ABOUT
Hey, I'm Erica! I'm a designer with a focus on brand management and art direction.
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Born in upstate New York with a love for all things art and design, I sought a BFA in Graphic Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. After working as a designer at a wholesale houseware company, I decided to chase my other passion, education. Upon completion of a Masters of Education degree I packed a truck and looked for new inspiration and a lot less snow!
In Austin, I have enjoyed finding balance in both teaching graphic design and working as a designer. Although I am no longer in the classroom, I now enjoy engaging with youth on a volunteer basis through a non-profit gateway to law program for high school seniors.
When I don't have Creative Cloud open, you'll find me hiking with my dog, planning my next DIY project, playing soccer or competing in a triathlon.
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SOFTWARE SKILLS
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Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, Acrobat, Canva
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Klaviyo, Shopify
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Google Suite, Microsoft Office
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Slack, Zoom, Meets, Teams
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Familiar with Adobe Animate, XD, HTML, CSS, Figma
DESIGN SKILLS
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Print & digital marketing materials
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Packaging design with die-lines and 3D mock-ups
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Frame by frame animation
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Brand management - application and refinement of brand guidelines
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Typography, Color theory, Composition & layout
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UX / UI Knowledge and Basic Understanding of Code
WORK EXPERIENCE
Creative Lead
Afia Foods (November 2018 - Present)
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Create and deliver innovative designs across all interactive, digital and print platforms while adhering to brand guidelines
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Lead design direction for various marketing campaigns and overall brand development in partnership with VP of Marketing and CMO
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Communicate with vendors for die-lines, print ready files and proof checks
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Collaborate across teams to design presentations and marketing collateral that demonstrate market trends, sales and operations data
Professional Graphic Designer
Freelance (January 2015 - Present)
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Clients in medical, CPG, education, landscaping and construction
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Conduct market research
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Develop brand identity and create logo design
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Apply existing brand guidelines to packaging, print ads, postcards, social media planning and design and other marketing materials
Graphic Design Teacher
Vandegrift High School (July 2015 - May 2023)
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Develop and implement curriculum that resulted in a 200% increase of students enrolled in the graphic design program
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Coach students to complete an AP 2D Design portfolio that demonstrates concept research and implementation through a series of designs and imagesthat tell a visual story - 100% pass rate
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Manage 150 students/year, multiple tasks and deadlines while fostering an innovative and collaborative work environment
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Collaborate with school and district leadership to develop innovative projects that speak to design trends and industry standards
Graphic Designer
Willow Group Ltd (May 2008 - February 2013)
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Collaborate on catalog layout and design, create press ready files and attend press checks
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Execute in-studio product photography, styling
and editing -
Direct on site lifestyle photo shoots to highlight product use
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Illustrate designs for print on seasonal product lines within die-lines
EDUCATION
Rochester Institute of Technology '13
Masters of Science in Teaching - K-12 Art Education
4.0 GPA
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Rochester Institute of Technology '09
Bachelors of Fine Art - Graphic Design
3.5 GPA, Varsity Soccer
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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Adobe Certified Professional - Photoshop
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Adobe Certified Professional - Illustrator
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SXSW Edu 2023
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Adobe MAX Online 2020, 2021, 2022
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Adobe Max 2019
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AP 2D Design Certified Teacher
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K-12 Art Education Certified Educator
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8-12 Tech Apps Certified Educator