Category Archives: Designers/Art Directors

Denver Ad School Grads

Heather Vanisko, co-founder/education director at Denver Ad School, checks in with the portfolio links of a whole bunch of new copywriter, art director, designer/illustrator, and strategist grads. Check ’em out at the links below and, in Heather’s words, “HIRE THEM.” Ha!

Copywriters

Art Directors

Designers/Illustrators

Strategists

Senior Team Wanted: Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago

Craig Likhite, VP/Creative Manager at Cramer-Krasselt, is on the hunt for a senior team (senior art director + senior copywriter) to join their team in Chicago. From Craig:

We are looking for an individual or team to help us continue to make friends, not ads. You’ll work across integrated clients like Tropicana, Porsche, Corona Hard Seltzer, Spirit Airlines, Pacifico, Cedar Fair Parks, and more. The position is based in our Chicago office. All C-Kers will have a hybrid work schedule when we return to the office in January 2022.  

The team we’re looking for already has a great portfolio – broadcast/film as well as fully integrated campaigns.  Let’s see some non-traditional thinking, too (PR-driven ideas /brand acts). 

You will be equal parts concept-driven and design-driven. Someone who puts the idea before execution. And then, crafts the ever-loving hell out of that idea. This is an individual, or a team, who thinks about who would direct, DOP, and edit it all. A team who lives to produce work that makes their colleagues jealous. Who goes for not just a great PR idea but wants that idea on the cover of Archive. 

If this is you, then you should join us.

To apply, visit C-K’s careers page here. Or reach out to Craig at Clikhite@c-k.com.

Denver Ad School: Winter 2021 Grads

Ready for some fresh student portfoios? The latest Denver Ad School grads are ready for you. From DAD: “These were the last creatives standing out of our second-ever finishing quarter, Winter 2021. They rose to the challenge and displayed the kind of resiliency that will make them all contributors on day-one in whatever agency is lucky enough to land them.” Can’t wait to see where they go!

Check ’em out here: denveradschool.com/portfolios

Chicago Portfolio School | Winter 2021 Grads

Sarah Latz, Director of Education at Chicago Portfolio School, checks in with 13 new copywriter, art director and designer grads: RJ Dralle (copywriter), Ian Souter (copywriter), Patrick Leahy (copywriter), Abbey Blankensop (art director), Bree Bregman (art director), Cooper Brannigan (art director), Emily Panico (art director), Erin Nedelman (art director), Grace Ren (art director), Taylor Glicksberg (art director) Tiffany Mei (art director), Priscilla Cha (designer), and Rachel Fried (designer). Link to their portfolios below. Congrats to all!

Winter 2021 CPS Grad Portfolios: chicagoportfolio.com/debut

Chicago Portfolio School | Fall 2020 Grads

Sarah Latz, Director of Education at Chicago Portfolio School, checks in with seven new grads ready for prime time: Lucas Simes (art director), Winston Thompson (art director), Kimmy Mueller (designer), Rachel Tenuta (designer), Erin Ayalp (copywriter), Nicholas McGuire (copywriter), and Teddy Cohn (copywriter). Link to their portfolios below. Congrats to all!

Fall 2020 CPS Grad Portfolios: chicagoportfolio.com/debut

Kimmy Mueller

Kimmy is a new graphic designer in Chicago and a recent graduate of Chicago Portfolio School. Lots of really beautiful work on her site including rebrands for Walgreens and Oikos yogurt, a needed fix for an online Myers-Briggs personality test, work for Stoli (above), lettering and typography, logos, and more. Can’t wait to see where Kimmy lands!

Portfolio: kimmymueller.com

Chicago Portfolio School Spring 2020 Grads

Big thanks to Sarah Latz, Director of Education at Chicago Portfolio School, for sending MC the latest CPS grads sites. So much great work! Below are links to all Spring 2020 grad portfolio sites, plus a note from Sarah.

From Sarah:

“Chicago Portfolio School has been offering a free class to undergraduate students who now have to finish their academic year from home. Jeff Epstein, the founder of Chicago Portfolio, leads the online class and discussion of more than 70 college students from around the country. Advertising professors from around the country helped spread word of the class, and students from all of the Big 10 campuses, and state schools like Florida, Oregon, Arizona, as well as smaller schools, are registered.

Recruiters from Leo Burnett, plus veteran copywriters, art directors and strategists have virtually visited to talk about how to get a job and create award-winning campaigns.

For now, the class is ongoing, and seniors (creative and non-creative majors) are still welcome to register for the online class. Additionally, the school’s allowing anyone to virtually “sit in” on a number of other classes they offer.

Reach out to Sarah at sarah@chicagoportfolio.com for more information.”

Casey Fielder

Casey is a junior art director on the hunt for his first gig after graduating from Creative Circus. His site was sent in by his friend Ricky Depugh who is a junior copywriter in Atlanta. How nice is that? So nice, MC is including links to both of their sites below. Some crazzeee spec campaigns on Casey’s site, including “The Savage Citrus” for Simply Grapefruit Juice (above). The video on his About Me page is pretty wild too. Can’t wait to see where he lands!

Casey Fielder’s portfolio: caseyfielderad.com

Ricky Depugh’s portfolio: ricky-depugh.com

Sara Muchnick & Katie Coward

Sara (copywriter) and Katie (art director) are a creative team at Pereira O’Dell in San Francisco. Since their last post on MC (back on 10.29.18), they’ve been busy. There’s new work on both of their sites (and different work on each), including a super cool project for Ese by Pearson (above). Time for an update!

Sara’s portfolio: saramuchnick.com

Katie’s portfolio: katiecoward.com

The Cre8tive Majority: Multicultural Freelance Opportunities

Troy Jones, copywriter/CD (and good friend to MC), checks in with a new multicultural crowdsourcing agency, The Cre8tive Majority—and they’re on the hunt for creative talent (remote, can work from any location). From Troy:

“There’s nothing more modern than letting modern copywriters and creatives earn a little extra cash by pitching projects from brands looking to communicate with a multicultural audience. If you think you have the creative capabilities and insights to communicate authentically with this audience then what are you waiting for, sheesh. Go sign up now!”

Sign up for early pitch opportunities here: cre8tivemajority.com

Copywriter & Designer Wanted: Flint & Steel, NYC

Flint & Steel is on the hunt for both a mid-level copywriter and a designer to join their team in NYC. From Flint & Steel:

COPYWRITER
Position details: Long term freelance with an opportunity for full time employment.

We’re on the hunt for a mid-level copywriter to join the team as partner to a seasoned art director, and key member of the creative department. You’ll concept and articulate a shared vision, creating compelling stories and copy.

You are a passionate thinker looking for real satisfaction in your job. For you, writing and creativity isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling. You want to leverage all your varied interests to create things that are truly meaningful. And you’re able to concept big, think fast, and aggressively contribute to an inspired culture that wants and needs you.

What You’ll Do

  • High-level concepting, tactical program ideation and copywriting for a wide range of brand experiences, social content and marketing deliverables that generate conversation and brand engagement
  • Own the brand story for our clients across all channels, maintaining a consistent voice and vision
  • Create branded social content that is insightful, culturally relevant and inherently sharable
  • Successfully communicate (present and sell-in) creative ideas and the strategic rationale behind them, and collaborate with agency team members to produce smart, powerful work

What We’re Looking For

  • 3-5 years experience in marketing, advertising or social media
  • Excellent short-form and long-form writing skills in a variety of voices
    and tones
  • Solid grammar, editing and proofreading capabilities
  • A hands on, lean in approach to your work and craft. We’re looking for a go-getter who’s not afraid to jump in and get their hands dirty
  • An awareness of cultural trends, social fluency and solid understanding of how to drive conversation and engagement across social channels
  • Ability to think strategically and conceptualize creatively
  • Strong presentation and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to self-motivate and work autonomously to manage multiple projects and deadlines

DESIGNER
Position details: Long term freelance with an opportunity for full time employment.

We’re looking for a designer to join the team as a key member of the creative department. You’ll turn big ideas into visual and conceptual reality, and create thoughtful, compelling design for a variety of media.

You are a passionate and critical thinker looking for real satisfaction in your job. For you, design and creativity isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling. You want to leverage all your varied interests to design things that are truly meaningful. And you’re able to concept big, think fast, and aggressively contribute to an inspired culture that wants and needs you.

What You’ll Do

  • Brainstorm and create visual communications for a wide range of brand experiences, social content and marketing deliverables to generate conversation and brand engagement
  • Own the brand story for our clients across all channels, maintaining a consistent look and vision
  • Help the team create and prepare presentations for new business and clients
  • Design branded social content that is insightful, culturally relevant and inherently sharable
  • Successfully communicate (present and sell-in) creative ideas and collaborate with agency team members to produce smart, powerful work

What We’re Looking For

  • 1-3 years experience in marketing, advertising or social media, and/or applicable education program
  • Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Keynote. Proficiency in After Effects is a plus!
  • Have a solid understanding of typography, period and current design trends and styles, layout design, and best web practices
  • A hands on, lean in approach to your work and craft. We’re looking for a go-getter who’s not afraid to jump in and get their hands dirty
  • Ability to self-motivate and work autonomously to manage multiple projects and deadlines

Who We Are

We’re a seasoned shop with start-up nerve. Why? We’re challenging the definition of what a marketing champion can be.

We celebrate autonomy and creative freedom. We are democratic, intolerant of mediocrity and we’re creating ideas that range from content, to category-shifting TV campaigns, gaming, Sundance awarded films, new products, and more. And we’re doing it for clients ranging from Pepsi, to Johnson & Johnson, NBA, Glenfiddich, Topps, AMC and others.

Interested? Yes, we’re just as excited as you!
Please reach out to us with ALL of the following:

  • Your CV
  • A cover letter letting us know why you want to be part of the Flint & Steel team
  • A link to your portfolio. If your website requires a password, please remember to include that so we can review your work.

We are kindly not accepting applicants without portfolios.
Please send replies to: jobs@flintandsteel.com

Chicago Portfolio School: Fall 2019 Grads

Sarah Gatling Latz, Director of the Education Department at Chicago Portfolio School, checks in with portfolio links to the CPS Fall 2019 Copywriter, Art Director, and Designer grads. Congrats to all!

COPYWRITERS

Abby Myers | abby-myers.com
Alexandra Tsarpalas | alexandratsarpalas.com 
Brian Meyer  | brnmyr.com
Conner Schrock | connerschrock.com
Madison Kopp | madisonkopp.com
Matt McGrane | mattmcgrane.com
Sophia Campanelli | sophiacampanelli.com 
Taylor Smith | taylorwordsmith.com

ART DIRECTORS

Amanda Gebelhoff | amandagebelhoff.com
Claudia Testa | claudiatesta.com
Erin Ploen  | erinploen.com
Grace Duffy | graceduffycreative.com
Rafael Costa | theredninjaturtle.com

DESIGNERS

Jao ChiShan  | jaochishan.com 
Grace Kosner | gracekosner.com
Jessie Pomper jessiepomper.com
Katie Danaher | katiedanaher.com
Kara Kopec karakopec.com

Feel free to contact the grads or connect with Sarah for an intro.

Denver Ad School

Jesse Alkire, copywriter/CD in Denver (featured on MC back on 08.18.16, jessealkire.com), checks in with a big announcement. The new Denver Ad School is up and running.

From the DAD site: “A new school for explorers and risk-takers. Out west, nestled up against Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, sits a lone creative outpost. A place for the curious and the willing to discover how far their creativity can take them. To get here takes an audacious will, but any good creative knows that nothing interesting ever came out of playing it safe.

Before you seek us out, though, ask yourself one question — are you in search of an ordinary advertising school… or are you in search of adventure?”

Announcement here: denveradschool.com/2019-apr-23-dad-launch

Site here: denveradschool.com

Can’t wait to see the first set of grad portfolios!

Lucía Céspedes & Joan Rayó

Lucía (writer) and Joan (art director) are a junior creative team at TBWA\España. (Love having a Spanish team on MC again.) Their team portfolio is part produced, part student work—but mostly produced, and what’s produced is awesome. Don’t miss their campaign for Codere Apuestas, Real Madrid’s official betting company (above). Too funny.

Portfolio: cargocollective.com/joanylucia

VCU Brandcenter Week: All 2019 Grads

Huge thanks to Ashley Sommardahl, VCU Brandcenter Director of Student Affairs and Industry Outreach, for helping MC host VCU Brandcenter Week. Always inspiring and mind-blowing to see the awesome portfolios coming out of Brandcenter.

To see all of the portfolios for copywriters, art directors, creative brand management, experience design, and strategy grads, use this link: brandcenter.vcu.edu/recruiters/student-portfolios

Want to learn more about VCU Brandcenter? Email here.

Congrats to all Brandcenter grads! Can’t wait to see where you land.

VCU Brandcenter Week: Katie Paxton

Katie is a new art director and a recent graduate of VCU Brandcenter. Her portfolio is full of super cool type treatments, including two long-copy campaigns (yesss) with new copywriter and fellow Brandcenter grad Mitchell Moss (portfolio here). As long as someone still loves to write long-copy ads, and someone else still loves to lay them out, the world is safe. At least, for now.

Portfolio: katiepaxton.com

Copywriter, Senior Art Director & Senior Designer Wanted: Bright Red, Tallahassee, FL

Sheila Simpson, SVP Human Resources at Bright Red in Tallahassee, FL, is on the hunt for a mid-senior copywriter, senior art director, and a senior designer to join their growing team. From Bright Red:

“Located in Tallahassee, Florida, BRIGHT RED is a dynamic collaboration of strategy, content, digital and public relations synergized to connect brands and audiences. We currently have exciting opportunities for highly talented, eager Copywriters, Senior Art Directors, and Senior Designers that have the desire and ability to be part of a dynamic creative team.

Copywriter

We are looking for a mid-senior level copywriter to do the best work of your career working on a diverse portfolio of clients. Pencils and lions are not a mandatory, but the desire to win them is.

Responsibilities:

  • Reports directly to the Chief Creative Officer.
  • Collaborates with art directors and strategists to translate ideas into engaging ideas
  • Lead group reviews of creative work, adding perspective and taking direction as needed

Skills:

  • Online portfolio a must
  • A degree or training in a related field
  • Strong conceptual and writing skills across both traditional and emerging platforms
  • Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and departments
  • Superior communication, organization and time management desirable

Senior Art Director

Concepts and executes breakthrough work. Consistently delivers top notch art direction and design across all platforms as well as bringing a vision to events and activations. Helps grow junior art directors to do the same.

Responsibilities:

  • Collaborates across disciplines and ultimately with creatives to concept high impact, integrated ideas.  
  • Ensures that ideas/designs are produced timely, on budget and with the degree of quality promised to the client.
  • Maintains interaction with digital/social/print/broadcast production and client services on scope of projects.
  • Directs and guides art directors and writers in the creation of advertising.
  • Produces all types of clear media.
  • Delivers internal presentations to senior creative personnel and/or clients.
  • Remains current on industry trends and technology.

Qualifications:

  • Five or more years of related work experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
  • Ability to press check and a solid understanding of photography, illustration, typography, editing, transfer and shooting of commercials preferred.

Communication Ability:
Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or regulations. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

Computer Skills:
MS Office, word processing, spreadsheets, Internet software, E-mail, Database software, Macintosh software, Quark, Photoshop, and Illustrator

Leadership Responsibilities:
Does supervise the work of others.

Senior Designer

Creates eye watering designs across both printed and digital media. Able to create a brand identity from the ground up.  Will be responsible for strategically aligning creative concept with strategy, technical specifications, planning and performance analysis. Can demonstrate leadership qualities and mentor by example.

Teaming with departmental peers, writers, information architects and creative directors and developers works to ensure that cross-creative collaboration process evolves into well-developed concepts that meet client objectives.

Education/Work Experience

  • Web site and/or Micro site design experience.
  • User interface design experience.
  • Understanding of Information Architecture.
  • Experience developing visual standards and guidelines.
  • Expert in design software on the Macintosh platform:, ie. Photoshop, Illustrator, DreamWeaver and Flash.
  • Knowledge of CSS and advanced HTML a must.
  • Knowledge of current rich media technologies and their relevant applications.
  • A degree or training in a related field (digital design, graphic design, advertising, etc.).
  • Online Portfolio a must.
  • Strong conceptual design and typographic skills and the ability to maintain high standards within the group.
  • In-depth industry knowledge. Clearly understands, and is able to articulate, the limitations and possibilities of the space.
  • Traditional branding and graphic design experience desirable.
  • Strong presentation skills as well as professionalism and experience in client service.
  • Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and departments. Has successfully demonstrated ability to mentor, manage and direct.
  • Superior communication, organization and time management skills desirable.

For all positions, please email resume and link to online portfolio to Sheila Simpson, SVP HR at: ssimpson@brightgredagency.com

Steve Swartz

Steve is an art director/writer/designer/CD in St. Louis. All kinds of cool projects on his site—including NASCAR (above). Love his “the me” page, too, including his description of what we do for a living and Menards Home Improvement stores: “For fun I carve out spaces in people’s heads for widgets and services in an over-crowded, post-need, first-world-problem marketplace. Just kidding. For real fun I shop at Menards. The answer to a question nobody asked. What if Cracker Barrel and Home Depot had a love child?” Nailed it.

Portfolio: steveswartzartandcopy.com

ACD/CD & Account Director Wanted: Hub, San Francisco

hub_logo_final-2

DJ O’Neil, good friend to MC and master of ceremonies at Hub in San Francisco, is on the hunt for some peeps. From DJ:

ACD/Creative Director
We’re looking for an accomplished ACD/CD that is comfortable working both as an art director and a designer; if we could only choose one of those two skill sets for this position, it would definitely be on the design side. We need a person that can lead a client through a complete visual re-brand—walking them through the entire process of identity, visual look and feel and go to market creative for a fully integrated brand. We are looking for a very talented person here; we continually attract clients that want truly great work, and we need someone with the ability to deliver on that.

Account Director
We’re a small place, with no gigantic clients. Which means all of the clients we work with are the actual decision makers. As such, we’re looking for an account director that can work with these decision makers and really run pieces of business—from writing initial SOW’s, to writing marketing plans, to managing the client and steering them toward great strategy and great creative, to managing the account team that keeps the budgets and timelines on track, to growing the business, and everything in between. We’re not looking for a “yes” man or woman—this person will be a true client partner, and that means pushing back (for the client’s own benefit) when necessary—we believe this is how great client relationships are built. Ideally, this person thinks more like a CMO than and ad guy/gal.

For more info or to apply, email DJ at: dj@hubsanfrancisco.com

Senior Copywriter & Senior AD/Designer Wanted: Kuhl/Swaine, St. Louis

kuhl

Kuhl/Swaine in St. Louis is on the hunt for a Senior Copywriter and a Senior Art Director/Designer (teams welcome!). From Kuhl/Swaine: “Kuhl/Swaine is an independent, full service branding agency. We mold breakthrough, category-rocking ideas and craft creative solutions across channels that surprise, inspire, motivate and, most importantly, grow our partners’ brands.

We’re searching for a Senior Copywriter and Senior Art Director (teams welcome to apply) to work across our roster of clients, including Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, Old Forester Bourbon, Ascend Kayaks and the St. Louis Blues.

If you’re looking for an agency where ideas are king and red tape doesn’t cut it, please check out our work and then send yours to dswaine@kuhlswaine.com.

University of Texas at Austin Week

Summons_seal_BW

Big ups to Katie Samuelson and the one and only Chad Rea, amazing Austin writer/CD (and good friend to MC), who helped MC put together University of Texas at Austin Week. So many amazing creatives get their start at UT, one of the few traditional universities with a legit advertising program (along with VCU and Oregon). Can’t wait to see where this year’s grads land!

 

Copywriters

Brennen Cooke: brennencooke.com

Carolyn Hinojosa: carlynhinojosa.myportfolio.com

Charlotte Lichtenheld: charlottelichtenheld.com/work

Joy Kim: joykim.work

Kaie Samuelson: katiesamuelsen.com

Lexi Acevedo: alexisacevedo.squarespace.com

Marisa Valente: marisavalente.com

 

Art Directors

Angela Dai: angeladai.com

Bolero Munkhbold: boloramunkhbold.com

Chelsea Tijerina: chelseasheadspace.com

Drew Butler: drewbcreative.com

Jake Leber: jakeleber.myportfolio.com

Madeline Cuba: madelinecuba.com

Madii Poirot: madelinepoirot.com

 

University of Texas at Austin Week: Angela Dai

texas

Angela is a new art director and a recent graduate of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Creative program. Sometimes you click through a portfolio and you can just tell—this person had so much fun making this creative. Amazing energy in all of Angela’s work. Be sure to check out her Illustration and Future pages. Awesome.

Portfolio: angeladai.com