Hey, there. I’m Shänna — art director and creative extraordinaire.
As a full time freelancer in Denver Colorado, I have seen firsthand what happens when people (and businesses) push the envelope — creating new frontiers from their creativity, passion, and talent. I have worked with some of the most inspiring leaders in e-commerce design, and have been paired up with groups of creative individuals to produce some truly awe-inspiring projects.
My background in visual arts and experience in the digital realm make me a unique combination of artist, visionary, and developer. All of that, combined with my passion for mentorship, team-building, and creative problem-solving, gives me a unique blend of knowledge and skills I apply to any challenge that lies ahead.
My Thoughts On…
Art Direction
As an art director, I envision and communicate the “why” behind a brand’s design. I have had the pleasure of flexing my creative muscles on video shoots, photoshoots, website rebuilds, start-up brand creation, marketing campaign development, social media strategy, cross-brand collaborations, and everything in between. I have been involved in shoots that have budgets of a couple hundred dollars, as well as campaigns with budgets in the $500K range. No matter the budget or concept, I’ll make it work — and make it great.
Design
Design and art direction go hand-in-hand, but also differ in many ways. I possess the skills needed to execute on both the strategy and artwork, and have the passion to stay abreast of the most cutting-edge technology and updates in the digital arena. This allows me to clearly communicate with creatives and directors alike, as I have a deep understanding of what is possible. My style varies depending on the project, and I adapt my design recommendations based on the brand. Because, after all, what is good for one brand may not be the best fit for another.
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Content Strategy
I take content strategy to a different level; I strive to understand how all areas of a business synthesize to achieve success. No matter the business goal, developing a thorough creative plan takes experience and expertise in all areas of an enterprise. Sales, merchandising, product design, marketing, web development, finance — they are all crucial components to achieve success. By ignoring any of them, you risk creating siloed teams who are marching towards different goals. For this reason, I strive to involve cross-functional partners (when applicable) in strategy planning.
Front End Development
I am a certified front end developer with a knack for both directing and communicating between designers and developers. My desire to become certified was driven by the understanding that, in order to fully comprehend the intricacies of what is possible on the web, I would need to open up the hood and understand how it all works. In addition, I am also familiar with ADA compliance, Google Analytics, SEO, email marketing, and other complex aspects of the digital world, which are commonly “out of scope” for others in my field.
Creative Problem Solving
Creative problem-solving is what sparks the passion for what I do. Good design solves a problem aesthetically. It can help a brand gain more followers, entice more buyers, grow an email list, and get more patrons into a brick-and-mortar store. That’s why businesses look to designers to meet the needs of a company and ultimately reach a common goal. And let’s be real here: that goal is typically to make money. That’s why my approach to problem-solving for a new project is an equal balance of beauty, strategy, marketing, and voice.
See Me In Action
Explore My Work
See some of the projects I’ve had the pleasure of working on, including video, photography, design and three case studies.
Examine a Case Study
In this case, I explain the thoughts behind the overhaul of the Lands’ End Outfitters organic social media strategy.