Debbie Schaefer

Create and design custom artwork and messages for personalized products that appeal to the Personal Creations core customer. My position requires: Strong Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, Delivering designs on Key Due Dates, Cross-functional Teamwork, Ability to Receive Constructive Feedback and Time Management.

Key Functions:
•Design custom graphic illustrations and lettering solutions including, but not limited to icons, surface designs, lettering font designs to be used for personalization and customization, and other graphic artwork for a broad range of internally produced products.
•Provide flat art and surface designs as needed for off-shore produced product covering a multiple of materials including fabric, resin, wood, etc.
•Offer work in a multiple of styles including sophisticated, cute, whimsical, seasonal and upbeat bright every day, occasion specific, and seasonal colors that will appeal to the Personal Creations core customer.
•Research new trends and designs for Personal Creations products and apply them appropriately to products that will appeal to the core Personal Creations customer, including design styling, colors, graphic designs, lettering designs, etc.
•Update “placed art” in environmental images for e-commerce and catalog as required.
•Create artwork on a PC platform, using Adobe Creative Suite.
•Follow inspiration provided by Merchants, to develop their vision of consumer products.
•Provide information in PLM relating to consumer item: style, personalization, component sku, color, etc ...

• Initiated functional and creative ideas with graphic applications for calendars, postcards, hangtags, stickers, labels, event folders, newsletters, advertising, direct mail, menus, catalog covers, signage, banners, posters and business related collateral using Creative Suite on a Mac Platform.
• Pre-press and proofing of customer provided printed materials.

* Working directly with customers to create designs, file preparation, layout, and setup.
* Creating promotional materials including, but not limited to banners, newsletters, flyers, signs, posters, business cards, advertisements, invitations, greetings and more.
* Involved in the output, work flow management, and production of orders.
* Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing working on a PC.
* Photo Editing (Adobe Photoshop), Drawing (Adobe Illustrator), Page Layout (Adobe InDesign)
* Ability to translate customer requirements into final products and services.
* Effective verbal and written communication skills with strong attention to detail.
* Communication with customers with their product and service needs, in person, e-mail and by phone.
* Assists customers with shipping and packaging services, printing estimates/orders, and other services offered by PostNet.

* Files created with Creative Suite, Publisher, Corel Draw, and Word on a PC.
* Prepared customer provided files for print in-house or outsourced to various vendors.
* Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills by assisting and consulting customers, vendors and pressmen in graphic or printing related matters.
* Multi-tasking multiple projects while assisting customers, printing jobs and working on graphics.
* Successfully achieved printed results from customer provided files, overcoming many file problem issues.
* Achieved best print quality due to knowledge of offset and digital printing equipment.
* Created repeat business by building relationships with customers by being responsive to their needs.
* Developed graphics for business collateral, promotional ads, brochures, flyers, calendars, menus, newsletters, postcards, stickers, signage and more.
* Training graphic designer at other location.

* Partnered with Creative Director, Product Development Director and Product Designers to develop seasonal food packaging for major retailers.
* Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, design and illustrate finished artwork for seasonal gift food packaging.
* Adapted graphics to style guides provided by client or created in-house.
* Performed various changes with graphics including resizing art for new die-lines, color correction and photo manipulation for the artwork of hangtags, labels, food packaging patterns, graphics and ingredient/nutrition labels.
* Created presentation materials for mock-ups of packaging concepts for management and buyer review.
* Delivered graphic design projects for production adhering to FDA requirements and proper nutritional fact panels.

* Typesetting for custom imprinted business products including: calendars, magnets and event
Independently developed seasonal greeting card designs and catalog covers from conception stage through completion.
* Targeted business card niche resulting in increased card sales by 20 percent.
* Partnered with Marketing Director and Marketing Team brainstorming theme ideas for various product lines.
* Exhibited strong design sense and illustration skills by providing versatile styles for a variety of products including: digital photo templates for kiosks, photo frame cards, event folders, and specialty treat packaging.

Concepts and illustration for seasonal artwork with a variety of styles for business and retail greeting cards and gift bags placed in Walgreens stores.

Developed new product concepts for everyday and seasonal business greeting card lines, dental greetings and postcards, calendars, stationery, memo pads, stickers, dental gift bags to be sold through direct mail.

* Increased sales by thirty percent resulting from the creation of card designs targeted for B2B market.
* Provided versatility by offering a range of subjects and styles including: cartoon, illustration and trend forward designs.
* Produced press-ready files for 4/color processes and mechanicals for die engravers.
* Contributed brainstorming ideas for products with Creative Director and Marketing Team.
* Partnered with Production Manager and Graphics Coordinator to achieve best results for products.
* Exhibited solid understanding of product lines and their niche markets.
* Attended software seminars to keep current on latest software upgrades.
* Introduced innovative methods for the usage of finishes on card products.
* Kept current of latest trends, colors and techniques through research of social expressions, home goods and related markets by attending trade shows, industry magazines, websites, shopping, etc…

onception, illustration and design of seasonal and everyday greeting cards and stationery. Business lines placed in business-to-business catalogs for distributors. Personalized greetings placed in books sold in upscale department stores and office retail chains.

* Increased sales by thirty percent resulting from the creation of card designs targeted for B2B market
* Demonstrated ability to provide a wide range of styles and subjects required for product development.
* Rendered artwork in traditional methods such as airbrush and hand painting with gouache.
* Digital files created on Mac platform using software programs: Photoshop, Illustrator, Streamline, Painter and Quark.
* Continued software education courses to keep current.
* Introduced innovative concepts resulting from the study of the social expressions market trends and techniques.
* Produced press-ready files for 4/color processes and mechanicals for die engravers.
* Completed finished files in a timely fashion.
* Partnered with Art Director through development process to achieve most attractive designs and optimal sales results.
* Participated in creative department meetings discussing previous sales of products and future needs anticipated.