Tracy Kretz Pro

I design what's next for Huggies®, Pull-Ups®, and Goodnites®

I lead Kimberly-Clark’s Brand Design Strategies in developing products, packaging, merchandising, in-store shelves, digital shelves, and other commercial components to help drive growth and ensure Strategies deliver meaningful and cohesive Brand experiences.

Responsibilities /
1.) Develop and maintain the portfolio vision and design strategy for the BabyCare and ChildCare categories
2.) Lead Kimberly-Clark’s multidisciplinary design and design management teams to build capabilities and cultivate skills
3.) Establish standards and guidelines to ensure visual brand integration across brand touchpoints
4.) Influence and partner with business unit President, Vice Presidents, and other corporate functions to deliver short-term and long-term growth strategies
5.) Influence and elevate Design and Innovation within the integrated commercial program environment
6.) Use mastery in Design Thinking facilitation to create exceptional visual brand experiences
7.) Use mastery in systems thinking and design that provide continuity across brand programs
8.) Educate and demonstrate effective communication strategies
9.) Coach and develop team in design iteration and prototyping techniques
10.) Create design-based methods or modules within existing curricula

Accomplishments & Expertise /
+ Pioneered and launched the first-ever comprehensive long-term Design Strategy for the BabyCare and ChildCare portfolios
+ Head of Design talent recruitment; Responsible for hiring ten design professionals in 2021–22
+ Established tools, processes, and best practices activating a cost-savings of $800m (in-person and virtual environments)
+ Ability to influence without authority by employing a deep foundational belief of Design as a Strategic Business Partner, not a tactical one, to deliver meaningful consumer experiences that increase market share.
+ Expertise in Trend Awareness and Conceptual Thinking

(Growth Assignment)
+ Partnered with executive leadership to: translate strategic direction for business segments to problem solve, future scan and analyze trends for new product development
+ Designed and facilitated dynamic, interactive experiences that resulted in actionable outcomes and activation of new ideas–ranging from .5. to 5 days in length

I was invited to join the Innovation Group as part of a rotational assignment to sharpen business acumen, build relationships with cross functional leadership, practice Innovation Management and a variety of other Design Thinking curated engagements. I partnered with Division CEOs, Brand, Consumer Marketing Insights and R&D leaders to build product funnels and new business models. The Innovation Group was a partner to other Design functions: Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Color Material + Finish, Usability and Craftsmanship.

About the Innovation Group:
The Newell Brands Innovation Group challenges existing mindsets, business models and orthodoxy in order to encourage the discovery of rich, unexplored market spaces. I worked closely with partners to design and facilitate workshops, immersive experiences and other engagements to share ideas and tools that accelerate innovation and lead to portfolio growth. The group was made up of individuals with diverse and broad backgrounds with an understanding of and a critical eye for design and ideation.

APPROACH
+ Engaged teams in dynamic, interactive experiences that resulted in actionable outcomes
+ Evolved programming to bring new value to the organization
+ Partnered with internal/external experts and resources to provide relevant content and insights to fuel new thinking
+ Providing deliverables to assist in the activation of new ideas and supporting teams to pursue great things
+ Promoted the value of collaboration and the concept of better together to build a true culture of innovation

(8–12 Reports)
As Senior Creative Manager, I was responsible for the development and management of the creative strategy for for the Baby Division; Graco (North America), Baby Jogger (North America, Europe), NUK (North America, Europe), Tigex (Europe) and Aprica (Japan). In this role, I facilitated ideation and lead a world-class team in the creative development of Brand guidelines and related marketing materials from project initiation through asset delivery. I partnered with Brand Marketing and Industrial Design teams and domain peers to build a creative center of excellence within Newell Brands. I was responsible for the visual expression/creative CPG development and execution for over $1 billion in annual sales.

+ Design Strategy and Innovation Management
+ Creative Direction
+ Global Visual Brand Development
+ Creative Leadership and Art Direction
+ Packaging, POP and Endcap GFX in Retail Environment
+ Collaborator
+ Innovation/Ideation Facilitation
+ Storyteller
+ Deep Work Enthusiast
+ Graphic Design Innovation and Conceptualization
+ Efficient and Effective Problem Solving
+ Talent Cultivator
+ Brand Cheerleader

Impact Projects:
+ Co-Lead Facilitator, Newell Brands' Design Institute
+ Sense2Soothe Swing POP and Display; Art Direction
+ Graco Uno2Duo Stroller POP and Display; Creative Direction and Graphic Design
+ Baby Jogger Visual Design Language development and Creative Direction
+ Aprica; Led Innovation/Design Thinking workshop in Product/Graphic Design development with Newell Brands Cross-Functional Partners (Japan and North America)
+ NUK Packaging; Art Direction, partnering with German and North American Newell Brands Cross-Functional Partners
+ NewNorth Thesis, Ways of Working Proposal
+ Lead Talent Cultivator (recruitment, partnered with Talent Acquisition) for Newell Brands Graphic Design; Full time employment and Internships positions

Recognized by peers:
Team Design Award, Baby Jogger Visual Brand Language

(2 Reports)
I joined Newell Brands in March 2014, serving as Manager, Graphic Design for the Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) segment. Throughout my time in the role, I fostered creative excellence and excitement with my direct team and the Graphic Design function in Kalamazoo. In addition to creative collaboration, I partnered with cross-functional teams to co-create world-class design products.

Impact Projects:
+ Creative Director for RCP Packaging Graphic Design for Lowe's and Home Depot Retail
+ Creative Director for the Visual Design Language of RCP Decorative Refuse program (Graphic Design)
+ B2B Print Collateral Execution, Trade Show Creative Direction
+ Product Line Expansion and Development (Maximizer)
+ Lead for Design Center Graphic Design Ways of Working in Creative Process and Presentation
+ Selected by Design and Ideation leadership to join Newell Brands (corporate) rebranding design team

Recognized by peers:
2015 Design Axiom
2015 Design Compass
2016 Bedrock Award

(1–3 Reports)
During my time at PPO&S, I was lead art director and graphic designer for all agency accounts. I was responsible for concepting and executing graphic design solutions for a diverse client roster. During my time with PPO&S, I specialized in integrated marketing communications for a variety of higher education clients and various education initiatives. I helped develop integrated graphic design solutions for the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority, Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, UniqueSource, Products & Services, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Harrisburg Area Community College, Sterling Financial (Pennsylvania), Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In addition to creative conceptualization and execution, I managed scheduling, production, pricing and a junior designer.

Skills Used:
+ Art Direction (print, television and digital)
+ Graphic Design (print, television and digital)
+ Photography Art Direction
+ Print Production Management
+ Project Management
+ Account Management

Prior to PPO&S, I worked as art director for Winning Strategies Advertising (later known as Winning Edge Communications) in Princeton, New Jersey. There I gained valuable experience on a diverse client roster that encompassed the health care, banking, travel/tourism, professional sports, agricultural industries, in addition to concentrating on education marketing. I helped develop integrated design solutions and provided design support for Camden Community College (NJ) as well as the teaching hospital of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital.

Skills Used:
+ Art Direction
+ Graphic Design
+ Photography Art Direction