Senior Designer Package Design

I am a NJ metro-area Senior Designer seeking contract, freelance or full-time opportunities, remote or hybrid, with a design agency or inhouse team that focuses on Brand Design. As a Design Specialist with over 20 years of professional design experience in both inhouse as well as agency organizations, I possess multiple skill sets ranging from brand identity, package design, structural design, brand standards manuals, brand strategy, POP + POS, promotional design, club package design, corporate identity, naming, taglines and copy. I am versatile, having designed for a diverse range of market segments including food and beverage, gift items, health and beauty, home décor, home surface care, kitchen products, pet food, pharmaceutical and design for children. I am comfortable using AI creative tools and look forward to the future! Senior Designer at Smith Design, Morristown, NJ

March 2021 - May 2025

As a Senior Designer working together with creative teams and account managers, I contributed strategy and design work to phase one concept explorations, brand redesigns, line extension and sub brand projects as well as social media and web content initiatives. Interpreting brief objectives and independently managing workflow, I contributed work to high pressure deadline projects. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Designed successful strategic package design work in support of CPG client initiatives: B&G Foods, Bona, Buitoni, Hormel, Delta Carbona, Citrus World, Eggland’s Best, Hain Celestial, Henkel, Rich Products, Sesame Street and Thomas Foods.

Completed new motion graphics program training which allowed me to design for social media accounts: Bona Floor Care and Thomas Foods USA

Support of SD educational and mentorship programs

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop design-right strategies targeting strategic visual and experiential goals Consistently demonstrate flexibility, design strength and excellence, as well as creative problem-solving and technical expertise

Identify timing and design resources as related to projects Work efficiently with design teams to prioritize and maximize design work impact within aggressive deadlines Independently manage all responsibilities and timelines of multiple ongoing projects Senior Designer at Christmas Tree Shops Art Department, Union, NJ January 2012 - March 2021

As a hands-on package designer working with buying teams and upper management stakeholders, I designed and produced cross-category private label brands and brand redesigns, unique seasonal and specialty packaging, and packaging templates for the fast-paced buying group. Taking packaging initiatives from project request through production and proofing, I worked with the Creative Manager, Creative Director, Creative VP, buying and marketing teams, cross-functional partners, and both in-house and agency designers to organize and develop packaging strategies that aligned with product buying initiatives. I also art directed with outside talent—including production artists, stylists, set-builders, illustrators, and photographers—to create images that reflected brand style criteria. I worked across 30+ diverse categories: housewares, home décor, garden and outdoor, kitchen, furniture, bath and beauty, textiles and bedding, holiday and gift items, and candles. During my time with CTS, I also accepted the opportunity to temporarily manage the department’s package design projects and resources during an employee’s maternity leave. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Bee and Willow® Lead Internal Designer for this Bed Bath & Beyond Private Label Brand Brandmark Strategy, Brand Name Generation, Design Concepts and Concept Presentation, Package Design System, Photography and Production Style Guidance. Petal & Stone® Lead Designer and Brand Steward for this CTS Cross-Category Private Label Brand The Grainhouse® Lead Designer and Brand Steward for this CTS Cross-Category Private Label Brand

$3.7M launch

Flannel Rooster® Lead Designer and Brand Steward for this award-winning CTS Private Label Textile Brand ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Interpreted package design project requests and developing design-right strategies to address design needs In-store research of packaging trends as they relate to CTS product categories Developed brand strategy and naming, branding, package design concepts and structural recommendations ART DIRECTION BRAND IDENTITY

******************@*****.*** 917-***-**** www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-brown-brandgraphics OBJECTIVE

SUMMARY

CREATIVE

EXPERIENCE

Co-ordinated photo shoots and photo direction, directing stylists and set builders Worked cooperatively and efficiently with package design managers and buyers to meet directives Produced and release mechanical artwork files

Evaluated vendor production samples, providing feedback, direction and approvals Independently managed all responsibilities and timelines of multiple ongoing projects Art Director at International Playthings, LLC (Epoch Everlasting Play LLC), Parsippany, NJ July 2009 - July 2011

As Art Director, I collaborated with upper management, sales and marketing to successfully accomplish IPL’s annual strategic and marketing objectives. I managed the in-house Art Department, consisting of full time and contract resources responsible for all branding, packaging, point of sale, advertising, promotions, e-blasts and newsletters, trade communications, catalogs and environmental graphics for this established NJ toy company. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Designed, vetted and implemented standardization and internal customer-focused processes to ensure alignment with all IPL departments.

Led the Art Department the year IPL received Toys”R”US Vendor of the Year award at American International Toy Fair NYC in 2011

Produced award-winning packaging, POS and a trade catalog recognized by Graphic Design USA in 2010 and 2011. Led IPL’s Art Department responsible for design support integral to successful brand and product launches including art direction for over 60 new toy packaging projects. Inhouse creative leadership and direction in re-brand and redesign initiatives for several IPL Private Label brands: Kidoozie®, Earlyears®, Glamology®, Tumblekins® Whipple®, and Wonder Beads® ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Managed two full time senior designers, on-site freelance designers, and additional talent including studio artists, photographers and illustrators.

Collaborated with marketing managers, sales managers and upper management to evaluate graphic needs and discuss solutions, budgets and timelines

Recommend models, sourcing props and wardrobe, directing photo shoots Researched creative trends in the marketplace to further IPL’s design objectives Identified and hire suppliers, freelancers and other talent, negotiated favorable rates and ensure adherence to deadlines Designed and produce environmental graphics for IPL's 2,400 square foot booth at American International Toy Fair Produced the company's 200+ page annual trade catalog on time and within budget Managed and maintain digital assets for internal and inter-departmental use as well as for outside users Created budgets as well as handle all departmental invoicing 2021-2025 As part of the Smith Design team, I contributed to projects achieving recognition in the following: Penta Awards 2024 Silver Award for American Pet Nutrition, Nextrition Transform Awards 2023 Best Visual Identity from the FMCG sector, Silver Nextrition, American Pet Nutrition and Smith Design 2023 Best Creative Strategy, Silver, Nextrition, American Pet Nutrition and Smith Design Graphic Design USA 2023 Health & Wellness Category – Aiya Matcha+ Packaging CLICK TO SEE ONLINE 2019 - Graphic Design USA Flannel Rooster® Private Label Packaging, Christmas Tree Shops Art Department 2012 - Land Art Generator Initiative 2012 Design Contest, Shortlist Selection, The Solar Cairn, CLICK TO SEE ONLINE Published in “Regenerative Infrastructures: Freshkills Park NYC”, April 2013, Prestel Publishing. 2011 - Graphic Design USA American Package Design Awards - Scoop ‘Em Up Game Packaging, Monkeying Around Game Packaging and Whipple Point-of-Sale Diorama 2010 - Graphic Design USA In-House Design Awards - International Playthings’ 2010 Trade Catalog Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, August 1988 – May 1991 BFA, Communications Design Creative: Branding, Package design strategy: interpretation and concepts, Creative problem solving and collaboration, Critical thinking, Visual conceptualization and hand sketching Administrative: Art Direction, Budgeting, Client Presentation, Design project management, Mentoring, Workflow process improvement and enforcement, Record-keeping, Talent sourcing and administration Technical: Apple System Software; Adobe Creative Suite CC: Illustrator, Photoshop, After Affects, Acrobat; Keynote, PowerPoint; Social Media fluency; Photo Retouching. AI: Prompt engineering in several generative AI programs - Midjourney, ChatGPT, Adobe Firefly. When appropriate and permissible, I will use these technologies to produce ideation work and rough draft copywriting. ******************@*****.*** 917-***-**** www.linkedin.com/in/julianne-brown-brandgraphics AWARDS

EDUCATION

SKILL SETS

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