James Lucas
Senior Graphic Designer
Fashion, eCommerce, Financial, and Sports Industry
Branding and Marketing Specialist
Fashion, eCommerce, Financial, and Sports Industry
Branding and Marketing Specialist
Pipersville, PA 18947
I am a Senior Graphic Designer & Marketing Professional that is proficient in most major system software applications in both Macintosh and Windows environments; including but not limited to the Adobe Creative Suite. Projects include logos, ads, packaging, brochures, newsletters, catalogs, PowerPoint presentations, trade-show graphics, direct mail, email, and web graphics.
I provided graphic design expertise for major technology and financial management companies including Panasonic, Dow Jones, MetLife, Bloomberg, J. Crew, and Merrill Lynch.
I am self-motivated and hardworking in a fast pace environment with creativity and collaborative technical leadership skills illustrated over years of industry success. I can work independently or in a collaborative environment.
SKILLS:
• Mac OSX
• Mac-Based Applications
• Mac-Based Applications
Print and Digital Design
• QuarkXPress
• Sketch
• InVision
• Figma
• Xdata
• SketchUp
• Sketch
• InVision
• Figma
• Xdata
• SketchUp
Adobe Creative Suite
• Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)
• InDesign
• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• AfterEffects
• Premier
• Animate
• InDesign
• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• AfterEffects
• Premier
• Animate
Microsoft Office Suite
• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Excel
• PowerPoint
Project Management
• Asana
• Monday
• Monday
Website Design
• WordPress
• HTML
• CSS
• Dreamweaver
• Shopify
• UI/UX
• HTML
• CSS
• Dreamweaver
• Shopify
• UI/UX
Social Media Design
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Twitter
Presentation Design
• Google Slides
• Keynote
• Keynote
Marketing
• MailChimp
• HubSpot
• Marketo
• Salesforce
• Google Data Studio
• Adobe Target
• MailChimp
• HubSpot
• Marketo
• Salesforce
• Google Data Studio
• Adobe Target
Other Skills
• Branding
• Print & eBook Design
• Logo Design
• Infographics
• Email
• Video Editing
• eCommerce
• Print & eBook Design
• Logo Design
• Infographics
• Video Editing
• eCommerce
EXPERIENCE:
Senior Graphic Designer Nov 2014 - Present
Grape Cat LLC, Pipersville, PA: Grape Cat is a fashion brand that sells high-quality vegan and eco-friendly clothing and accessories made without cruelty through online eCommerce and through events.
I manage the brand creative development of multimedia graphic design solutions, from concept to delivery and implementation, as well as the marketing, finances, and daily operations for Grape Cat's brands.
Used Adobe Experience Manager for content workflows, digital asset management, and social and multi-channel collaboration.
Designed website using UI and UX eCommerce design principles.
Develop and implement creative brand design projects including instore design, direct mail, web design, logos, video, sports branded imagery, and storytelling marketing strategies including social media presence and newsletters.
Key Achievements:
Provided Senior Web and Graphic Design leadership to Wakefern Food Corp., the nation's largest retailer-owned cooperative with 300+ retail supermarkets comprising ShopRite, Price Rite, The Fresh Grocer, and Dearborn Market.
Developed creative multi-channel marketing materials including circulars, in-store posters, flyers, etc. in a high-volume production environment with the legal copy.
Collaborating on design projects for the distinct stores within the Wakefern family.
Exercised quality control over final brand products including typography.
Identified process improvement opportunities and proposed implementation methods in Photoshop and Sketch.
Worked independently as well as in a leadership position within a creative team to develop and deliver brand illustration, web design, infographics, emerging media, graphic design elements, marketing initiatives, licensing, and brand strategies for Grape Cat, LLC.
Increased brand sales by 200% by researching Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest storytelling.
Designed and/or directed product development, and conceptual visual communications with Sketch, InVision, and web design mockups.
Adhered to tight deadlines while creating simple brand development and brand guidelines solutions for complex concepts in Sketch.
Sourced printing requested quotes and collaborated with designers to get pre-pressed files to print from Adobe Creative Suite using InDesign and Photoshop.
Mentored new designers and delivered education on diverse topics such as collaboration, creativity, and strategic thinking.
Senior Graphic Designer Jun 2005 - Nov 2014
Mondrian Investment Partners, Philadelphia, PA: Mondrian is an employee-owned investment management firm with offices in London and Philadelphia. Mondrian is a value investor across the globe in both equity and fixed income asset classes. Founded in 1990, Mondrian has employed a rigorous fundamental research process that is the foundation of its success. Mondrian’s well-resourced investment team manages assets on behalf of over 250 institutional clients.
I started as a Consulting Graphic Designer providing graphic design expertise for major technology and financial management companies including Panasonic Entertainment, Dow Jones, MetLife, Bloomberg, The Wiz, and Merrill Lynch, and was promoted in 2005 to Graphics Senior Associate.
Provided art direction and design, technical, and production oversight for an international investment firm managing $64 billion in assets for a global clientele.
Reporting to the company and departmental leaders and other internal stakeholders to translate project requirements; developed the campaign strategies, budgets, and timelines to meet objectives.
Collaborated with the in-house design team to manage multiple projects simultaneously; ensured brand and strategy consistency across all designs.
Created marketing tools including presentations and sales books for account executives, contributing to a 170% sales increase over a seven-year period.
Mentored colleagues in sales book production for greater workflow efficiency.
Key Achievements:
Provided direct and key support to Star Group on Comcast advertising.
Spearheaded creative solutions for Panasonic, handling all internal graphic needs from concept through delivery.
Contributed to optimization of layout for Wall Street Journal by leveraging expertise in composition and electronic pre-press processes to create and test scripts, decreasing layout time.
Streamlined internal workflow for presentation book production by generating technology-based solutions for recurring errors.
Created Excel, Word, and xDAT scripts to automate the correction process, saving the company $100K annually.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Art and Graphic Design
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) - Marketing
Keller School of Management, Philadelphia, PA
Keller School of Management, Philadelphia, PA
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS:
LinkedIn Learning:
• HTML Essential Training
• InDesign 2021 Essential Training
• Improve SEO for Your Website Site
• Social Media for Graphic Designers
• Color Trends
• Excel: PivotTables for Beginners
• A Systematic Creative Process for Designers
• WordPress.com Essential Training
• Sketch Essential Training: The Basics
• Figma Essential Training: The Basics
• Premiere Pro 2020 Essential Training
• After Effects 2021 Essential Training
• Adobe Animate Essential Training
• InDesign 2021 Essential Training
• Improve SEO for Your Website Site
• Social Media for Graphic Designers
• Color Trends
• Excel: PivotTables for Beginners
• A Systematic Creative Process for Designers
• WordPress.com Essential Training
• Sketch Essential Training: The Basics
• Figma Essential Training: The Basics
• Premiere Pro 2020 Essential Training
• After Effects 2021 Essential Training
• Adobe Animate Essential Training