Lori Akers

• Partnered with the art director, brand strategists, PR, and other designers to develop

creative concepts, both print and digital, to meet internal corporate communication needs.

• Worked directly with the events team, collaborating on idea generation and designing

print/digital invitations, signage, and collateral, as well as event websites and mobile apps.

• Responsible for presenting creative to senior stakeholders and internal partners.

• Developed creative strategies and concepts that helped revive the iconic Lee brand.

• Brought the creative vision to life through photography and video by art directing world

class photographers and videographers, both on location and in studio.

• Designed digital campaigns and assets for social media, email and for Lee.com.

• Designed POS, promotional materials, product packaging and sales collateral.

• Worked closely with CD and ACD to create presentations to internal partners and

leadership; executing all projects through to completion, on time and on budget.

• Art direction and management of work flow with junior designers and production artists.

• Art direction + design for Hallmark, Cerner, YRC Freight, Glynn Devins, Lidia’s Restaurant Lee Jeans, 360 Group.

• Designed complete environmental branding project for YRC Freight, including new museum, Hall of Fame.

• Applied look and feel of branding to digital ads, social media, website, brochures, posters.

• Managed cross-functional team of in-house + external creatives to create end product.

• Managed art direction for 3,000 product shots + over 200 lifestyle shots each year.

• Saved company over $123,000+ annually by streamlining and outsourcing product shot photography.

• Handled ideation, project planning, creation, and execution of all photography and

layout for 5 brand categories: Holiday/Seasonal, Jewelry/Fashion, Outdoor, Kids/Baby, and Everyday Gift.

• Led major company rebrand initiative, including redesign of collateral and new style guides for 5 brands.

• Managed all areas of budget for digital/print catalogs, brochures, look books, iPad sales solution, website content, digital/print fliers.

• Managed extensive team of full-time, contract and virtual creative resources to complete projects.

• Led cross-functional, intradepartmental team + outside vendors to produce brand-compliant materials.

• Responsible for all concept, design, production for internal/external print + digital marketing projects.

• Developed style guides and established standards for company branding guidelines.

• Layout of banners, signage, sales sheets, web, email, logos, presentations, ads, videos, event activations and direct mail.

• Partnered with senior management to pitch new projects to external clients.

• Created branding, ad campaigns, outdoor signage, digital ads, collateral and web design.

• Acted as project manager—collaborating with senior executives, internal team, contract resources.

• Increased revenues by 66% in first 2 years, and by 79% in last 10 months.

• Designed materials for Hallmark Cards, VML, Two West, Payless, Buckle, Zillner.

• Performed all project management, art direction of team of designers, sales and budget creation.

• Responsible for all new business development, client relationships and presentations.

• Developed partnerships with key writers, PR, social media, designers, printers and paper vendors.

• Designed card products for Season, Everyday, Sinceramente, and Mahogany product lines.

• Specialized in creating innovative applications for high-end process—foil, flock, emboss, glitter, etc.

• Partnered with creative directors, paper engineers, writers, production artists and cost managers in order to design and execute projects on strategy, on time and on budget.

• Acted as design lead on various teams, coaching and mentoring junior designers.

• Created catalogs, packaging, seasonal campaigns, POP signage, ads, direct mail.

• Directed models, stylists, print + packaging vendors, photo shoots.