professional Experience

September 2022–Current            Brand Consultant               Santa Cruz, CA

Brand Development / Art Director / Designer

• Overseas manufacturing sourcing and development (apparel)

• Design comprehensive brand creative suites — font selection, brand colors, usage guidelines etc.

• Write creative and technical copy

• Develop brand and market positioning strategies

• Create assets for both digital and print — pitch decks, packaging design, letterhead, catalogs, websites, social profiles etc.

June 2013–December 2022            WVN. / Synergy Organic Clothing               Santa Cruz, CA

Director of Brand Development / Art Director

• Rebrand all visual, inward and outward facing, identity of Synergy Organic Clothing to WVN. (2019-2021)

• Create cohesive brand identity through art direction, brand direction and visual brand collateral

• Create consistent identity through printed collateral including but not limited to packaging, direct marketing materials (retail flyers, mailers, etc), wholesale linesheets, wholesale catalogs, hangtags, garment labels, create new secondary brand identities (WVN For You, Synergy Essentials, EcoLuxe, etc)

• Art Direction and production for all photoshoots/photography (used for wholesale, retail and websales branding/sales) across all brands

• Budgeting, hiring, casting, art direction and on set direction for all photoshoots

• Maintain brand identity through in store, online, print and email marketing

• Maintain brand identity in tradeshow marketing and wholesale channels (i.e. NuOrder, Faire etc)

• Create capsule collection lookbooks for PR and influencer marketing outreach

• Maintain brand identity through visual merchandising direction and implementation in retail stores

• Consult with Creative Director on product development for upcoming seasons

• Create targeted content and branding for major accounts such as Whole Foods Market and REI

Mar 2006–Current            Pepper Place Design                Santa Cruz, CA

Designer / Owner

• Develop and produce original product line of handbags and other soft goods

• Develop and produce clothing product line

• Creative direction and product development for all styles in the current and past product lines

• Develop successful marketing and branding strategies to further develop the Pepper Place Design brand and product line

• Create complete brand identity seen in our brick + mortar shop (opened March 2016) as well as online

• Design + build website: www.pepperplacedesign.com

• Work with influencers to promote brand identity and sales

• Create and maintain content for all social media

• Create content for printed collateral such as lookbooks and in store signage/marketing

Oct 2010–May 2013            DownEast Outfitters            Santa Cruz, CA

Assistant Designer

• Worked directly with the Director of Product Development in all areas of product development as directed

• Managed incoming fit samples from overseas vendors, including but not limited to fit, fabrication and construction comments and direction

• Color matched lab dips from overseas vendors

• Worked with vendors to problem solve issues with production

• Maintained vendor confidentiality at all times

• Worked directly with overseas vendors to ensure correct production practices were followed in all areas of product development and quality control

• Monitored samples for all brands; DownEast Basics, Modbe, Bella Bird, DownEast Girl, and DownEast Swim

• Created style guides as directed

• Named styles as directed

• Streamlined sample approval process by creating and maintaining organized, easy-to-read excel approval sheets for each overseas vendor

• Created specs for all styles and attached information to tech packs; created tech packs

• Standardized sizing for all 4 product lines, including creating a standard measurement guide

• Corrected sizing issues with our girls line and created standardized sizing

Photoshoot Production Manager / Art Director

• Oversaw lifestyle and studio photoshoots from concept to execution as directed for DownEast Basics (main label), DownEast Swim, DownEast Girl, Modbe Clothing (secondary label) and Bella Bird (private label for Walmart)—approximately 26 lifestyle photoshoots per calendar year and weekly studio shoots.

• Produced all photoshoots i.e. obtained permits and permissions for photo shoot access, hired crew, cast talent

• Directed/managed all crew and talent on set

• Worked directly with stylist to style models on set

• Scouted new locations and developed on brand concepts for photoshoots

• Wrote copy, including creative and product descriptions, for printed catalog and web

Additional Responsibilities

• Managed inventory budget across all 5 brands

• Created and placed POs with overseas vendors

• Created and submitted tech packs to overseas vendors

• Managed delivery updates from vendors and communicated necessary information to senior staff and overseas vendors

• Addressed quality control issues and communicated necessary information to senior staff and overseas vendors