summary:
• award-winning art director/creative director
• extensive portfolio in print, outdoor, brand development, strategy, online, out-of-home, television, radio, social media, and mobile
education:
VCU Adcenter: M.S. in Communications (Art Direction)
Virginia Commonwealth University: B.F.A. in Design
awards, honors & exhibitions:
my work for both consumer and B2B has won such awards as The One Show, ADDYs (local, regional and national), Maxi, Communicator, Telly, and more in all media categories from small space newspaper and direct mail to national television and online. My work was featured in CMYK Magazine, The One Show Exhibit, and others.
experience:
MDB Communications, Aug. 2004 - Jan. 2011, Sept. 2013 - present
associate creative director: developed advertising and design across all media outlets for clients including DC Lottery, Truth Initiative, National Geographic, International Spy Museum, Destination DC, The Wellness Community, Fannie Mae, Washington Business Journal, HEROES and more. Other responsibilities: art buying, video production and editing, directing photo shoots, photo retouching, overseeing vendors, managing freelancers, mentoring junior creative staff and interns. Created agency promotion content and took an integral part in the development of commercials for clients.
ENC Marketing, Jan. 2011 - Nov. 2012
senior art director: created print and video designs, brand identity and collateral for clients including NIH Clinical Center, NetApp, CA Technologies, National Board of Directors, DoD’s ICUC Division, Constellation Energy, Blue Coat and more. Also developed the new look and website for the agency. Help run the creative department on the whole, from vendor management, mentoring, budgeting, etc.
Rainmaker Creative Thinking, November 1999 - October 2001
art director: concepted and developed print, transit, and radio ads for clients including AOL, Away.com, PaperandToner.com, World Wildlife Fund, Admine.com, Arlington Hospital and Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority. Created brand identities for companies, which include logos, collateral, websites, etc.
Goldberg.Marchesano.Partners., Nov. 1998 - Nov. 1999
art director: concepted and developed print, TV and radio ads for clients including National Geographic, Softspikes, Con Edison, Vitamins.com, Papa John’s and Catholic Charities. Also designed several logos, annual reports and the agency website.
other experience:
taught several studio art and computer graphics classes at VCU
managed a retail custom framing store
did demos for an organic juice company
sold art supplies in San Francisco (including an easel to Jerry Garcia)
did paste-ups and typesetting for a local publisher
extra stuff:
I traveled around the world in 36 days, play five musical instruments, coached a women’s college soccer team, collect tacky Elvis paraphernalia, have had several solo exhibits of my paintings, rode my bicycle thousands of miles to raise money for charity, have been robbed, cheated, and lied to, and feel like I am a better person because of it all.
contact:
email: gretchencarswell@me.com
phone: 703-627-1030