David Ledsinger Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Creative Director working with a variety of Fortune 500 companies to deliver smart, creative solutions that tell compelling stories, exceed expectations, and help change hearts & minds.

• Build a modern marketing department dedicated to turning Kids in Need into the national nonprofit leader known for supplying students with the essential school supplies needed to learn
• Develop comprehensive strategic marketing plan using traditional & digital channels to build brand awareness, connect with new audiences, and expand resources
• Manage, coordinate & help execute all marketing, advertising & promotions including refreshing website & social networks for consistency & brand strength; provide creative direction, supervise, inspire & mentor the team
• Bring Kids in Need into the social conversations as a trusted expert in helping underserved kids get what they need to succeed in school
• Collaborate with board, staff, and various stakeholders to strengthen the KINF mission and position in the national community

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Packaging Excellence - Senior creative for grocery brand reinventions collaborating on the modernization of multiple food brands
• Creative Innovation - Lead designer on gift card team delivering industry-leading creative with multiple designs exceeding $60 million in sales; numerous patents and awards
• Marketing Leadership - Creative lead on various advertising, POP, online, in-store communications that solve problems, take risks and strive to exceed expectation
• Strategic Management - Manager of various projects that need smart solutions and fresh thinking: brand portfolio conversion into Canada, B2B gift card reinvention, external partners and creative resources

• Teacher of advertising and design classes for undergraduate and graduate advertising program, both online & in the classroom including Campaign Development, Typography, Art Direction
• Mentor to several previous students for creative feedback and career advancement advice

• Designer on various direct mail campaigns, ISM and advertising from initial concept through creative execution; pushed for creative innovation and break-through solutions
• Collaborative lead on Macy’s contemporary sportswear rebranding team – Impulse - developing new visual directions for in-store environmental experience, identity, advertising, brand voice
• Lead designer on Holiday campaign ’05 exploration of visual vocabulary of photography, advertising, and national campaign themes; helped drive Holiday trips up by 3.5% over LY

Greater San Diego Area

• Senior creative staff member contributing to the overall artistry and vision of the institution
• Design studio manager responsible for managing 8-10 set designers and 1-2 assistants maximizing individual projects, stretching limited budgets, executing creative explorations & meeting tight time-lines
• Designer of various stage designs, performance spaces, visual experiences/environments, props
• Collaborated on year-round 14 show season
• Public representative & speaker at press engagements, audience talk-backs, community outreach events, donor cultivation parties to share institutional vision & direction
• Volunteer arts instructor for yearly educational events for visiting schools and social programs

Master Of Fine Arts (Mfa), Commercial And Advertising Art

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Technical Theatre/Theatre Design And Technology