Cherri Coe-Stephan Email & Phone Number

Leawood, Kansas, United States

Responsible for managing the activities of the design team: art directing, supervising, mentoring, assisting with managing processes and organization of activities and digital output for self and direct reports. Senior level Design Manager innovating, creating, and leading activities related to product design of collections in the DEMDACO Holiday, Baby, and National Accounts categories.Utilized skills and experience in the following duties: • Management /Supervision of resources: firm but sensitive approach to leading and supervising designers in their day to day work flow. • Organization of resources and processes: organized workloads, assign designers to projects, and manage time constraints to achieve work goals.• Manage and foresee freelance needs and resources. • Highly proficient with Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. • Create and innovate: excellent design skill set to build and develop product collections to serve Brand growth.• Communicating clearly with Asia partners daily.

Cannon Falls, Mn

Help shape one of the most well known gift ware brands in the marketplace:-develop innovative, exceptionally designed Holiday, Seasonal, Gift, Garden, Home Décor, and Private Label product that increases brand awareness, solidify customer loyalty, and ultimately drive sales for the Independent and National sales channels.-partner with internal and external teams to deliver the “Design, Style, Sparkle!” brand commitment.Utilize skills and expertise in the following duties:-manage creative projects, art direct creative staff and maintain the Midwest-CBK, LLC brand by consulting/advising with packaging, print and promotions, visual display teams to communicate brand cohesiveness.-partner with product development management teams for the Midwest and CBK brands to plan, develop, and execute creative product solutions for the January and June product launches.-oversee all aspects of creative development and execution internally and in Asia.-uphold brand and quality standards in all creative projects and provides clear direction and feedback to in-House design staff and external creative resources.-develop and manage in-House design team performance.-oversee and manage Design department budget.-strategically discern and manage trend, style, and color information for product design direction and creative presentations.-strong skill set to creatively innovate concepts and utilize creative digital programs or hand draw to execute two and/or three dimensional art solutions.-demonstrates effective development of building strong relationships with internal departments, external resources, and Asian supplier base.

Initially hired to support design for Private label department which included creating two and three dimensional products from concept to final art, communicating with buyers and account managers, also responsible for managing project trafficking, and package design.Promoted to "Season's of Cannon Falls" brand Senior Designer in June 2007 which involved trend research, trend and innovation presentation boards, concepting theme lines, and creating prototypes and art for Asian factories. -concept and creation of package design, brand identity, display and developing product with licensed artists. -proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator on PC and Mac platforms.

Product design position involved with creating two and three dimensional product lines from concept to final art with a seasonal merchandising company for the mass market distribution channel. Responsibilities include:-research, style (trend) boards, concept, design (on the drawing board and computer), dimensional turns and illustration -communicating with vendors. -art directed and managed licensed product lines from concept to finished art with the design team and freelance artists.

Personal freelance art business, designing and illustrating finished art for two and three dimensional seasonal and everyday product lines.

St. Paul, Mn

Creative position involved conceptual design with a seasonal wholesale children's jewelry gift company. Responsibilities include:-illustrating and creating characters for new and current product line. -prepare and train in-home workers for production painting of designs.

Bachelor Of Science Degree, Technical Illustration; Graphic Design

Ged