Profile
Creative Director specializing in Brand Cultivation.
From launching international fashion brands to running creative departments at digital ad agencies, I have the experience to make a brand flourish both offline and online. My work is smart, inspired, and prescient, elegantly translating a brand’s message and personality to every communication touchpoint.
With a background in store design and graphic design—and extensive experience in both digital and traditional media—I have served as Creative Director with Lowe & Partners and JWT. I am currently Creative Director and Principal of Motherhaus, a design and communications consultancy which I founded 20 years ago to focus on cultivating brands, particularly for startups and small- to mid-size businesses. I have to wear many hats—art direction, web development, print production, copy editing, project management, client management, freelancer management, operations—and have a deep understanding of all aspects of running a business. Given the nature of startups and small businesses, I know how to communicate creative and technical thinking to clients who are not particularly design- or tech-oriented.
When it comes to the work, I love the challenge of achieving harmonious and consistent brand messaging across all touchpoints and am passionate about adhering to the marketing strategy and getting all the details just right. I place great importance on team building and on nurturing creative talent: while at Lowe, for instance, I built a new creative department from scratch and created such a strong team that most of us are still close friends and collaborators 15 years later.
Experience
Motherhaus
New York. 1995-present. Principal/Creative Director.
Strategic: I guide businesses through transitions, helping them adapt to an ever-changing world by refreshing their brands, improving their communications, and enhancing public perceptions. I also align the internal operations of companies, integrating CRM, email marketing, scheduling, social media, e-commerce and local marketing to be intuitive, time-saving, and on brand.
Creative: I direct and produce smart, inspired programs that anticipate the future needs of clients, such as branding applications across product categories and scalability over diverse media. For most assignments, I assemble and lead specialized project teams but I also work individually as a creative consultant. Side ventures include facilitating Motherhaus Kollektiv workshops for artists looking for inspiration and motivation.
JWT INSIDE
New York. 2008-2010. Creative Director.
Co-managed the New York hub office and directed all creative development pertaining to employer branding, internal communications, and talent acquisition for a roster of global and Fortune 100 companies. Crafted award-winning campaigns and websites that resonated with the perfect candidates by reflecting the inner truth of each client’s business. Annual billings: $6 million. JWT INSIDE is a specialty division of JWT.
Lowe Interactive
New York. 1999-2001. SVP/Creative Director.
As the first creative hire for the new interactive division of Lowe & Partners, established a vibrant creative department from the ground up, personally selecting all designers, copywriters and developers. Built award-winning sites and campaigns for global clients new to online marketing. Annual billings: $16.8 million.
Giorgio Armani Corporation
New York. 1994-1995. Graphic Communications.
Designed and directed graphics, retail standards, advertising layouts and in-store communications for three major Armani brands: Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, and A|X Armani Exchange.
A|X Armani Exchange
New York. 1991-1995. Associate Director, Retail Presentation.
Created the A/X brand as part of the Armani concept team. Designed and developed fixturing, equipment, signage, training materials, merchandising plans, music programming, packaging, stationery, and point-of-sale collateral. Supervised the roll-out of 25 freestanding stores and 13 in-store shops, partnering with Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdales.
Marithé & François Girbaud
New York. 1987-1991. Retail Presentation.
Taught brand philosophy and merchandising to key accounts. Directed in-store merchandiser program. Planned and supervised the roll-out of in-store shop program (first of its kind).
Education
Northwestern University.
Evanston, Illinois. Bachelor of Arts, Economics, 1986
School of Visual Arts.
New York. Developing the Animated Series, 2004; Drawing Workshop, 2005, 2007
GLS Sprachenzentrum.
Berlin. German Immersion Program, 2004
Université Laval.
Québec, PQ. French Immersion Program, 1984
Awards
Dx Creative Communications Awards
1st Place Print Campaign 2015, ORTHO VISION Analyzer One Word Campaign
Dx Creative Communications Awards
1st Place Product Packaging 2015, Welcome Kit for the ORTHO VISION Analyzer
Web Marketing Association’s WebAward,
Best Employment Website 2010, NewYork-Presbyterian Careers Web site
Web Marketing Association’s WebAward,
Employment Standard of Excellence 2010, American Express Global Careers Web site
Web Marketing Association’s WebAward,
Employment Standard of Excellence 2010, Ernst & Young/EY Experience
Creative Excellence Awards,
2010 Best Multimedia Campaign, Third Place, NewYork-Presbyterian and the New York Yankees Team Up for Nurses Week
Creative Excellence Awards,
2010 Non-Print Promotion or Collateral, Third Place, American Express Global Careers Website
Creative Excellence Awards,
2010 Employee/Internal Communications, First Place, Novo Nordisk Diversity Site
People’s Voice Webby Award,
2007, Unleashed
The New York Festival,
2001, Finalist, dennys.com
The Art Director’s Club 77th Annual Awards,
1998 Distinctive Merit Award, motherhaus.com
I.D. Magazine Design Review,
1992 Gold Award for Equipment, Armani Exchange hangers
ISP/VMSD Interior Design Awards,
1992 Store of the Year, Armani Exchange
Volunteer Work
Taproot Foundation
Pro Bono Creative Consultant.
Seton Hall University
Guest Lecturer, Advertising Survey Course.
