Coroflot
  • Hire Designers
  • Sign In
  • Sign Up
  • Jobs
  • Designers
  • Discover
  • Salaries
  • Jobs
  • Designers
  • Discover
  • Salaries
  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Create Portfolio
  • Hire Designers
  • Sign In
e
Creative Director, Principle - BrandFire Creative

Craig Swoboda

St. Louis, MO
Available Now
  • Follow
  • Contact
  • Save to list
  • Stream
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • About

    Design + Strategy. 30+ year veteran in the graphic communication field that specializes in package design but, also has a firm grasp of all print work as well.

  • Education
    • B.F.A. - Major - Illustration. ::: Minor - Graphic Design
      Columbus College of Art & Design GD USA
      1994
    • A.A.S - Commercial Advertising
      St. Louis Community College
      1991
  • Experience
    • CREATIVE DIRECTOR - PACKAGING
      ANHEUSER-BUSCH
      St. Louis MO, United States
      Oct 2011 - Present (13 years 8 months)
      Bud Light Family, Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, Busch Family, Goose Island, Ritas, and more...

      • Create and manage creative assets for premium light brands as it relates to package design, brand identity, and digital marketing strategies.
      • Mange creative process that includes presentation of creative briefs, conceptual designs, final artwork approvals and online approvals for final production art.
      • Analyze and achieve cost and time savings in AB's creative process by implementing an internal digital approval workflow saving the company an average of $36,000 annually and countless hours of proofing.
      • Implement and maintain a sustainable workflow for promotional/commemorative packaging for championship sport sponsorships for same week sales to retail events.
      • Train and consult team members (2 art director - 2 graphic designers - 2 production artists) to maintain quality standards and achieve departmental goals.
    • CREATIVE DIRECTOR | GRAPHIC DESIGNER
      Freelance
      1998 - Present (27 years)
      • Develop strategies and managed projects from concept through delivery.
      • Design packaging, newsletters, brochures, corporate identity packages, ads and invitations.
      • Work with printers on bids, turn around times and artwork specifications.

      client list includes: Vi-Jon - Fair Saint Louis - St. Louis Rams - Hautly Cheese - Keller labs - Plaza Motors - Dog Treat Naturals - Biomérieux - Scobis - Norwood Country Club - Quintessential Catering
    • DESIGN MANAGER
      Spectrum Brands (United Industries)
      St. Louis, MO
      2007 - 2011 (4 years)
      Cutter, Garden Safe, Hot Shot, Repel, Schultz, Spectracide

      • Created and managed creative assets for the entire Home & Garden division as it relates to package design, brand/corporate identity, and print/digital marketing strategies.
      • Restructured creative team, after reorganization of Spectrum Brands, to better support the marketing team and to gain fiscal and productivity efficiencies while keeping all creative in-house.
      • Analyzed and achieved cost savings in Spectrum Brands prepress process by implementing thorough internal prepress checklist and digital 1st proofs saving the company an average of $20,000 annually.
      • Analyzed and achieved cost saving in Spectrum Brands mockup process for sales line reviews and plan-o-gram requests. With the addition of a diecut plotter and a more organized workflow, the department saved over $12,000 annually by eliminating the need for temporary employees. As a result, the department achieved better prints and production efficiencies.
      • Trained and consulted team members (three art directors & one graphic designer) to maintain quality standards and achieve departmental goals.
    • MANAGER OF BRAND DESIGN
      Save-a-Lot
      Earth City MO, United States
      2007 - 2007

      • Managed and developed the creative assets for package design, brand/corporate identity and print/digital advertising for overall marketing strategies.
      • Restructured creative team (Advertising & Packaging) to better support the organization and to gain fiscal and productivity efficiencies while meeting departmental goals.
      • Analyzed entire Save-A-Lot portfolio of 178 brand names and reduced the total count to 72, while outlining a plan to redesign the entire portfolio utilizing in-house creative and outside resources. This project saved the organization over $100,000 in trademark fees as well as adding clarity to every category.
      • Met and reviewed brand strategy concepts with management team to approve projects.
      • Coordinated, created and completed several large scale design projects at the same time.
      • Trained and consulted team members to maintain quality standards and achieve departmental goals as it related to corporate/ brand identity, current trends, color theory and image manipulation.
    • SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
      Spectrum Brands
      St. Louis MO, United States
      2004 - 2007 (3 years)
      Cutter, Garden Safe, Hot Shot, Repel, Schultz, Spectracide

      • Developed and supported strategies related to package design, P.O.P. and advertising. Led team on large scale projects to maintain high quality standards and to meet deadlines.
      • Designed retail brand packaging, catalogs, flyers, ads, brand identities and P.O.P. • Performed and managed the details and progress as lead of projects from concept through delivery.
      • Worked in partnership with brand managers to produce consistent quality and establish a better understanding of the brand's needs.
      • Trained and consulted team members to maintain quality standards and achieve departmental goals as it related to corporate/brand identity, current trends, color theory and image manipulation.
      • Coordinated and styled photo shoots.
    • SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
      Centric Group L.L.C.
      St. Louis MO, United States
      1999 - 2004 (5 years)
      Betallic Balloon Co., Boxco., Courtesy Products, Keefe Group, Riddell Footwear, TRG Accessories

      • Led team on large scale projects to maintain standards and timelines.
      • Created package designs, newsletters, catalogs, flyers, ads, brand identities, trade show graphics and websites.
      • Performed and managed the details and progress of team projects from concept through delivery.
      • Worked in partnership with internal clients to produce consistent quality and establish a better understanding of the company's needs.
      • Coordinated and styled photo shoots and called on printers and other vendors for project specs.
    • GRAPHIC DESIGNER
      Schnucks Market Inc.
      St. Louis MO, United States
      1996 - 1999 (3 years)

      • Responsible for package design, P.O.P. and advertising.
      • Designed new packaging for Schnuck's private label products.
      • Designed in-store P.O.P. displays, brand identities, invitations, brochures, flyers, graphics for banner ads and website, logos for departments, out-house vendors and special events.
      • Called on printers, paper houses and other vendors for project specifications.
  • Awards

    GD USA: Design, Packaging Design, Inhouse Design, Website ::: 2007, '08, '09, '10, '11, "13, 22 and 2023

    PLMA: Package Design - 2007

  • Affiliations

    AIGA, SLAG, Art Director's Club

  • Industries
    • Apparel
    • Entertainment
    • Food & Beverage
    • Sporting Goods
  • Skills
    • Advertising
    • Art Direction
    • Branding & Corporate Identity
    • Concept Art
    • Design Management
    • Graphic Design
    • Ideation
    • Illustration
    • Packaging Design
  • Elsewhere on the Web
    • I
    • k
  • On Coroflot
    @BrandFire, member since 2011
    • Following 53
    • Followers 9
|

Design-driven companies worldwide use Coroflot to recruit exceptional talent.

Connect with us to get new jobs and projects daily.

  • 7
  • q
  • R
  • I
  • n
  • Coroflot

    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
    • Blog
  • Hiring Tools

    • Post a Job
    • Find Designers
    • Job Network
    • Design Salary Guide
  • Latest Design Jobs

    • REATIVE DESIGNER (UX AND INFORMATION DESIGN)

      LA Metro

    • UX Designer

      Syria Justice & Accountability Center

    % Design Jobs RSS

© 2025 Core77, Inc.