KARMEN LIZZUL

KARMEN@KARMENLIZZUL.COM   >>   917-861-0560   >>   KARMENLIZZUL.COM

Creative professional with 15+ years of experience producing and leading award-winning work, with a focus on design-thinking, strategy, and storytelling. Keen branding, editorial content and design expertise, thriving in environments with a need to re-brand, grow or launch a new brand.

EXPERIENCE

OWNER, The Kick-Ass Brand COmpany kickassbrand.co

December 2019 to October 2022

Recent projects include:

  • Social media campaign for ALICE, for The United Way of New Jersey

  • Novel Planner App (in PRogress)

  • Publishing support and book design for independent publishers

  • Book-a-zines for Hearst Corporation

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR, CALLISTO MEDIA, NEW YORK, NY 

December 2019 to October 2022

  • Produced successful data-driven publishing products such as kids’ activities books, children’s non-fiction,
    cookbooks, self-help, and health by leading the full creative process from concept to publication and
    garnering approval from executive management.

  • Evaluated data and competitive sets to drive the design process and create successful strategy for products
    in fast sprints, achieving high-quality customer reviews for all publications.

  • Led creative team, including a designer and art director, and supported the art direction by sourcing images
    and providing guidance on photography and illustration to ensure effective design.

  • Leveraged broad library of design expertise to tailor design aesthetics to each project and create detailed
    strategy decks, delivering design concepts efficiently and effectively.

  • Drove the visual strategy for design direction by collaborating in meetings to discuss concepts, compiling
    final presentations for the C-suite.

DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR, SCHOLASTIC NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, NEW YORK, NY

August 2017 to December 2019
Key Clients: Lego, Facebook, NIDA, NIGMS, Levi’s, BLOOM! (Seed Your Future), Wells Fargo, Sony Pictures

  • Steered brand strategy and design for digital, interactive and video educational projects including printed board games, websites, videos and digital games and activities for grades K-12.

  • Spearheaded visual projects to achieve high level of engagement and 100% client renewals on product contracts, adding bottom-line revenue to the department.

  • Conceptualized a key “Space Camp” program initiative for Lego & NASA by planning the branding for website & classroom materials & working with an interactive team to create an interactive online game.

DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR, KARMEN LIZZUL GRAPHIC DESIGN, NEW YORK, NY  09.2015 >> 08.2017

  • Rebranded Albany Pine Bush website and other small businesses

  • Consulted on and/or implemented Facebook paid search strategies and email campaigns for small businesses

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MEREDITH CORPORATION, NEW YORK, NY  07.2005 >> 09.2015

  • Executed a rebrand for the failing “Family Circle Magazine” by partnering with editors and hiring a new creative team to strategize changes for attracting younger users and better advertising.

  • Managed a team of 7-10 and brainstormed project strategy with the publisher, marketing team and chief editor to ensure appeal for new target audience without losing existing readers.

  • Boosted average monthly sales from 600K-700K to 850K, with some months topping 1M+ units sold at newsstands during difficult time for competitors.

  • Developed and articulated clear strategies and guidelines for branding, photo and graphic art direction for Family Circle Magazine, familycircle.com, and social media.

  • Coordinated, inspired and oversaw creative team of top photographers, art directors, stylists, photo editors, designers, videographers and postproduction artists for 250+ photo shoots.

  • Utilized new creative approach to gain visibility in the advertising community and increase ad revenue.

  • Won several industry awards (Ad Age A-List; AD WEEK Hot-list; SPD Awards; Folio).

EDUCATION B.F.A. School of Visual Arts in Graphic Design; MFA Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts; General Assembly: User Experience Design Certificate Program; IPEC Professional Coach Certification Program.

AWARDS Society of Publication Designers, AIGA, Graphis, Folio, and the Society of Illustrators

SKILLS Social media expert for all platforms; Video editing; Adobe Creative Suite (Expert): InDesign; Illustrator; Photoshop; Adobe XD; UX/UI Design (Proficient): Figma; Sketch; Research & Development; Personas: Prototyping; Keynote; Cloud Sharing; Tech Savvy; Google Slides;

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES Fort Greene Park Conservancy