Nancy McGrath, Art Director/Graphic Designer

About

An accomplished and award-winning graphic designer with robust experience acquired over the years in delivering optimal results & business value in high-growth environments and establishing key relationships with business segments. Result-oriented and self-driven professional with over 20 years of experience and expertise in driving various businesses, including relationship management, business development, and conflict resolution, mainly in the advertising and publishing industries. Skilled in identifying redundancies and maximizing resources to streamline operations. Primarily concerned with the efficient operations of a business or organization.

Experience

McGRATH CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGN LLC

Dec 2014 – Present

Art Director / Graphic Designer

• Deftly conceive, design, and execute a wide range of award-winning projects for a variety of clients. • Contracted as Interim Art Director for Memory Makers magazine to redesign magazine - 9 months. • Successfully launched and currently operate a freelance business, B2B. • Designed Midwest Living magazine's first website and served as Advertising Art Director for Tucson Lifestyle magazine for one year. • Routinely execute superior design work in line with client specifications to uphold brand name. • Utilize in-depth communication skills to build client relationships for Northwest Airlines Magazine, Florida Tourism Council, Connecticut Tourism Council, and Decorating Den.

MATTEL

Dec 1995 – Sep 1996

Los Angeles, CA

Senior Packaging Designer

• One of only two out of 75 selected designers that designed and developed packaging concepts for the exclusive adult collector series of Barbie dolls with price points ranging from $70 to over $1,500 • Planned and art-directed all photography and illustrations. • Adroitly negotiated prices on all outsourced vendors, photographers, illustrators, etc.

CURRENT INC.

Feb 1994 – Oct 1995

Colorado Springs, CO

Digital Design Studio Manager

• Tasked with initiating and heading up the new Digital Design Studio, which is responsible for all design and production work for all products produced directly by Current. • Dexterously conceived, planned, and directed all custom photography for all photographic projects and training of other designers in photographic art direction and methodology. • Accountable for conceptualizations, freelance negotiation for photographers and stylists, location scouting, prop shopping, propping, photo styling, and general art direction of new photography. • Planned, designed, and executed graphic design of all calendars and any photographic projects and multi-dimensional products, including books, posters, compact disc jackets, die-cut products, correspondence seals, cookbooks, wrapping papers, postcards, paper mobiles, packaging, and other paper products. • Executed all conceptualizations, freelance negotiations for photographers and stylists, location scouting, budgeting, prop shopping, propping, photo styling, and general art direction of all-new photography. • Produced 12+ calendars annually.

Education

University of North Dakota

Sep 1993 – May 1995

Master of Science, Industrial Technology w/Concentration in Graphic Design

Nancy McGrath

Art Director/Graphic Designer

Skills