Digital Design Manager
W.B. Mason 2018-Present
Brockton MA
Working as a leader in W.B. Mason's in-house agency, our team fields design requests from all over the 120 year old, 2 billion dollar company. Projects big and small are serviced for Marketing, Sales, HR, for internal use as well as directly from Executive leadership.
My responsibilities include:
• Manage team of four web and graphic designers
• Design digital marketing campaigns, Email blasts and Online Banners
• Led team to develop and maintain WB Mason's first ever Brand Guide and Graphic Standards
• Develop social media strategy and design materials for organic and paid campaigns
• Design print marketing materials including catalog and flyers
• Design environmental design for major industry trade shows
• Contributed to the WB Mason Blog as a regular copywriter and author
Art Director
That's My Ticket 2013 - 2018
Holliston MA
That's My Ticket is the industry leader in licensed sports art and displays. Officially licensed by Major League Baseball, The National Basketball Association & The National Hockey League.
My responsibilities included:
• Designing effective, creative marketing & sales materials in both print and digital formats
• Develop design concepts and packaging for all product lines
• Design web banners and social media content
• Develop a consistent company branding through color, typography and design style.
• Provide creative direction for design team
• Facilitate social media marketing
• Help to develop product designs based on industry trends and marketability
• Design and manufacturing of Sports Propaganda screen-print product line.
• Design trade show materials
• Act as licensing liaison with MLB, NBA & the NHL
Art Director
Sports Propaganda 2007 - 2012
Waltham MA
Design and produce my own line of sports art which are officially licensed by MLB, The NBA & The NHL. Responsibilities include design, sales, marketing, and closely working with leagues on licensing approvals. Work has been covered in various news sources including The Boston Globe, CBS Boston & ESPN.com. Commission work from corporate clients such as Dunkin Donuts, Topps, Snickers, Fed-Ex, and AT&T. Sold to That’s My Ticket in 2012.
Art Director
Sargenthouse Studio 2007 - 2012
Somerville MA
Full service graphic design studio. Responsibilities include conceptualizing, designing, and producing marketing materials for various clients around the New England area. Clients include CBS Boston, Wolters Kluwer, Pearson Education and Rockport Publishing.
Senior Graphic Designer
Bortman Design Group 2006-2007
Wellesley Ma
Bortman Design Group is a boutique graphic design studio supporting projects in print, advertising, branding and web development.
Clients include TDNorth Bank Garden, The Boston Celtics, The Boston Bruins, Decathlon Sports
Senior Graphic Designer
Verve Creative 2004 - 2006
West Newton MA
Verve is a full service design agency. Verve provides a wide range of creative advertising, branding & internet-based services for local business.
Responsibilities include every aspect of project management including conceptualizing, client relationships, pre-press, design, photoshoots and client presentations. Clients include, Legal Seafoods, Slade Gorton, Ocean Spray, Natural Feast, Healthy Life Snacks and Mens Journal.
Graphic Designer
Road Scholar 2002 - 2004
Boston/Ma
As part of Road Scholars marketing department I designed the catalogs and travel brochures that result in million dollars of revenue per year. Road Scholars is the largest and most successful organization of its kind. I worked closely with copywriters as well as other designers to bring projects from concept development through print. Also responsible for brainstorming creative solutions to projects with limited or small budgets.
Production Artist
State Street Research 2002
Boston/Ma
Worked with a creative team of designers on all aspects of print collateral. Managed projects from initial design through completion of job. Duties included designing print materials and packaging to be used for marketing, sales and other purposes. Worked under tight deadlines and held working relationships with in-house clients.
Contract Graphic Designer 2001
The Creative Group
Boston/Ma
Provided top notch graphic design as a contractor for various companies including Reebok, Curry College, Howard Stein Hudson and EMC Corporation
EDUCATION
BFA, Illustration
• University of Hartford - West Hartford, Ct
Noted Accomplishments
• Hired as a featured artist for 2011 MLB All-Star Game program cover.
• Hired as a featured artist by Topps Trading Cards for their 2009 Baseball and UFC sets.
• Hired as a featured artist for the 2013 cover of Beckett Sports Card Monthly’s “Art Issue”.
• Hired by Dunkin Brands to design a poster promotion featuring my art of Red Sox players. 2008.
• Hired by Walter Foster Publishing to write and illustrate “How to Draw Street Scenes” book. 2007.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation from Chris Gillis - "Chris is a talented designer and all around great guy to work with. At Verve Creative we worked together on many projects and the design process always went very smooth while working directly on projects. His freehand art is amazing as well."
Recommendation from David Torres - "I had the pleasure to work with Chris at Elderhostel (now known as Road Scholar) and he is an exceptional talent and dedicated worker. I was his design supervisor and was extremely appreciative for his contributions, which were across a number of marketing channels. Chris was able to execute from concept to completion for any and all marketing projects we threw at him — brand identity, logos, PowerPoint presentations, catalogs, brochures, info-graphics, posters, online initiatives, etc. He is a master illustrator as well, which came in very handy for story-boarding, initial concepts, and unique eye-catching designs. I believe this talent is fundamental for ALL designers — they should be able to translate their ideas by placing the pencil to paper. It should be at the core of every designer, and Chris is amazing at it. Chris is a well-rounded creative and has years of exceptional experience, but his work ethic is truly unmatched. In my 18 year career, I have never known anyone more industrious and dedicated to their craft. I had not only seen this during my years of working with him at Elderhostel, but his career progression afterwards. From helping other design agencies excel to creating his own sports marketing product business from scratch, it has been truly inspiring to watch Chris' professional achievements. And I believe these achievements have been fueled not only by his tremendous talent, but by his unmatched work ethic and loyalty to the craft of communication, which essentially is what design is."
Recommendation from Keith Gentili - "Chris brought a level of professionalism to the Art Department as well as a standard of work that we had not yet had at That's My Ticket. Plus, his dedication to his craft and our company has been an inspiration to the staff. Chris has played key roles in developing the look and feel for the That's My ticket product line. We have been lucky to have him as his art has fueled sales and satisfied customers."
Recommendation from Ray Antaya - "Chris is a very detailed, artistic individual and is easy to work with. He has done multiple design pieces for my company."
Recommendation from Bruce Grover - "Chris Speakman is a exceptional illustrator, graphic designer and human being. His love of creating elegant communications materials -- brochures to signage to web to ads -- shines through in every piece he creates. Add to this an infectious sense of humor and a warm, caring personality and you have not just a great co-worker but a great friend."
Recommendation from Fred Durham - "Chris and I worked together when he became creative director for TMT there are many things that are different from designing a Framing format (his Department) and creating product (my Department) I always found him helpful and easy to work with,any one who works in a due date environment knows who important this is. Great designer also."