Justin Winget
Levy Restaurants
Chicago, IL, USA
3128822059
www.justinwinget.com
Managing the gamut of internal and external creative resources as the Senior Creative Director at Levy Restaurants, I have instilled both right and left brained methodologies to streamline workflow, continually inspire creative teams and develop a culture of constant disruptive innovation.
Work Experience
Levy Restaurants
Senior Creative Director
Serving as the Senior Creative Director for Levy Restaurants, I navigate the billion-dollar company’s efforts across all creative disciplines from architecture to illustration and everything in between. Directly managing a cross-disciplinary team of internal designers and external creative resources, I play a vital role developing activation strategies across the range of Levy's sports, entertainment, restaurant & retail partnerships.
January 2015
- Present
Chicago, Illinois, United States
ChARTer - Igniting Careers, Inspiring Creativity
Founder / Co-chair
Frustrated by an un-evolved American educational system that weighs merits of right-brained thinking while failing to embrace and harness the power of creative thinking, along with my Father Morgan, we started chARTer to help guide adolescents serious about pursuing careers in the range of creative fields. A bi-annual one-day inspirational conference and workshop in my hometown of Orrville, Ohio, the program gives students access to not only a diverse range of leading creative professionals, but regional collegiate representatives as well.
The program is made possible through the generous support of The J.M. Smucker Company, The Heartland Education Committee, friends and family all in memory of my stillborn son Carter lost in March of 2013.
The program is made possible through the generous support of The J.M. Smucker Company, The Heartland Education Committee, friends and family all in memory of my stillborn son Carter lost in March of 2013.
June 2013
- Present
Orrville, Ohio, United States
Levy Restaurants
Creative Design Director
Promoted to Creative Director at the age of 29, I oversaw the range of strategic design initiatives for Levy’s Innovations Team. Focused on new business, global innovation programs and master planning efforts, I spearheaded multi-disciplinary creative initiatives across an extensive list of Levy properties.
As a leader amongst teams of both internal and external resources, I instilled methodologies to streamline processes and workflow, developed forward-thinking objective creative strategies and fostered developmental growth amongst the Team through collaboration, inspiration and continual education.
As a team we tackled large-scale master-planning projects for the likes of Squaw Valley, Mammoth Mountain, The Chicago Cubs, Orange County Choppers and many others in the areas of both foodservice and retail. In addition, my Team of design thinkers helped secure 20+ new business contracts for high-profile accounts such as the Ohio State University, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Portland Trailblazers.
As a leader amongst teams of both internal and external resources, I instilled methodologies to streamline processes and workflow, developed forward-thinking objective creative strategies and fostered developmental growth amongst the Team through collaboration, inspiration and continual education.
As a team we tackled large-scale master-planning projects for the likes of Squaw Valley, Mammoth Mountain, The Chicago Cubs, Orange County Choppers and many others in the areas of both foodservice and retail. In addition, my Team of design thinkers helped secure 20+ new business contracts for high-profile accounts such as the Ohio State University, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Portland Trailblazers.
January 2009
- December 2014
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Epic
Board Member
Having first served as the Creative Director for an EPIC rally to launch Fresh Moves, a mobile produce market aiming to tackle the growing issue of malnutrition in food deserts, I then spent two years on the organization's Board of Directors. Linking rock-star creative talent from all over the Chicagoland region with worthy not-for-profit organizations, I headed a committee charged with developing EPIC's growth strategy to into other urban markets. With efforts culminating in the first successful roll-out to Minneapolis in 2013, I continue to be an advocate and recruiter for EPIC.
March 2011
- March 2013
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Levy Restaurants
Senior Graphic Designer
A year and a half into my tenure at Levy, I was promoted to the position of Senior Graphic Designer. Taking on project leadership responsibilities, I led development initiatives for such accounts as the newly opened Harley Davidson Museum and Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America.
Once again challenged to expand beyond my comfort level as a designer, I assumed all hiring and management duties for the Design Team with the departure of our Creative Director in January of 2008.
Once again challenged to expand beyond my comfort level as a designer, I assumed all hiring and management duties for the Design Team with the departure of our Creative Director in January of 2008.
January 2007
- December 2009
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Levy Restaurants
Graphic Designer
Brought on as one of the first hires for Levy Restaurants’ newly-formed Innovations team, I was charged with helping the Company develop a point-of-difference in the ultra competitive Sports, Entertainment & Restaurant industries. With an early track record of success, my creative contributions helped secure new business deals with the likes of the Florida Marlins, Seattle Seahawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Browns.
February 2005
- December 2006
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Creative Commune
Junior Graphic Designer
In my fôre into the real-world, I learned the ropes at Creative Commune, a boutique Chicago design and marketing firm. During my time with the agency, I executed branding, print, packaging and web campaigns for CPG companies such as Kellogg’s, Rust-Oleum, Urban Accents and Thermasilk featuring pop star Ashlee Simpson.
October 2003
- February 2005
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Unigraphics
Graphic Design Intern
An exclusive internship program at Bowling Green State University, I spent a year developing a range of print and branding campaigns across a broad spectrum of departmental, student and athletic organizations.
May 2002
- May 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio, United States
Education
Bowling Green State University
BFA in Graphic Design with a specialization in Photography
August 1999
- May 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio, United States
Studio Art Centers International
Summer abroad with studies in Photography and Art History
May 2001
- July 2001
Florence, Italy
University Of Akron - Wayne College
College post-secondary coursework in foundation art classes during Senior year of High School
August 1998
- June 1999
Orrville, Ohio, United States
Orrville High School
High School Diploma
College Preparatory Curriculum
August 1995
- June 1999
Orrville, Ohio, United States
Awards
Levy Restaurants Dream Team
Honoring seven top performers annually across all salaried Levy Restaurants employees, Justin was honored to receive the "2014 Home Office Resource Player of the Year" Award as voted on by members of senior leadership.
2014
Chicago Innovation Award
Creative Director for Fresh Moves, the 2011 Chicago Innovation Awards, People's Choice winner
2011
Skills
Author,
Branding,
Creative Direction,
Creative Strategist,
Editorial Design,
Environmental Design,
Food Photography,
Graphic Design,
Illustrator,
Indesign,
Lightroom,
Logo Design,
Photoshop,
Portrait Photography,
Storyteller,