Navigation Content

karen j

art director + visual designer

san francisco + nyc

+ retail-savvy art director + visual designer with more than 10 years diverse, high-profile industry experience and expertise in launching and evolving brands.

+ this site is currently being updated. past projects (magazines, retail marketing, collateral) can be viewed online @ www.be.net/karenj.

+ mobile: 212 380 8444 for info

SPECIALTIES


  • design direction / hands-on design / retail creative / fashion / e-commerce / brand development / campaign development / redesign + rebrand / building teams / recruiting talent / editorial direction

TECH SKILLS


  • MAC + PC / indesign / photoshop / illustrator / dreamweaver / html / xhtml / css / fireworks / (intermediate) flash / powerpoint

EXPERIENCE

  • ART DIRECTOR / VISUAL DESIGNER
    san francisco + nyc
    2008 - Present
    KAREN J
    • partner with marketing/merchandising departments creating, driving, and implementing brand experiences online
    • work with consumer website design teams and/or outside sources producing graphic assets, web mockups and prototypes
    • collaborate on site designs or enhancements, site functionality, development, and site architecture
    • provide creative problem solving, general copy editing, photo editing and imaging, and design spec documentation

    ° SKAVA - develop and implement designs for social media and mobile apps, microsites/sitelets (clients: GAP, SEARS, MACY'S, BLOOMINGDALE'S)
    ° SAKS FIFTH AVE - collaborated with SFA's agency MarketBridge to concept and design refresh of SAKS.COM's Little Black Card microsite
    ° SHUTTERFLY - developed on and offline Holiday 2010 campaign concepts including print catalog, web pages, promo wells, and banners
    ° BARE ESCENTUALS - collaborated on conceptual designs of email, web pages, display/banner ads for BE, BUXOM, and MD FORMULATIONS
    ° GAP INC/PIPERLIME - partnered with in-house copywriters and producers to create summer campaign pages and seasonal promotion emails

    consulting/other clients
    ° CATALOG SPREE
    ° LEVIS.COM
    ° LONELY PLANET
  • SENIOR MANAGER / DESIGNER
    san francisco
    Jun 2007 - Jun 2008
    GAP INC.
    • recruited and managed GAP INC. Outlet's in-house Creative Services
    • designed and directed all marketing creative for BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY and GAP OUTLET stores across North America
    • supervised workflow of in-house design staff and external resources
    • proposed new marketing strategies and business-driving concepts
    • led brand strategy for window, in-store, online, packaging, direct mail
    • designed and directed email marketing campaigns and web initiatives
    • refined and stewarded brand style guidelines over both retail brands
    • coordinated photo shoots, solicited vendors, managed creative budget
    • awarded for creative brand evolution of store marketing
  • ART / DESIGN DIRECTOR
    nyc
    2003 - 2007
    KJNY
    • directed NYC design group specializing in retail, branding, publishing

    • managed two to four assistant designers and external resources
    
• worked closely with web developers on websites/web marketing
    • coordinated projects, organized assets, pitched and presented to clients
    • collaborated with renowned photographers, artists, writers, and editors

    ° 1800FLOWERS.COM - collaborated on development of retail brand repositioning and rollout for print and web marketing
    ° LIMITED BRANDS - assisted in initial creative rebranding of BATH & BODY WORKS brand direct marketing
    ° THE CHILDREN'S PLACE - developed seasonal marketing concepts for window and in-store signage, direct mail, magalogs, and packaging
    ° CYZONE.COM - developed rebranding of Latin American teen brand
    ° THE NEW YORK TIMES - designed/directed numerous newspaper and Magazine Special Sections
  • ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER
    nyc
    2001 - 2004
    CONDÉ NAST
    art director - special projects
    ° GLAMOUR - contributed in 2004 editorial redesign
    ° VOGUE - designed Sept 2003 fashion supplement Vogue Man

    senior designer
    ° ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST - designed and managed marketing collateral
    ° GLAMOUR - designed signature brand marketing and promotions

EDUCATION

  • COMMUNICATION DESIGN
    nyc + los angeles
    PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Navigation Content