ABOUT LARISSA

While I'm a true creative at my core, I thrive on finding the holes in a process or the need in a department and developing workable solutions.
I believe collaboration is key to the success of any marketing company and I strive for expertise and excellence in any professional forum I enter.
I also believe that while you're at it, you might as well be having some fun...

WORK HISTORY

Senior Creative Lead- Marketing
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. 4/14-present : Fremont, CA

My role at MW functions largely as a liaison between the evolving brands and their expression through marketing both online and in store, including higher level strategic brand persona development, content marketing, and cross-channel integration and deployment. As one of two leaders of a newly integrated cross functional creative development team, I drive creative concepts for seasonal campaigns across brands and channels. I lead photography art direction and design exploration with a goal to connect and resonate with customers to build brand awareness and ultimately increase conversion. Managing a team of designers, art directors and production artists in collaboration, I follow the campaigns from concept to completion. Online, I lead all editorial projects, including look books, gift guides and visual guidance from concept and merch selection to design and art direction. I own and manage the e-commerce catalog product photography, which includes working closely with both the stylists and merchants to understand and help achieve the brand’s business objectives through art direction and development of standards and best practices. I've also been consulting with our in-house photo studio for online digital asset management and model database tool development.

In addition to my official role, I assumed much of the responsibilities of the former Creative Director for eCommerce while we were looking to hire our new cross-channel Creative Director on board. This involved overseeing CD responsibilities for the MW Tuxedo Rental and K&G Stores brands and support for Men's Wearhouse and Moores where needed, including strategy development and deployment, creative reviews and approvals, and coordination with offline channels. I'm also work with our newly restructured Creative Services Management team to help balance the team's workload and help provide personnel support, assist in staffing needs, and continually work towards additional process improvements.

Creative Lead - eCommerce Design & Visual Merchandising
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. 4/12-4/14 : (SF) Fremont, CA

Lead on all online special projects, including look books, gift guides and visual guidance from concept and merch selection to design and art direction. Liaison between the evolving brands and their expression through inspirational interactive marketing online, including higher level strategic brand persona development, content marketing, and cross-channel integration and deployment. Also responsible for model casting and photo art direction for all brands across online media, both catalog and editorial, as well as consulting with our in-house photo studio for online digital asset management and model database tool development.

Senior Designer - eCommerce
The Men's Wearhouse, Inc. 5/10-4/12 : San Francisco, CA

Design across three brands for on site assets, email and online marketing. Worked with the creative director to implement strategies to elevate the brands' online presence and help the transition into a more e-commerce supported business. Overhauled the on site graphics for menswearhouse.com while a larger e-commerce site was being developed. Updated the online photography process and visual direction to better showcase the quality of the product and attract a broader customer base.

Designer - Duncan/Channon, Inc. 11/07-6/09 : San Francisco, CA

Designer for an award-winning branding, advertising and design agency. Work included design and art direction on print advertisements, collateral design, packaging, signage, identity, design for interactive and POS for clients in the wine industry, real estate, retail, medical and non-profit arenas. Clients included Jackson Family Wines, Constellation Wines, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Credo Mobile, Tishman Speyer, Sanita Clogs, Sega, Surescripts, and WHY (formerly World Hunger Year).

FREELANCE

Re:Mused Studio 6/09-present : San Francisco, CA
I formed Re:Mused Studio in 2009 to work on a variety of design projects for a diverse client base. From branding and identity, to web design and photography, clients include many Bay Area musicians, a jewelry designer, interior designer, professional photographers, an Ayurvedic health practitioner and the occasional bride and groom.

Shutterfly 1/10-present : Redwood City, CA
Designer for the marketing and merchandising department of one of the online leaders in photo prints, gifts, storage and sharing. Projects have included email marketing, website landing pages and web store merchandising images. Responsibilities have also focused on lifestyle photo shoots in both preproduction planning and on the shoots themselves.

Macchiatto Design 8/09-1/10 : San Francisco, CA
Packaging for a major redesign for natural foods company Barbara’s Bakery, as well as wine label concept design for a new Napa Valley wine brand.

Gap, Inc. (Banana Republic) 7/09-8/09 : San Francisco, CA
Design and production assistance for Banana Republic’s Store Operations department. Responsibilities included work on their internal seasonal product catalogs for apparel and jewelry, employee training brochures, newsletters, and assisting with product photo shoots.

Duncan/Channon, Inc. 9/07-11/07 : San Francisco, CA
Designer for an award-winning branding, advertising and design agency. Work included collateral design, packaging, signage, identity, and POS. Clients included Fosters, Constellation Wines and Tishman Speyer.

KN Ltd. (Karen Neuburger) 2007 : San Rafael, CA
Graphic design for a retail apparel & accessories company, specializing in women’s sleepwear. Work included redesigning landing pages and other web elements, home page updates and email newsletters, as well as assisting the Graphic Design Manager with a variety of print and packaging projects.

Celery Design Collaborative 2007 : Berkeley, CA
Graphic Design for a studio specializing in green design and sustainability.

Arc Worldwide 2007 : San Francisco, CA
Graphic Design for an advertising agency assisting on projects for Symantec and Visa.

Haggin Marketing 2006-07 : Mill Valley, CA
Graphic Design for monthly catalog and direct mail pieces for Dell. Production on various direct marketing projects for Alpha Broder, American Express, Amazon.com, Safeway, Cintas, and California State Automobile Association.

Fine Design Group 2006, 2007 : San Francisco, CA
Graphic Design for a design studio on print and web development projects for luxury real estate developments, a management solutions company, a venture capital company, and others.

Marcus Associates 2005-06 : San Anselmo, CA
Graphic Designer for a branding, identity and design consultant. Work included identity design and development, brochures and advertisements, website design, and miscellaneous collateral.

EDUCATION

California College of the Arts (California College of Arts and Crafts)

BFA in Graphic Design with Distinction

SOFTWARE PROFICIENCY

Advanced: Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe InDesign CS3, word processing

Intermediate: Capture One, Quark XPress, PowerPoint, HTML, Dreamweaver

Basic: Flash (with some ActionScripting), Adobe AfterEffects, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Excel