Erica Coe

Locoe Design Studio is a husband / wife collaborative; a freelance design team with over 50 years of combined experience. Specializing in branding and marketing campaigns including logos, brochures, print advertisement, direct mailers, product packaging, promotional items, annual reports, billboard design, car wraps, banners, business cards, stationery, t-shirts, and invitations.

Skills: Graphic design • Art direction • Marketing + brand strategy • Advertising • Project management • Creative conceptualization • Photography • Adobe Creative Suite expert • Excellent communicator • Copywriting and proofing • Vendor-client relationship management • High level of customer service • Outstanding organizational skills • Deadline oriented • Attention to detail • Trouble-shooting • Flexibility • Multi-tasking • Inventive problem solving • Reliability • Plays well with others

Senior Art Director
[ January 2013 - April 2015 ]
• Assisted the Creative Director and the Sales / Marketing staff in overseeing all creative work for print that was produced by the advertising department as well as hands-on design and execution of ads and advertorial layout.
• Supervised the speculative ads department: assigned all requests for new ads and collaborated with artists, sales reps and clients on campaigns to bring in new or re-vamp previous local and national clients.
• Assisted in overseeing all aspects of the ad production department/team. This included reviewing and critiquing work created by designers to ensure that all brand standards were met.
• Performed all supervisory duties in the absence of the Creative Director.

Assistant to Vice President of Creative Advertiser Services
[ October 2012 - January 2013 ]
• Worked closely with the Creative Director on concepts and design of the in-house marketing and promotional pieces for both NOLA.com and The Times Picayune.
• Collaborated directly with various departments, account executives, staff, freelancers and other media specialists to ensure excellent customer service to both inter and intra-departmental employees.
• Performed all supervisory duties in the absence of the Creative Director.

Lead Artist
[ February 2004 - October 2012 ]
• Designed ads, editorial layouts, marketing and sales collateral
• Responsible for assigning specific artists all creative jobs that were requested of the in-house team
• Acted as a traffic manager between all sales reps and designers
• Liaison between creative department and press room
• Performed the duties of the Creative Director in their absence.

Staff Artist
[ October 2003 - February 2004 ]
• Responsible for creative print advertising and design, copywriting and photo editing.
• Created engaging promotional and marketing materials for both local and national clients.

Assistant Production Director
[ February 2000 - July 2003 ]
• Assisted art director in daily operations of art department; Supervisory role.
• Interviewed and assisted in hiring and training of new employees and interns.
• Created ad and editorial layout. Designed all promotional materials including logos, brochures, t-shirts and direct mailers.
• Collaborated with writers and photographers to design editorial layouts for both a weekly newspaper and a monthly magazine
• Worked closely with sales reps to create speculative ads to bring in new clients.
• Prepared print magazine for electronic pagination as well as editorial layouts and ads for website.

Special Projects Coordinator / Native’s Guide to New Orleans Art Director
[ February 1996 - February 2000 ]
• Coordinated monthly print publication.
• Distributed assignments to artists.
• Designed corporate promotional pieces.
• Liaison between advertising, production department and local printer.
• Responsible for magazine layout and ad placement

Graphic Artist
[ February 1993 - February 1996 ]
• Designed advertising and editorial layout for weekly newspaper
• Collaborated on multiple special publications and national projects.