stephsimpsoncreative@gmail.com
773-369-4518
Cleveland, OH

Experience

Jan 2023-present
Freelance Creative Art Director, Graphic Designer • Cleveland, OH

Sept 2019-Aug 2022
The Point, In-House Creative Team at Guaranteed Rate • Chicago, IL
Creative Director, Art Director

• Managed a studio of creatives that produced marketing materials for over 3,000 mortgage brokers, as well as multi-channel assets such as social media, emails, topical content, videos and print, for four different brands.

• Oversaw a team of creative directors, copywriters, proofreaders, and graphic designers that averaged over 1,000 design and copy tasks per month.

• Implemented new processes in Workfront and staff positions to improve efficiency.

• Engaged regularly with business and product leads to review upcoming plans ensuring that resources were allocated according to project demands.

• Helped develop and launch the company’s first brand campaign.

Feb 2019-Sept 2019
Freelance Associate Creative Director, Art Director
Havas • Chicago, IL

• Creative development for Ragu, Bertolli and Holland House brands. Led photo and video shoots. Produced assets for social and digital campaigns.

We Are Unlimited • Chicago, IL

• Creative development for Quarter Pounder and Happy Meal.

Oct 2014-Feb 2019
Leo Burnett • Chicago, IL
Associate Creative Director, Art Director

• Co-creative lead on 3 brands.

• Grew an existing account by pitching and winning their digital business.

• Adept at supervising a pool of junior talent while maintaining brand standards.

ACCOUNTS: NESTLÉ/PURINA (BENEFUL, DOG CHOW, PRO PLAN), UNITEDHEALTHCARE, ALLSTATE, KRAFT (JELL-O, PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE), PFIZER (CENTRUM, NEXIUM)

Education

The Creative Circus • Atlanta, GA • Art Direction

Rochester Institute of Technology • Rochester, NY • Bachelor of Fine and Applied Arts
Graphic Design Major

Accomplishments

Communication Arts Advertising Annual, 2011, Print

Clios, 2011, Bronze, Outdoor

One Show Design, 2010, Merit

How Magazine, 2010, Outstanding Print Campaign

Clios, 2009, Bronze, TV

Gunn Report, 2009, 100 Most Awarded Commercials Worldwide

National Addy’s, 2009, Silver, Ambient

National Addy’s, 2009, Silver, TV

New York Festivals, 2009, Bronze, TV/Cinema

New York Festivals, 2009, Silver, Mixed Media Campaign

The Emmy Awards, 2008, Nomination, Outstanding Commercial

D&AD, 2007, In-Book, Editing

Technical Skills

Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat)

Project Management Software (Workfront, Jira)