Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Please reach out at m@saramarkie.com
With a handful of years of experience in the industry, I've held roles ranging from Copywriter, Art Director, to my current roles as Creative Strategy Consultant and Creative Director. I have worked in a variety of industries including audio-visual, broadcasting, and events, both in North America and in Europe, which has given me a broad understanding of different markets and audiences.
I've worked on a diverse range of projects, from brand launches to digital marketing campaigns. One of my most notable projects was a comprehensive rebrand for a community space startup, which led to a 50% increase in brand recognition.
My process begins with thorough research and understanding of the brand and target audience. I brainstorm ideas, create initial drafts, and then iterate based on feedback. My goal is to tell compelling stories through design that resonate with the audience.
I see feedback as a crucial part of the creative process. I always strive for open communication and encourage constructive criticism as it leads to a stronger final product.
My design style is clean, modern, and user-friendly, with a focus on content and clarity of the message and its intent.
My process typically involves gathering client requirements, creating a sitemap and wireframes, designing mockups, and developing and testing the final product.
I am proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. I also use tools like Procreate for more manual design, InVision for prototyping, Polycam for 3D scanning, and Slack for team communication.
I regularly attend webinars and conferences and subscribe to industry publications. I also take courses to update my skills and am active in several professional networking groups.
I use project management tools like Trello and Monday to keep track of tasks and deadlines. I believe in setting clear priorities and maintaining open communication with my team to ensure projects stay on track.
I believe in a collaborative and inclusive approach to team management. I aim to foster a positive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired to contribute their best work.
Success can be measured in many ways, but I generally look at metrics like audience engagement, increased brand recognition, or meeting specific business objectives. Above all, a successful project meets or exceeds the client's expectations.
Absolutely. Brand guidelines provide a strong foundation to work from, but there's always room for creativity and innovation. It's all about finding new ways to express the brand's identity while maintaining its core values and visual consistency.
In my role at an art gallery and community space in San Francisco, I led a team of creatives on a mid-scale campaign for prominent local musicians. The project was a multi-channel events campaign involving digital, print, and out-of-home advertisements, all to be launched simultaneously. Given the scope of the project and our tight deadline, strong leadership and a cohesive team were paramount.
My approach to leadership is rooted in clear communication, mutual respect, and trust. I held weekly meetings to ensure everyone was updated on the overall project progress, individual responsibilities, and upcoming deadlines. This fostered an environment where team members felt comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns, which we addressed collectively, strengthening our team dynamic.
A specific example of a challenge we faced was creating a unified visual and narrative story across different mediums while keeping within the strict brand guidelines. By promoting open collaboration, our graphic designers, copywriters, and photographers were able to brainstorm and develop a cohesive campaign that maintained the brand identity.
I also implemented project management tools to streamline workflows and track budget spending. This helped us stay organized, ensure everyone was on the same page, and avoid any potential budget overruns. We delivered the campaign on time, and it was well-received, leading to a significant increase in brand recognition and audience engagement for our client
In my role as Copywriter and Content Collaborator for a journalist in Paris, I had to manage multiple high-profile projects simultaneously, each with its unique challenges and timelines. This required effective time management, prioritization skills, and efficient collaboration.
One specific instance was when we were preparing for a Documentary promotional while concurrently developing a marketing campaign for a magazine launch. These were both significant projects requiring attention to detail, creativity, and rigorous scheduling.
To manage these competing priorities, I divided each project into smaller tasks and assigned deadlines for each stage. I used project management tools such as Trello and Asana to organize tasks, visualize project timelines, and facilitate team communication. This allowed everyone on the team to see the overall project timelines and understand their individual responsibilities, promoting transparency and accountability.
To ensure effective collaboration, we held regular team meetings and check-ins, where we reviewed progress, addressed any issues, and realigned priorities as necessary. This approach allowed us to deliver both the exhibition setup and the marketing campaign on time, meeting our stakeholders' expectations and contributing to the success of the events.
I start by immersing myself in the brand – its history, values, audience, and existing materials. I aim to understand not just what the brand looks like, but what it stands for. This understanding allows me to create work that feels authentic and resonant to the brand.
While in Milan, I led a project for webinars featuring high-end fashion brands which involved creating consistent branding across various materials. Through meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of the brands, I ensured that we met the high standards of consistency expected in the luxury market.
Early on in my career, while in Chicago, I managed the production of image assets for an event promotion company, liaising with photographers, videographers and an image enhancement agency. My team and I implemented a stringent quality control process that ensured the final assets accurately and compellingly represented each product.
In Chicago I was involved in catalog print production for a tech company. We utilized Salesforce and Quip for project management and collaboration, allowing us to maintain efficiency and align our diverse team.
An important part of my role as an arts manager is continually assessing the competitive landscape and looking for opportunities to improve our creative processes. For example, during my time in Milan, I noticed a rising trend in the use of augmented reality (AR) in the fashion industry. Recognizing that we were behind in this area, I proposed that we explore integrating AR into our own creative campaigns.
I initiated a learning series for the team, brought in a consultant for specialized training, and started small with a pilot project. This was a new direction for us, but I made sure the team felt supported and had the resources they needed to succeed.
The pilot project was a success; we saw increased customer engagement and positive feedback about the innovative experience. Consequently, we decided to include AR components in our larger campaigns moving forward. This example demonstrates my proactive approach to staying competitive and my commitment to continually enhance our creative design processes.
Throughout my experiences, from my MAMA program at SDA Bocconi to working in different cities around the world, I've learned to keep my finger on the pulse of the industry. By staying abreast of trends, continuously analyzing competitors' work, and soliciting feedback from my teams, I constantly identify areas for improvement in our creative processes.
I love to sing, write, dance, travel, and explore new cultures. I actively explore alternative modes to express myself, including ongoing sculpture and visual projects. I'm also an avid reader and ex-gymnast, addicted to stretching and hiking.