Katie Baklund
Graphic Designer & Art Director
Seattle, WA, USAHi, I’m Katie. I'm a graphic designer and art director. I value creative practice, good listening, resourcefulness, integrity, creative strategy, third tries and solid grid systems. My work is not about self-expression, it’s about using my craft, insights and experience to execute impactful work that exceeds the needs of my clients.
Armed with 7+ years experience in-house and freelance design work and art direction, I'm ruthlessly proactive and understand that maintaining brand integrity is crucial. I believe that thorough brand immersion allows for solid collaboration and implementation of creative strategy. My goals revolve around meeting deadlines, asking the right questions, demonstrating high aesthetic standards, contributing to a cross-functional team, mentoring young designers and maintaining optimistic focus even when it’s 10pm and we’re still crunching on a deadline.
When I’m not working, you can find me wandering art spaces, communicating instead of convincing, enjoying rock shows, taking on any Iron Maiden pinball cabinet or reading as many high fantasy novels I can get my hands on. Wherever I am in the moment, I'm on the lookout for killer textures, rowdy design in the wild and my next inspiration.
Armed with 7+ years experience in-house and freelance design work and art direction, I'm ruthlessly proactive and understand that maintaining brand integrity is crucial. I believe that thorough brand immersion allows for solid collaboration and implementation of creative strategy. My goals revolve around meeting deadlines, asking the right questions, demonstrating high aesthetic standards, contributing to a cross-functional team, mentoring young designers and maintaining optimistic focus even when it’s 10pm and we’re still crunching on a deadline.
When I’m not working, you can find me wandering art spaces, communicating instead of convincing, enjoying rock shows, taking on any Iron Maiden pinball cabinet or reading as many high fantasy novels I can get my hands on. Wherever I am in the moment, I'm on the lookout for killer textures, rowdy design in the wild and my next inspiration.
Work Experience
WE Communications
Senior Graphic Designer - Global Marketing
* Define and shape the creative concept for global marketing campaigns to ensure the brand’s identity is being preserved, promoted and innovated upon, and shows up well in all materials.
* Produce content and assets to support marketing priorities, from CEO and executive materials, leadership announcements to sponsored content partnership with media publications like PRWeek & Holmes Report, to advertising and online/event presence like Cannes, IN2 Summit, and agency sponsored events.
* Provide art and creative direction for the launch and ongoing marketing communication campaign activities that support Brands in Motion (BIM), Stories in Motion (SIM) and Momentum, agency intellectual capital storytelling, packaging and promotion initiatives.
* Creation of creative presentations as well as content hub micro-website design.
* Contribute and deliver thought leadership and design content and counsel to VP of Marketing and team members.
* Responsible for understanding the future direction of integrated communications with the ability to deliver projects on-time and on-budget (quick turn-high quality work).
* Successfully deliver campaigns across both B2B and B2C audiences.
* Produce content and assets to support marketing priorities, from CEO and executive materials, leadership announcements to sponsored content partnership with media publications like PRWeek & Holmes Report, to advertising and online/event presence like Cannes, IN2 Summit, and agency sponsored events.
* Provide art and creative direction for the launch and ongoing marketing communication campaign activities that support Brands in Motion (BIM), Stories in Motion (SIM) and Momentum, agency intellectual capital storytelling, packaging and promotion initiatives.
* Creation of creative presentations as well as content hub micro-website design.
* Contribute and deliver thought leadership and design content and counsel to VP of Marketing and team members.
* Responsible for understanding the future direction of integrated communications with the ability to deliver projects on-time and on-budget (quick turn-high quality work).
* Successfully deliver campaigns across both B2B and B2C audiences.
January 2018
- May 2019
Washington, United States
SimplyFun
Graphic Designer
In the beginning of my time at SimplyFun, I executed diverse projects and campaigns from conception to completion while defining brand design standards. Starting in February of 2016, I had the privilege to play an integral role in the company’s re-brand. This re-brand resulted in a year over year doubling of company sales, and consultant recruitment tripled.
Working from brand guidelines established in collaboration with HUM Creative, I’ve applied analytical and strategic design thinking to the redesigns of all company collateral. This included catalogs, home office identity systems, landing pages, assets for corporate social media presence, training documents and brochures. My projects also included a suite of tools for our Independent Consultants including business cards, name tags, note cards, stickers, training manuals, et al.
In August 2017, we launched a corporate website responsive redesign. I used Adobe Muse to create layouts and visual design of the website. View the case study here: https://www.katiebaklund.com/casestudy-simplyfunwebsite
Working from brand guidelines established in collaboration with HUM Creative, I’ve applied analytical and strategic design thinking to the redesigns of all company collateral. This included catalogs, home office identity systems, landing pages, assets for corporate social media presence, training documents and brochures. My projects also included a suite of tools for our Independent Consultants including business cards, name tags, note cards, stickers, training manuals, et al.
In August 2017, we launched a corporate website responsive redesign. I used Adobe Muse to create layouts and visual design of the website. View the case study here: https://www.katiebaklund.com/casestudy-simplyfunwebsite
July 2013
- December 2017
Washington, United States
Freelance
Graphic Designer & Art Director
Clients: Game to Grow, Community for Youth, Baklund Insurance Inc. and more.
Scope: logos, brochure, signage & banners, web ads, catalogs, packaging, social media management.
Scope: logos, brochure, signage & banners, web ads, catalogs, packaging, social media management.
May 2011
- Present
Washington, United States
LEE Enterprises
Graphic Designer & Production Artist
Conceptualizing, designing & producing print material & advertisements for local companies in a deadline inclusive environment. Newspaper & tab insert layout & coordination for print production. Front end web design for online banners, PAW ads, buttons, WYSIWYG web platforms with e-commerce & various social media projects. Social media management experience with Twitter & Facebook campaigns. Awarded first place in four spec ad competitions among my peers.
May 2012
-
Iowa, United States
Northwest Area Education Agency
Graphic Design Intern
Design work for area schools covering 10+ counties in Northwest Iowa including a catalog. Design signs & signage systems, vinyl clings, logos & brochures. My print production experience includes running & maintaining a large format printer. I also helped with finishing services that included weeding vinyl, installation of some vinyl projects, stretching canvas, large lamination, assembling banners & preparing signs with vinyl.
October 2011
- April 2012
Sioux City, Iowa, United States
Stream Global Services
Intraday Analyst
Coordinate aspects of workforce planning and scheduling for assigned region. Serve as a liaison between Site Management and Workforce Planning Department for all forecasting and scheduling requests to ensure client service level agreements are being met. Ensure effective utilization rate of site facilities and assets and communicate site capacity status to site director. Responsibilities: Consult with local managers, project managers and other key players to define scheduling/forecasting requirements to meet call center metrics and communicate workforce scheduling and intraday operations objectives. Assist Service Deliver Manager for each client in maintaining acceptable customer service statistics.
September 2006
- September 2009
Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, United States
Education
Western Iowa Tech
Associate of Applied Science
Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Graphic Design Club
July 2010
- May 2012
Sioux City, Iowa, United States
Languages
English (Fluent),
Awards
Phi Theta Kappa
National Honor Society
201009
Skills
Adobe Bridge,
Adobe Creative Suite,
Adobe Fireworks,
Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe Indesign,
Adobe Muse,
Adobe Photoshop,
Art Direction,
Autodesk,
Cc,
Digital Photography,
Jivox,
Layout,
Microsoft Office,
Packaging,
Photo Retouching,
Print,
Print Production,
Social Media,
Social Media Management,
Visual Design,
Web,
Wix,
WYSIWYG,