Barbara Jacobson

Brought on to develop the in-house art department. Established project management timeline, file management database, e-mail marketing protocol and product branding style guides. Main functions include, not limited to:
• Oversee and prioritize all activities in the creative department
• Hands on role while mentoring and training creative team
• Design and development of retail packaging, product catalogs and brochures, marketing and promotional materials, web site updates, e-mail marketing campaigns, trade show booth and collateral
• Plan and direct photo-shoots, product photography, photo-retouching
• Copywriting for packaging, collateral materials and catalog
• Pre-press, print ready files, proof acceptance and final review
• Compliance to protocols, style-guides, deadlines and budget constraints
• Work with cross-functional teams, upper management, vendors, freelancers, interns and photographers

Retained to assist legal department with organization and consolidation of various legal files. Provided assistance on various compliance projects including creation of vendor database for privacy issues. Responsible for creating and editing spreadsheets, data research and data entry.

Originally brought on as a contracted designer to assist in art department. Offered a full-time position as a Senior Designer responsible for ownership and management of product development and package design. Promoted to Art Director where functions included:
• Supervise, train and delegate work to creative team and freelancers
• Create sales/product presentations including storyboards, sales sheets and dimensional mock-ups
• Cohesively work with upper management, sales, marketing, engineering, clients and vendors
• Proprietary packaging, product design and development
• Adherence to timeline and budget constraints
• Maintain files, back-up file system, art studio and supplies

Designed and developed marketing and promotional materials for award winning advertising agencies, in-house art departments, small business and creative teams.

Developed business strategies, managed vendors, maintained schedules, managed multiple concurrent projects, lead role in print, branding, identity and custom die-line development.

Responsible for PowerPoint presentations, catalogs, brochures, print-ready files, trade show displays, business forms, style guide compliance, pre-press and photo enhancements.

Notable clients include, not limited to:
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Disney - Hobby Lobby - Home Depot - Kohl's - Lowes - Wal-Mart - Cendant – EK Success – Horizon Graphics – Torre Lazure McCann – Rienzi & Rienzi – Toys R Us

Prior to 2000 I held several formidable positions that required leadership, instruction and design. The most prominent being Designer/Consultant for Cendant Corporation in Parsippany, NJ; Assistant Art Director for Genigraphics in Florham Park, NJ; the Supervisor/Designer for Graphic Media in Richmond, VA & Fairfield, NJ.