MY CREDS — Barbara Amstutz Design

education

Bachelor of Fine Arts — Graphic Design, University of Nebraska at Kearney | May 1995
National Exchange Year – Fine Arts, Photography & History, University of North Carolina, Charlotte | Fall 1992 - Spring 1993

Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator & Acrobat; Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides; Working knowledge of HTML and online platforms

Independent Designer + Creative Consultant | October 2015 — Present

Website Design: Working with both non-profit and for-profit organizations, we’ve collaborated to successfully communicate the identity, mission and services. All sites reflect new or existing brand direction, drawn from findings in extensive interview and discovery sessions.
Marketing and Sales materials: Working with startups and various organizations across the US, we've created a multitude of infographics, investor and pitch decks, marketing materials, rate cards, one sheets, posters and graphics, outreach materials, and community magazines.
Branding: Whether a rebrand, or new brand on the scene, I listen, mine and gather information to conceive the visuals and communicate the brand identity and personality through various discovery sessions. The identity translates across all visuals and communications, from logo creation and business cards, to website design and social posts.
Events: Partnering with clients and event production companies to manage – start to finish – high level events is something I love. This includes event specific branding, the event look and feel, invitations, scenic design and venue transformation, furniture and decor, printed materials and signage, on-screen and video graphics, as well as on-site support to manage the event load-in and out.
Consulting and Creative Direction: Review the strategy and design of existing marketing materials and websites and advise on how best to move forward.

Director, Events and Creative Services | September 2013 — October 2015

Redefined Tremor Video’s brand identity as its two businesses merged into one holistic entity. Successfully repositioned the company as a technology company and programmatic marketplace. Shifted perception away from its historic reputation as a media network.
Visualized and art directed the redesign of the Tremor Video website. Successfully illustrated the two sides of the marketplace platform, enabling site visitors to self identify and choose their experience. Collaborated with Brand Strategy and Marketing teams.
Worked closely with the executive team and architectural firm to envisage and create the first Tremor Video Global Headquarters from a raw space. Designed and wove brand elements throughout the space.
Oversaw planning/execution of presence at prominent industry events such as Cannes, JDPower, CES, SXSW, and Programmatic I/O, and planned/executed Tremor Video’s first ever high profile, executive level, custom content events.
Responsible for revenue growth via strategizing with the sales and sales development teams; developed innovative attention-getting, multi-component promotions: physical mailers, emails, micro-sites.
Led the Event team of three, plus Creative team of three. During my time with the company, I grew the two teams from a combined three to a combined six.

Creative Services Director, TIME | April 2011 — September 2013

Promoted TIME as an holistic brand that included print, web, social, mobile. Ensured all sales and marketing materials supported brand goals and values of TIME, as well as later an additional three brands in January 2011, FORTUNE, MONEY, CNNMoney.com, as they merged departments and were added to my scope
Wrote and established branding guidelines for one of the country’s most well-known brands. Redesigned marketing collateral and developed a fresh, unified brand identity
Creative director and lead for creative development and management of multi-million dollar high profile, red carpet events including TIME 100 Gala, TIME Person of the Year, Fortune 500 Days: collateral creation, decor, experiential details, brand representation, sponsor partnerships, photography and videography, event build out, post-event recap videos and reports
Was responsible for revenue generation by strategizing with sales and sales development teams to develop innovative, attention-getting and benefit driven marketing materials: multi-component promotions, mailers, client gifts, digital and print ad campaigns, sizzle reels, custom packages and event sponsorships, one-sheets, presentations
Led a team of eight. Responsible for vision, workflow, team members’ development and growth

Creative Director, Global Advertiser Marketing Group | December 2009 — April 2011

Developed brand identity for this Group in the leading financial news and business organization, as well as that of individual media properties
Led the development of the Bloomberg Media Group's first ever global ad campaign. Set the tone for all following materials
Ensured all sales/marketing materials supported the values and strategic goals of Bloomberg, and brand promise to advertisers. Conceived and developed attention-getting, multi-component programs: digital and print brand campaigns, direct mail promotions, micro-sites, digital communications, experiential event sponsorships and stunts
Was responsible for staying current with trends and technology to ensure the brand maintained its edge and stayed ahead of the competition

Creative Director, Creative Services | August 2009 — December 2009

Strategized with marketing team to conceptualize and develop multi-tier programs to promote print and digital products: sweepstakes, promotional mailers, email blasts, print and digital ads, events, industry event sponsorships
Developed innovative print and digital advertiser programs. Designed the clients' ad creative once programs were sold
Led/managed the Creative Services team of three (copy and design)

Art Director, Creative Services | December 2003 — August 2009

Created award-winning What's Next campaign to announce BusinessWeek’s relaunch. Included an ad campaign, a high-profile client event, and promotional mailings and client sweepstakes with over 30% of participants being director level or above
Was lead creative on high-profile projects such as the 75th anniversary celebration and the Meet the Reader Campaign

Senior Designer, Creative Services | April 2001 – December 2003

Created mockups of advertorials to win new business and increased incremental revenue from existing advertisers
Designed marketing and sales materials: sweepstakes, events, advertorial series, and sales presentations

Group Art Show: Photography and Painting, City Arts, Wichita, KS | March 2015
Writing on the Job II: Professional Writing with Power, NYU | Fall 2009
Judge for Ozzie Design Awards | October 2005
McGraw-Hill Corporate Achievement Award for promoting the BusinessWeek relaunch | Fall 2003
HTML Coding and Design: Level I, School of Visual Arts | Fall 2000

Nordic Center, Crested Butte, CO | February 2022 – Present
Holiday Adopt-a-Family, Gunnison Valley, CO | December 2021 – Present
Bowery Mission Meal Service, New York, NY | November 2018 – Present
St. Joe’s Soup Kitchen, New York, NY | December 2017 – Present
Food Bank for New York City | December 2016 – Present
Light Gives Heat in Jinja, Uganda and surrounding villages | October 2011 – 2014
Vamos Adelante in Guatemala through Ambassadors for Children | November 2007