Professional Experience
First Trust Portfolios // Visual Designer
Wheaton, ILLINOIS, July 2020 - Present
In addition to my role as a Graphic Designer with First Trust, I’ve also managed the production and delivery of several email campaigns that are sent to our clients on a weekly and monthly basis. In this role, I both write the code and oversee the system that sends out the emails. Outlook-compliant HTML and CSS are utilized heavily in this role.
First Trust Portfolios // Graphic DESIGNER
Wheaton, ILLINOIS, August 2017 - July 2020
Together with project managers and other creatives, I am a part of the ETF Marketing Team. In this role, I perform routine monthly and quarterly updates to our existing materials, as well as work towards continuous improvements to new and existing materials.
Ozinga // Lead Graphic DESIGNER
Mokena, ILLINOIS, December 2016 - July 2017
Acted as in-house Lead Graphic Designer for Ozinga’s shell company, Ozinga Bros., Inc. Formatted and designed sponsorship advertisements, company event materials, communicated with a variety of vendors to get both print and digital jobs completed. Helped to restructure the file management of the Marketing Communications department.
Verb DB // Freelance Senior Graphic Designer
Geneva, ILLINOIS, September 2016 - December 2016
Worked with the Design Team, taking projects from concept to completion within short turnaround times. Responsibilities included, but were not limited to: copywriting, designing (annual report catalogues, digital client internal communication such as newsletters, email campaigns), and internal brand development.
Notable Clients: BP, Investortools
Drew Baker Design // Principal
Wheaton, ILLINOIS, February 2011 - PRESENT
A Chicago-based graphic and visual designer specializing in strategic communication design.
NOTABLE CLIENTS: Wheaton College
Wheaton College Basketball
Various Apparel Designs
Envisionit // Interaction Designer
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, APRIL 2016 - JULY 2016
Worked with the User Experience Department to champion UX principles and best practices for all projects. Collaborated with developers, product managers, and art directors to ensure designs were systematically structured for content management and responsive design, while leveraging flexible UI toolkits, detailed mockups and polished visual designs. Worked closely with copywriters and graphic designers to bring brand stories to life.
Notable Clients: Engagement Multiplier, Notion, Project 120/Yoko Ono, Hyperwallet, ONE Authors, The French Pastry SChool of Kennedy-King College
Engagement Multiplier
Website Marketing Update
Notion
Website UX Refresh
Sky Landing
Website UX and Design
PTAM // Lead Graphic DESIGNER
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, June 2012 - April 2016
Acted as Project Manager and Lead Graphic Designer for all marketing projects and other media for both internal purposes and for client requests. Worked closely with the Chief Marketing Officer to coordinate timelines and develop project strategies. Managed small and large scale projects and acted as the primary point of contact for all print and web vendors, making sure quality of materials was excellent and timelines were met. Created all email and marketing designs such as fund summary sheets, presentations, white paper articles, information graphics, a refreshed brand campaign and anything else at the client’s request. Experience with branding, Joomla, HTML and document management.
PTAM
Brand Refresh | Daily Marketing Needs
Performance Trust // GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, February 2011 - June 2012
Worked with a team of designers that handled all in-house collateral development for our three-day education program called Performance Trust University. This program is taught ten times a year across the country to community financial institutions to equip them with better decision making tools. Helped streamline the design process of all documents for the program and acquired new skill sets by collaborating closely with event coordination during projects.
Performance Trust University
Brand Refresh | Daily Marketing Needs
Efficient Capital // GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Warrenville, ILLINOIS, July 2010 - February 2011
Was assigned to large scale internal projects where design was the primary emphasis. Worked on projects ranging from small, two-person collateral redesigns to department-wide event coordination. Presented creative solutions to large-scale design challenges for the company, including client relations event collateral, firm-wide internal brand guidelines, and relocation collateral to welcome employees to a new office location.
Taylor University // Student Art Director
Upland, Indiana, January 2010 - April 2010
Acted as Art Director and Lead Project Manager for a large-scale fifteen-person senior thesis and portfolio showcase event. Organized web and print operations, making sure event details were fulfilled and timelines were met. Experienced event coordination, budget management, campaign development, and problem solving across a variety of details that went into the university-wide event.
EFFICIENT CAPITAL // GRAPHIC DESIGN Internship
Naperville, ILLINOIS, JULY 2009 - September 2009
Handled monthly in-house collateral updates. Helped bridge departmental gaps and acquired new skill sets by collaborating with a design firm based in Geneva, IL during the Firm’s brand refresh.
