Melissa Nerell
Toy Design/Apparel/ Product/ Art Director — Los Angeles, CA
About
"If you need someone to design and manage just about anything on a full time or freelance basis, I can help. I live in the dynamic city of Hollywood, and I have over fifteen years of proven experience in the product design and fashion industries. Being flexible to adapt to diverse styles has lead me to develop several successful product lines over the years; likewise, my skills have allowed me to hold the positions of Art Director and Product Manager. My love of design and fashion, along with my abilities to learn fast and create unique art, have driven my career and established me as a quality producer. Throughout these years I have also accomplished a great deal from maintaining strong, personable business relationships, and have been involved in every step of the process from market research to launching new products. I love what I do and it shows in all my designs."
- Experience:
- 15+ years
- Education:
- Brooks College of Design
- Awards:
- Awards for best new product 2010
Designed the Bratz Pets that made the company MGA, Millions.
I design and help create award winning products of all kinds.
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Resumé
Melissa Nerell
Cell: (323) 599-6022/melnerell@yahoo.com/www.coroflot.com/melmel5
Creative Director/Graphic Designer/Illustrator
SUMMARY:
My passion is to create and design solutions for brands that will give them an edge above their competitors and will stand the test of time. I specialize in designing fun and beautiful graphics, passionately following fashion and lifestyle trends.
Freelance Clientele: 2001 to Present
Fashion
Textile/ Pattern Design:
Disney, Nickelodeon, Fox Studios, Warner Brothers, Sanrio, King Features (sold at Walmart), Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Speedo swimwear (kids prints sold at Target stores), Nordstorm, Clothestime, Hot Topic, Rampage, and Macy's
T-Shirt Graphic Design:
Forever 21, The Limited, Lane Bryant. Coca Cola, Barbie, Ross. Disney, Sparrow, T.J. Maxx, Wet Seal. Torrid, Hot Topic and Target
Sportswear:
Tomcat Couture (a division of Self Esteem) designed screens and embellishments on hoodies, sweatshirts and track suits
Product Design:
GMPC (accessories such as hats, belts, and plush for client's such as; Disney, Universal Studios, and Forever 21), Claire's (stationary & accessories), M.J. Carlyle & CO. ( designed accessories, belts, and handbags), Funrise Toy Corp. ( toys, plush, stationary, swimming pool items and giftware), Nakajima (back to school items, and handbags) Bestever Inc. ( pre-teen accessories, plush, apparel for dogs), Danu Corporation ( Plush and textiles), Fun Toys (Bathroom accessories, plush and fashion dolls) Jakk's Pacific & Petsmart (Pet products and toys)
Branding
Logo Design/Labels:
Sparrow (apparel), Starling (apparel), Bratz Petz (Toys), Smart Q (vitamins), Billy Lures (fishing tackle), Glitterby Fairies (fashion dolls)
Sales Presentations:
Hale Bob (Paris Hilton Pet Couture-pet accessories)
Packaging Design/Production:
Grafix (toys), Punch Studio- for Home Goods, Ross, Michael's, and T.J. Maxx (gift boxes, scrapbook kits, soap boxes, journals, stationary, wrapping paper, and gift bags)
Illustration
Editorial Illustration: All about you Magazine: (created illustrations for a teen publication)
T-shirt Illustration: Total Enterprises (hand drawn illustrations for T-shirts sold exclusively at Hot Topic)
Full Time Positions: 2001- 2012
Digital Corp: Creative Director/Senior Graphic Designer June 2009- June 2012
Helped create an entire new toy division by sourcing toy manufactures in China all the way from development and design, working closely with every aspect of the line
Created and managed twenty six products within a six month times period. I designed the products, lead the packaging and managed everything from the ground up
Manage freelance designers and work to meet very tight deadlines
Source factories and materials needed to complete toy lines
Conducted market research and established strong business contacts
Coin Star: Senior Graphic Designer January 2007- May 2009
Designed toys, stickers and displays for vending machine channels
Created new products as well as managed existing programs
Worked with vendors to create new product lines
Strategic Partners: Senior Graphic Designer March 2006- January 2009
Designed CADS with licensed characters for companies such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Fox and Warner Brothers, using the textile program NED graphics
MGA Entertainment Inc.: Graphic Designer February 2003- December 2009
“Bratz” licensing with a focus on dolls, sporting goods, plush, play-sets, figurines, snow globes, logos, textile prints for fashion doll clothes and products, giftware and lifestyle products.
Created entire “Bratz Petz” line
Managed the development of toy lines with overseas factories and satellite offices.
P.J. Salvage: Graphic Artist June 2000- January 2003
Designing women’s apparel textiles and screen prints for companies such as Rampage, Hot Topic, Clothestime, Nordstrom, Disney Vintage and many other clothing chain companies
SKILLS:
Computer Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Flash, Solidworks, Rhino, NED graphics, Power Point, Excel, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office
Apparel Graphic Design: Graphics, Textile, CADS, Trend Research
Product Design: Toys, Gift, Sporting Goods, Plush, Pet Products, Accessories
Fine Art: Hand Drawing, Illustration, Painting, and Sculpting
EDUCATION:
April 2012 Private Solidworks Training
March 2001 Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design-Brooks College of Design
June 1998 Airbrush Course- Private Tutor
May 1996 Regional Occupation Program- Job Training in Special Effects
April 1992 Sculpture and Life Drawing courses-Golden West College
References Available Upon Request
