Maria McLaughlin—Curriculum Vitae
e. maria.mclaughlin@gmail.com
t. 415.596.8343
Education
American University, Washington, DC; 1993-1997
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Double Minor, Visual Media and Italian Language
Syracuse University, Florence, Italy; 1995-1996
International Programs Abroad
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Applications
Highly Skilled: Adobe CS4; PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, & QuarkXPress 8.02
Proficient: Dreamweaver CS4, Flash CS3, Proteus, MS Office, MS Access, Filemaker Pro
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Awards
Platinum, 2006 MarCom Creative Awards—Employee Publication/ Training category
Banana Republic Employee Guide
Gold, 2006 MarCom Creative Awards—Employee Publication category
Banana Republic Commitment Book
First Place Female 2007, 2006—Pacific Coast Angel Island Trail Run
NY City Marathon 2002, 2005
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Skills
• Art Direction & Graphic Design
• Identity Development & Creation
• Timeline & Budget Management
• Strategic Problem Solving
• Intermediate Italian Language
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Experience
Principal
Maria McLaughlin Design; February 2009 - Present
Oakland, CA USA
Brand Development, Art Direction & Graphic Design
Client list includes:
• Artisan Territory, CA USA
• DoseTrak, NY USA
• Psoas Massage + Bodywork, CA USA
• QlikTech International, Lund, SWEDEN
• SunPower Corporation & SunPower Foundation, CA USA
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Art Director + Senior Designer
Bonfire Communications; September 2005 - February 2009
San Francisco, CA USA
Brand Development, Art Direction & Graphic Design
• Conceptualize and create award winning campaigns for Fortune 500 Companies, such as Banana Republic, Gap Inc., Genentech, Harrah’s Entertainment, Liz Claiborne, Oracle and Sun Microsystems.
• Build design presentations and articulate strategic thinking to clients.
• Develop the Bonfire Brand Framework Methodology, Process Plan and Brand Brief.
• Write style guides, and design original logo types and marks, icons, graphics, business systems, collateral, signage, tools, guides, and models.
• Build strategic communications campaigns partnering with campaign team to create effective messaging, consistent visual systems across multi-brand platforms, and coherent, effective change management tools.
• Lead the creative process to create design concepts, build presentations for internal and external client review, developing them from concept to completion.
• Responsible for managing multiple projects within timeline and budget scope.
• Build and review budgets and timelines that meet client and partner expectations.
• Art direct and train designers on creative department process, business goals, and methodology.
• Cooperate with cross-departmental groups to develop methods for working together effectively.
• Develop internal business processes for this small and quickly growing agency. Structure the file management system. Create and grow the assets library, build resource tools, and leverage results across projects.
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Design Director
CEDCO Publishing Company; December 2004 - July 2005
San Rafael, CA, USA
Art Direction, Graphic Design
• Create original designs for DreamWorks, Warner Brothers, Fox & CMG Films, HBO and Mattel.
• Conceptualize and build graphic artwork and typography for CEDCO product line, including: Wall Calendars, Date books, Journals, Daily Calendars and their packaging. Photo Retouching and clean-up of supplied files.
• Art Direct Covers with input from Sales Team, CEO, Photography Editor and Licensing Director.
• Create fresh designs for 2007 product templates. Develop new product ideas for 2007 CEDCO product line.
• Art Direct, proof and approve design concepts, final mock-ups and press proofs.
• Created standards and guidelines for workflow to ensure quality production and accurate and efficient processes within the Art Department.
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Brand, Marketing & Design Consultant
American Express Consulting; June 2002 - November 2004
American Express, Toronto, Ontario, Canada & San Francisco, CA, USA
Brand Management
• Create an American Express Consulting (AEC) sub-brand and collateral within the meta level American Express Global Blue Box Brand. Responsible for leading the development of the AEC segment with national initiatives across markets and regions to communicate the value of AEC, improve industry presence, increase business results and build customer satisfaction.
• Conceptualize look and feel for top client forums, advisory councils, workshops, awards ceremonies.
• Ensure focus and consistency of messaging across all media.
Art Direction, Graphic Design & Marketing
• Conceptualize imaging and design, implement production and printing
of all American Express Consulting collateral. Including packages, papers, direct mail,
promotions, clothing, hardware and giveaway items.
• Art Direct annual Global Trends & Forecasts (T&F) for
American Express Global Group. Build unique graphics, style sheets and information design templates.
Write and layout executive summary.
• Partner with PR to bring strong media attention to Global T&F
document. In 2004; 50 episodes of print, radio and television coverage were tracked with sizable stories in the Globe & Mail, ROB-TV and CBC Radio.
• UI Design Consultant for American Express (US offices) Client
Profile Manager (CPM) software.
• Conceptualize and Manage national AEC Forums for Large Market
Clients. Build critical path and executive support. Write and build surveys. Design collateral,
invitations and prizes.
• Spearhead AEC annual marketing planning process and management of
the production budget.
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Graphic Design & Identity Consultant
Taproot Foundation; 2001 - 2002
Non-profit Service Grant Provider; San Francisco, CA, USA
Brand Development, Art Direction & Graphic Design
• Conceptualize and build brand identity for national non-profit organization.
• Art Direction and Design of logo and print collateral. Press Checks.
• Collaborative Creative Direction on site UI and photography.
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Art Director
MicroTimes Magazine; 2000 - 2001
'The Buyer’s Source for Business Technology'; Oakland, CA, USA
Art Direction, Print Production, Manager
• Conceptualize and Art Direct advertising campaigns tailored to clients needs and products.
Implement designs, build logos, design and build editorial artwork and magazine covers.
• Design internal promotions and sales tools. Design and oversee production of “MT ADvantage” Newsletter.
• Assist with layout of signatures, postscripting and final files preparation. Press Checks.
• Trouble shoot problem files during CTP process. Liaison with printer during and after
printing, binding and shipping. Responsible for QC reporting.
• Manage and develop a team of four in-house designers and one satellite artist.
• Supervise quality and character of advertisements, classified, fractional and career layouts.
• Develop team knowledge and set group and individual goals. Hires, reviews, manage employee workload.
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Graphic Designer
The Gorilla Foundation/koko.org; 1999 - 2000
Human & Gorilla interspecies communication; Woodside, CA, USA
• Design and produce collateral, annual journal and product packages. Press Checks.
• Negotiate cost effective solutions with printers and mail houses and build supplier relationships.
• Create personalized direct mail packages for members and membership building.
Graphic Designer, Marketing & Program Manager
The Parker Company; 1997 - 1999
Italian Travel Experts; Lynn, MA, USA
• Design advertisements and collateral. Create illustrations and Art Direct photography.
• Conceptualize advertising campaigns and design layouts for print publications.
• Program Manager for “Great Wines of Italy Tours” and “La Scuola delle Pettirosso” Cooking School.
• Launch wine tour and cooking school programs. Build promotional initiatives and media attention.
• Italian Specialist and villa rental Sales Consultant.
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Associations
• AIGA
• The Designer’s Accord
• San Francisco Art Institute
• Slow Food Berkeley Board—Secretary & Steering Committee, 2008-2009
• Art Benefit for USAID—April 2006 (Raised 10K US$)
• “False Walls”- False Profit, Photography Show, July 2005
• “SF Faces 2.0”- StartSOMA, Photography Show, December 2004
• Hamilton House Family Shelter—Teen Art Program Lead Volunteer, 2002-2004
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Freelance Client List:
• Wells Fargo Bank
• Top Five Consulting
• Il Fornaio Restaurants
• SF Opera - Bravo Club
• Northern Power Systems
• T.A.T.P.I.Y.N. Arts Festivals
• San Francisco Bay Guardian
• San Francisco Metropolitan Club
• Journal of Italian Food, Wine & Travel
• W.A.R.N. - West African Rainforest Network
• American Express, Global Consulting Group
• SAMPAN project of World Wildlife Foundation