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ABOUT ME

I am forever optimistic, open-minded, and love adventures! A few of my favorite things are design, photography, live music, the great outdoors, and sustainability! I have a wide array of professional and life experiences that have shaped the person I am today: adaptable, patient, creative, and ready to jump in with both feet.

I currently live in the Greater Chicago Area, Illinois.

EDUCATION

Master of Applied Computer Science (Web Development)

Saint Xavier University
 

Certificate of User Experience Design

Google
 

B.A. Graphic Design

B.A. Journalism & Mass Communication (Magazine Journalism)

Drake University

WORK EXPERIENCE

August 2022 - Present

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER  |   IT
  • Design and Art Direction: Executed all phases of design for web, UI, print, digital, marketing collateral, email, social media, video, presentations, and landing pages. 

  • Creative Problem-Solving: Evolved Spruce’s brand direction across multiple channels, creating a consistent brand experience across web, social, marketing, and events. 

  • Brand Strategy: Shaped the strategic vision and goals for the brand and marketing team by identifying and sharing ideas that created business and user value.

  • UX / UI Design: Redesigned the Spruce website from ideation to high-fidelity mock-ups, resulting in a user experience that aligned with the brand and met business objectives

  • Data Visualization: Produced complex technical and social media graphics leveraging Adobe Creative Suite, leading to a 15%* increase in social audience engagement.

  • Project Management: Integrated creative project management software, boosting workflow efficiency by 35%* and project completion rates by 10%*.

  • Collaboration: Worked closely with multiple teams to understand timelines, strategy, and specs, and incorporate feedback into designs, ensuring brand alignment.

August 2019 - August 2022

GRAPHIC DESIGNER   |   Higher Education
  • Design Innovation: Conceptualized and applied visual design principles to create 35+ monthly branded assets, emphasizing typography, composition, color theory, and hierarchy.

  • Process Management: Ensured brand consistency with up-to-date brand guidelines, managing all aspects of the print and digital design process from concept to completion.

  • Strategic Adaptation: Transformed strategies and creative briefs into branded design solutions, incorporating feedback and ensuring alignment with project goals.

  • Management and Mentoring: Guided student design team, implementing an onboarding program for design student workers to streamline processes and encourage growth.

  • Collaborative Leadership: Nurtured strong, proactive relationships with cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and effective communication across the university.

  • Printing Precision: Delivered flawless press-ready files, approved proofs, and conducted press checks, ensuring the highest quality, quantity, and cost accuracy.

  • Workflow Optimization: Identified and addressed proofing bottlenecks, cutting creative proofing time by 50%, saving significant costs through innovative software and strategies.

  • Sustainability Co-Chair: Orchestrated events, managed social media, and mentored student workers, driving a 10%* boost in campus sustainability initiatives.

February 2016 - July 2019

GRAPHIC DESIGNER II   |   Gaming
  • Design Management: Managed fast-paced design work across multiple campaign deadlines with seasoned efficiency and meticulous attention to detail.

  • Multifaceted Design Expertise: Designed 50+ print and digital advertising assets, including billboards, direct mail pieces, social media, and marquee images using Adobe Creative Suite.

  • Brand Collaboration: Collaborated with copywriters and design managers to uphold both individual casino and Boyd Gaming brand standards on all creative marketing campaigns.

  • Training Leadership: Established an onboarding program for new hires, overseeing new employee training and providing continuous guidance and mentorship to trainees.

October 2015 - December 2016

PRODUCTION MANAGER   |   Photography
  • Photo Editing: Retouched family, senior and sports portraits from RAW files, designed custom albums and wall art, and created social media content.

  • Photography Assistance: Assisted the photographer during both in-studio and on-location photo shoots for high school seniors, sports teams, and families.

May 2011 - July 2015

ENGLISH TEACHER   |   Education ( South Korea )
  • Created engaging PowerPoint presentations, games, and learning materials to enhance students’ experiences.

  • Designed and implemented a 10-week English course for Korean military students, including supplemental PowerPoints and creative worksheets.

SKILLS / SOFTWARE

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InCopy

Adobe InDesign
Adobe Lightroom 
Adobe Photoshop

Adobe XD

Android Studio

Atlassian Jira

Figma

Google Workspace

Hubspot

HTML / CSS

Microsoft PowerPoint

Miro

Visual Studio Code

Wrike

Ziflow

Skill I'm Learning
Adobe After Effects 

Adobe Premier Pro

Javascript

Node.js

React

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