A Visual Problem Solver

I like to think of myself as having the personality of Melissa McCarthy (but not as funny). My creativity and innovative design is like singer, song writer Sia (but with out the wig...ok and vocals). The driven, motivating, giving back attitude of Oprah Winfrey (minus “YOU GET A CAR! YOU GET A CAR!” More like, “YOU GET DESIGN COLLABORATION! YOU GET CREATIVE CONTENT! YOU GET OUT OF THE BOX IDEAS!” The creative innovative mind of Albert Einstein (minus the math BUT still able to rock crazy bedhead). Then most importantly to be able to RICK ROLL into any type of situation! I clearly am a lot of famous celebrities BUT at the end of the day I am Heather Mara and able to wear many hats for all of your creative needs!

Resume

EXPLO
SENIOR VISUAL DESIGNER - September 2023 - Present

  • Collaborated with an outside agency on the EXPLO rebrand in 2023

  • Created all custom imagery on the EXPLO website using the new rebranded grid structure

  • Was in charge of file structure, organization needs for all photos, and branded creative photos

  • Brainstormed out of the box ideas to propose to VP for all marketing events this included a 9 foot tall free standing cube design that was multi facing for parents and students to look at information about the EXPLO programs

  • Designed all marketing deliverables from post card mailers to billboards seen in the Boston area

  • Proposed mock up deliverables for all summer campus swag, campus “hooplah” at Wellesley College, Regis College, Sarah Lawrence, Berkley and internationally Oxford/London

  • Assisted our Social Media manager on design, branding, and ideas to help with engagement

DELOITTE
SENIOR VISUAL DESIGNER - June 2021 - May 2023

• Graphic problem solver for understanding high tech research and turning content into digestible visuals for viewers across different platforms

• Redesigning existing research reports originally developed by non-designers to be brand compliant and created templates so that non-designers could easily re-create designs

• Working with AI to generate images for an research project about generative AI

• Serving as liaison between NExT research team and marketing team

• Lead visual designer on multiple design initiatives of impactful tech campaigns 

• Lead visual designer on Space Tech 2023 initiative for all conceptual infographics

• Lead visual designer working with multiple PMDs and stakeholders outside of immediate NExT team. This included re-branding, creative concept presentations, coaching PMDs on brand standards, developing meaningful designs to tell stories, managing pipeline and deadlines

• Proposed out of the box ideas such as Generated AI, MidJourney and binary codes for design elements 

• Managed pipeline and project deadlines for multiple initiatives for high level tech campaigns

• Conceptualized and created custom art work for motion graphics video seen by thousands of stake holders, clients, colleagues

• Lead designer on the first ever branding of the NExT logo, teams imagery, media, animated templates presentation design and interactive pieces 

• Designed social media banners to advertise business initiatives 

• Redesigned all high visibility presentations and providing interactive animated elements 

• Created custom methodology of project management system of the work flow for our entire team

• Launched learning program for team members to understand and the new project management system

SKILLSOFT
GRAPHIC DESIGNER - July 2018 - November 2020

• Lead creative designer on two different agile teams within Skillsoft

• Managed agile creative process with creative briefs, meetings with stakeholders, creating dynamic concepts and meeting fast turn around deadlines

• Collaborated with stakeholders on creating impactful content

• Worked in a fast pace marketing environment completing projects within an agile 2 week sprint periods

• Produced marketing collateral, presentation design for large scale corporate events, templates deliverables, social media design, white papers, case studies and infographic designs

• Developed and optimized designs for web and mobile platforms 

• Templatized social media designs to be used a cross marketing

• Generated the 2020 Skillsoft re-brand 

• Participated in the 2018 Skillsoft re-brand and 20th anniversary

FORRESTER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER, PROJECT CONSULTANT -
September 2015 - June 2018

• Managed a small team of creative team members to create deliverables for consultants on our team

• Coordinated weekly check-ins, timeline of deliverables, distributed workflow to Team members

• Created and designed multi media collateral for Forrester consultants

• Built new graphic templates for high visibility presentations and complex infographics

• Created custom images, icons, data visualizations, infographics, journey maps, and case studies

• Maintained a repository of collateral for reuse

• Designed and developed templates for external-facing communications

• Accepted incoming projects in a fast-paced working environment

EBBEN ZALL AGENCY
GRAPHIC DESIGNER - October 2014 - September 2015

• Worked with clients to create daily/weekly/monthly web banners for campaigns

• Each campaign was developed with a different theme to capture measuring of campaign

• Daily photo retouching for major car brands like Porsche, Audi, Nissan and Subaru

• Developed design materials for client needs within print, web, social media and media kits

• Designed multiple white papers for clients with custom layout design and the companies new branding

• In charge of the print production process for all large scale projects such as books, brochures and large scale event banners