Blake Waldman

Manage the packaging arm of the nation’s largest cannabis company, handling the packaging design and print production of all packaging and labeling needs for the Trulieve family of brands. Lead Designer on national and state versions of CPG packaging as well as individual state compliance needs for 13 brands in 11 states across multiple product categories and subcategories. Responsible for all seasonal packages as well as special promotional packaging, and tasked with sourcing new and innovative packaging and receptacles for new and better solutions based on category needs and brand identities. Manage entire process from conceptual designs through to press including production process, outsourcing, and vendor relations to produce stunning and cost-effective packaging across boxes, jars, tubes, pouches, and a whole assortment of multi-pack containers.

xCreative lead on package design for existing products and all new product development for one of California's largest Cannabis brands and retailers, working directly with the Executive team to take their vision of the brand and elevate it to a new level. Updated the entire product line with a sophisticated black with UV gloss pattern brand look with individualized, strain specific labeling. Handled branding development and implementation across entire spectrum of Urbn Leaf products including flower, concentrates, vape products, accessories, merchandising, and co-brand collaborations with other vendors. Oversaw the design, development and production of the Slugworth’s and Sluggy's edibles product lines and worked directly with manufacturers in China to develop new packaging and accessories, including pre-roll packs, concentrate jars and boxes, vape cart and battery packaging, and edible pouches and containers. Worked with legal and compliance to bring packaging within regulations and to stay on top of changes in the law. Brought production of all product labels and testing sticker processes in-house using thermal printing and bulk blank labels instead of printing labels with outside vendors per item, creating fully customized labels and saving over $1MM in printing costs on labeling within the first year alone.

Creative lead on package design and development for all licensed and Seven20 branded products as well as overall Seven20 packaging branding strategy and overall design and feel of Seven20 packaging including the full retail presence, packaging, in-store display, marketing materials, shelf add-ons, and new product development. Licensors incuded Star Wars, MARVEL, DC, Disney, Barbie, Dr. Who, Hello Kitty, Sanrio and others.

Senior Designer on the Star Wars and Beyblade brands, overseeing packaging from concept and structure through to final production in English, Quad-lingual and multiple single languages, keeping brand identity fluent throughout multiple lines and licensors. Manage designers in the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong, working with Marketing, Engineering, Branding and Toy Design to design eye-catching line looks and packaging executions. Lead Design roles have also included the MARVEL, Hero Mashers, Kre-O, and G.I. Joe brands.

Freelance contractor specializing in conceptual graphic design, including packaging design, p.o.s. design, corporate identity, information design and general graphic design needs. Client list has included UbiSoft, Bigfoot Monster Trucks, Vulcan Chain, The College Board; and several advertising & P.R. agencies in the Boston, New York, and San Francisco markets. Currently contracted by Hasbro.

for one of Haggin's internal teams. Lead AD on the Fingerhut account, responsibilites included all brand management and creative direction for seven quarterly catalogs, creating over 30 covers a year. Executed all branding, including concepting and designing all cover, marketing, and information pages, managing DTP and image coordination for press, as well as handling all photo art direction and styling for shoots. Also responsible for presenting concepts to, and coordinating with, the client side to create complete mailing programs. Prior Lead AD responsibilities have also included Art.com, the Dell EPP program, and The Good Guys.

Head creative of a startup Mail Order/E-Commerce Retailer for the trucking and towing industries. Designed and produced a 92 page mail order catalog for monthly distribution as well as concepted and created a dynamically generated e-commerce web site featuring over 15,000 listings. Handled all advertising, design, and promotional needs from Direct Mail promotion to trade shows. Responsible for all production concerns, from photography and artwork to pre-press preparation of digital files, vendor relations, and final production. Created in-house department for production and implementation.

Senior AD specializing in designing in-store P.O.S displays with online and multimedia promotional aspects. Concepted promotions, designed all materials including in-store displays, websites, and FSI's. Designed and produced multimedia presentations, CD-ROMs, and speaker support presentations. Created unique direct mail programs and retail products such as football and hockey trading cards and CD-ROM mailers. Clients included Kraft Foods, Kool-Aid, Nabisco, Fleer/Skybox, Nickelodeon, Lysol Brand Products, Post Cereals, and Absolut Vodka.

Operated full service in-house creative department for world's largest television talk show syndicator until purchased by MCA/Universal. Designed and produced press kits, advertising, promotion, set and logo designs, trade show materials, digital video promos, celebrity events, and web sites. Managed staff of three for production and implementation. Shows included Donahue, Jerry Springer, Sally Jesse Raphael

Responsible for cyclic promotions for Lederle International products, including Centrum family of vitamins, Stresstabs, Fibercon, Caltrate, and Dynatrim. Handled all aspects from concept to production in traditional mechanical fashion, including photography, illustration, typesetting, and retouching.

Did it all... design, stats, comps, production, the three o'clock coffee run. (It's uncle milton - how can you say no?) Did a lot of package design for Grand Union Supermarkets and a lot of exhibition design for MOMA and several smaller retail outlets around NYC.