Michael Morris Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, Ca, Us

San Francisco Bay Area

Design Leader with twenty years in graphic design, branding, concept, design, and production for books, book apps, games, packaging, and branding for a wide range of products and properties. Ideation, concept, design, art direction, and file preparation for LEGO, Disney, Pixar, HBO, Lucasfilm, Marvel, DC Comics, Sanrio, Studio Ghibli, and other high-profile licensed properties.Twelve years of Director-level leadership experience across multiple design disciplines.Provide mentorship, development, and inspiration to departmental designers and photographers: strong organization skills and people management, firm lead-by-example mindset. Brand Design department, responsible for design, marketing campaigns, E-commerce, company collateral, trade show graphics, retail environments, and product video. Prototype and Deliver ideas across various media.Collaboratively manage, maintain, and build Brand identity architecture and brand expression of the Children’s division, 3 imprints, and two UK-based game and toy brandsComprehension of inclusive cultural representation in visual culture and mediaStrategic collaborations with the President, Publisher, and V.P. of Sales to synthesize a vision for brand management, innovation, and future positioningCreative briefs and art direction for marketing and promotional campaigns, advertising, social media, and process and standards for brand adherence, smart decision-making for small and large-scale initiativesCollaborate with the e-commerce team to ensure brand compliance, ADA standards, and usability, and review web development for two main sitesServe on the company Operations Group, to determine internal policy and communications

San Francisco Bay Area

Ideate, concept, research, design, brand compliance, art direction, and file preparation for LEGO, Disney, HBO, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, DC Comics, and other high-profile licensed properties at various international headquarters.Editing, developing prototypes for ideas, and presenting use cases for application across Chronicle Books business scenarios and customer base.Led a team responsible for creating original artwork in various formats, including Video production, digital design, content marketing, and landing pages, in both traditional and mobile environmentsCollaborate cross-functionally to finalize publishing strategy and acquisition, develop creative solutions.Interview, hire, manage, art direct, mentor, and develop a direct report team of designersDesign Budgeting: Budget department expenses, plan and assign workload for 70+ titles per seasonAcquire and manage freelance contractors, including taking projects from initial concept to final product, strong organizational skills

San Francisco Bay Area

Take projects from initial concept to final product, as designer/art director, or both; negotiate contract terms and acquire freelance talent.Hire, manage, and mentor multiple design fellows, project manage freelance employees: sourcing, art directing, and managing design, photography, and illustration to meet deadlines and fulfill the creative vision for the product.Led editorial design, and product development, collaborated with video and animation team for content creation, UX/UI design, testing, and art direction on pioneering ebook apps.Art direction, concept, and design for a list of books, games, 3-D formats, and stationery items.Package and present solutions to the wider team, with brevity and humor.