew Evans

909-***-**** Victorville, CA ***** *****************@*****.*** LinkedIn Portfolio

Champions creative direction via design innovation, process optimization & cost-saving strategies for cohesive brand development.

Creative/Art Direction Design Strategy Brand Development Product Development & Design Innovation & Trend Analysis

Skills: Stakeholder Collaboration, Team Leadership, Project Management, Market & User Research, Budgeting & Resource Management, Compliance, Vendor Management, Cost Reduction, Design & Illustration, Package Design, Concept Development, Photography, 3D Modeling & Sculpting, Print Production, Merchandising, Graphic Design, Product Marketing, Digital Marketing

Technical Toolkit: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics, Figma, Microsoft Office Suite, A/B Testing, Project Management Systems (Smartsheet, LifeO), Meta/Google Ads, Mail Chimp, CorelDRAW, Content Management Systems (CMS)

Professional Experience

Creative Director, Qstudiographics 06/2023 – Present

Leading graphic design and creative direction projects, including branding, packaging, and promotional materials, across industries. Spearheading client interactions, requirement gathering, and design verification, while managing project timelines, budgets, and a team of junior designers and freelancers. Drives cost savings on design materials by negotiating with suppliers for premium material.

Elevated client satisfaction and minimized rework through a comprehensive design verification process, streamlining client collaboration via continuous feedback integration, and maintaining clear communication throughout the design lifecycle.

Accelerated design turnaround time through effective use of project management tools, such as Wrike and Excel, optimizing workflow management and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality design projects.

Expanded service offerings and client base by developing diverse design solutions, including product manuals, signage, packaging, and promotional materials, leveraging expertise in concept development and sample modeling.

Design Department Manager, Pentel of America 05/2013 – 06/2023

Spearheaded the design department, overseeing photography, catalog creation, sales materials, packaging, and product development. Supported cross-functional teams in developing innovative workflows and tools to enhance efficiency and creativity. Directed a team of designers, facilitating weekly meetings to address project statuses, resource allocation, and design consistency.

Cost Efficiency & Sustainable Initiatives

Won the AmeriStar Award 2023 from the Institute of Packaging for an innovative, eco-friendly, and plastic-free packaging solution.

Reduced production costs by 20-30% by identifying and eliminating redundant expenses, and optimizing material usage.

Achieved $50K+ annual savings by transitioning from three printed catalogs annually to a digital catalog every three years, streamlining updates to a single-page format, and significantly reducing waste and printing overhead.

Saved $7-10 million in printing costs by shifting from external custom label printing to an internal on-demand system, reducing waste and warehouse overhead by 85%.

Enhanced packaging efficiency and reduced production costs by standardizing packaging sizes, consolidating over 2000 specific dies for 7000+ SKUs into 4-5 standard sizes, optimizing cost and resources while minimizing waste.

Process Optimization & Workflow Improvement

Increased productivity by 50% by implementing streamlined design workflows, real-time tracking, and paperless forms.

Facilitated compliance and updated legal standards by regularly updating disclaimers and legal verbiage on packaging.

Improved digital asset management and data security by transitioning to server-based backup system, collaborating with IT to ensure daily automatic backups. Created a centralized system using Adobe libraries.

Boosted team productivity and collaboration by updating outdated equipment, reorganizing the workspace for a more conducive environment, and leading weekly meetings to strategically address questions, allocate resources, and resolve project bottlenecks.

Creative Innovation & Brand Development

Developed a cohesive brand identity by collaborating with the marketing team to create user-friendly style guides, simplifying consumer information on packaging, and ensuring alignment with overall brand guidelines.

Fostered innovation and creativity by creating and updating mood boards with current trends and inspirational ideas, encouraging team collaboration and keeping the design process fresh and relevant.

Revitalized annual national sales meetings by transforming it into an interactive educational experience with themed events, interactive presentations, and games, resulting in higher participation and positive feedback from global sales teams.

Introduced physical samples for pre-production to provide a tangible preview of products, allowing for accurate feedback and adjustments before final production, enhancing product development accuracy and client satisfaction.

Product Developer, Mega Brands 01/2006 – 04/2013

Directed end-to-end toy product development, including renderings and production specifications. Coordinated with project managers and vendors. Oversaw store-level signage and graphic design, pricing, and promotional materials.

Ensured data security by implementing cloud and HDD backup procedures; conducted comprehensive risk assessments.

Cut printing costs by 60% through local printer partnerships; reviewed vendor costs, negotiated requirements, and SLAs.

Achieved sustainable and effective packaging solutions by integrating eco-friendly materials.

Enhanced product development efficiency by 25% by implementing 3D design processes; collaborated with designers to streamline modeling, simplify design procedures, and test feasibility with pre-production samples.

Successfully managed acquisition transition for 'Board Dudes' by developing a detailed training and onboarding plan; identified key personnel, process, and asset challenges, ensuring a smooth integration and support system.

Other Roles:

Graphic Designer, Maisto International Inc

Oversaw end-to-end design operations, managing the creation and execution of graphic designs for diecast toys and packaging. Led annual theme development for over 50 car models. Collaborated with licensors, like Tonka and Hasbro, and major car manufacturers. Directed website design, digital media, and photography projects, optimizing cross-functional workflows.

Graphic Designer, Primeline Products

Designed clear artwork, leading design layout and 2-4 color art production, proofing, and editing copy and ads. Created mechanical and technical illustrations, and prepared catalog layouts, brochure/package designs, signage, and promotional materials. Ensured seamless transitions post-merger (Slide-Company) and produced technical illustrations for over 80% of 10,000 catalog items.

Education

Associate of Arts (AA), Graphic Design/Illustration/Layout/Computer Graphics/Brand Development, Platt College, Ontario, CA

Situational Leadership II Management Program, Pentel of America

Mathew Evans Resume Page 02-909-***-**** *****************@*****.*** LinkedIn Portfolio

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