Graphic Designer Project Manager

COVER LETTER

With over a decade of experience, I specialize in design that communicates with precision and lasting impact. My work transforms ideas into clear, purposeful visuals, across branding, print, and digital. I’m highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and integrate AI only when it adds real value to the process. Most recently, I led a design consultancy website project, as a Packaging & Label Design Consultant, providing specialized packaging and label design for wholesale fireworks importers. I crafted storytelling-driven designs to help new products stand out through well-crafted visuals. I also managed email campaigns to support visibility and sales.

As the market shifted, I began seeking a full-time role where I can contribute meaningfully within a team that values thoughtful design and measurable results — www.fireworks.com.co. Based in Orlando, fluent in English and advanced Spanish, and fully authorized to work in the U.S. without a visa. I’m open to a limited unpaid test period to showcase my value and results. Thank you for considering my application.

LOUIS BLANCO

Email — ***********.********@*****.***

Website — www.louisblanco.com

LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/in/louisblanco

Phone — 808-***-****

SUMMARY

Graphic Designer with 10+ years of experience in branding and visual design. My design is rooted in mastering space and balance, wielding color and contrast, prioritizing hierarchy, and uniting it all, because fluff doesn’t cut it. I craft designs that are sharp, elegant, impactful, and effective across digital and print. From concept to execution, I’m hands-on, leveraging leading tools like Adobe Creative Suite and AI when they add real value, not just hype. Allergic to fluff, I design with precision for clients who value results over trends, always focused on design that doesn’t just look good but works. Adaptable to any hierarchy structure.

CORE SKILLS

Branding—Style guides, corporate and product identity, consistency, logo design, product naming, advertising.

Desing Thinking—Empathy, creative problem-solving, prototyping, collaboration, open-mindedness, active listening.

Digital & Print Design—Layout, lettering design, collaterals, digital presentations, storytelling, point of sales systems.

Design Software—Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Rush, Express.

AI Prompting & Integration—OpenAI Dall-e & ChatGPT, xAI Grok, Midjourney AI, Google AI. Photography—Photo shoot direction, photo-retouching, asset management, hi-res file archiving. Productivity—Google Workspace, Slack, Keynote, PowerPoint, Dropbox, Canva, Sketch, Figma, Shopify.

Project Management—Vendor sourcing, negotiation, timeline tracking, team coordination.

Email Marketing & Social Media—Mailchimp, Constant Contact, WiX Toolset, web assets, image bank.

Production — Prepress, Proofing, file preparation, RIP software workflows, CMYK, CMYK+W, delivery follow-up.

Trade Show Design—Booth graphics and structural design, product display, planning, installation, teardown.

Edge—Attention to detail, open-mindedness, adaptability to leadership and corporate structure, leading projects and teams, accountability, collaboration, vendor selection, sharp communication. Bilingual, English and advanced Spanish.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Contract Graphic Designer

Packaging & Label Design Consultant – www.fireworks.com.co – Remote

January 2024 – Present

Created compelling packaging and label design concepts for a variety of pyrotechnic products, leveraging visual storytelling to elevate each client's brand identity and impact.

Developed and managed a professional website to promote design services, integrating targeted email campaigns, and optimizing SEO to drive engagement and visibility.

Transitioning into a full-time role, bringing refined design expertise, proven DPM capabilities, and continuously updated digital marketing skills to support evolving creative needs.

Contract Graphic Designer

Spirit of ’76 LLC – www.76fireworks.com – Remote

January 2019 – December 2023

Designed bold, aesthetic, and visually striking packaging and label design concepts for multiple consumer fireworks SKUs, helping drive a 3x sales increase for key items, with container-sized orders sold out before production ended, breaking seasonal records.

Supported the prepress process and led final print follow-up, including print proof reviews and production approvals, ensuring QA, brand consistency, and print integrity across overseas manufacturing.

Created and produced interactive trade show booths, graphics and structures, and immersive visual environments for product demo events, generating heavy client traffic and visibility, resulting in record-breaking sales contracts at national industry expos.

Designed high-demand retail themed signage, POS, and large-scale billboards for seasonal campaigns, annually displayed along Missouri’s I-70 corridor —boosting annual sales by ~25%.

Principal Graphic Designer

Spirit of ’76 LLC – www.76fireworks.com – Columbia, Missouri

February 2014 – December 2018

Developed a cohesive corporate brand identity through new guidelines, marketing materials, presentations, print design, and digital element designs, establishing a professional image as a leading national wholesaler.

Led the design and production of the company’s flagship annual product catalog —print edition, approximately 100 full-color pages, with up to 25,000 copies per run— combining page layout, photography, iconic graphics, and visual storytelling to showcase hundreds of major brand SKUs. Also produced mid-year catalogs featuring new pyro items and technical catalogs focused on semi-professional fireworks categories.

Directed multiple new product photo shoots for e-commerce and print catalogs, driving overall sales growth while positioning and elevating recognition of the company’s own fireworks brands. Prototyped digital layouts and built no-code websites, crafted UI assets and social media content, giving Sky Bacon Fireworks brand a strong digital presence that attracted new distributors nationwide and significantly boosted sales.

Lead Graphic Designer, DPM

Vertilux – www.vertilux.com – Miami, Florida

July 2003 – December 2013

Designed structured corporate identity guidelines across all channels, positioning Vertilux as a premium brand and securing 30% more manufacturer contracts within months.

Built a distinct brand identity for product lines, including naming, graphics, and photography, transforming generic offerings into premium products and boosting sales by $1M in one year.

Art directed ads, marketing collateral, print materials, and technical catalogs, supporting sales teams and helping grow the client base by 50% within a year.

Developed exclusive POS and product sample systems to expand brand presence, driving over $1M in sales within two years helping close key deals with major retailers such as JCPenney, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards.

Created branded sample books, bindercards, color selectors, and product display concepts, unlocking a new revenue stream by turning previously free samples into high-quality items for sale. Drafted product schematics for 3D-printed prototypes, enhancing sub-product profit margins through redefined aesthetics and improved functionality.

Designed trade show booths, graphics, and structures for expos in the U.S. and Germany, driving record-breaking annual sales with significant expo-month revenue spikes. As a Visual Designer and Design Project Manager, I contributed with dynamic, modern visual design and strategic production management to support company growth from $6M to $36M in annual sales during tenure with consistent year-over-year gains.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design

Instituto de Diseño Perera Caracas - Venezuela

Validated in the United States by DOL/DOE Credential Evaluation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Personal and professional references available upon request

Authorized to work in the United States for any employer, no work visa required

Willing to relocate as needed

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