An enthusiastic and versatile visual storyteller with two decades of experience guiding compelling creative solutions throughout the creative process. Passionate about building brand love, designing and directing print with expertise in Shopper Marketing/Retail. 

I am proficient in collaborating with cross-functional business partners to achieve exceptionally well-crafted and strategic solutions. Successful in getting initiatives off the ground, onboarding new clients, building teams, guiding strategy, and influencing new methods and best practices. Identifier of top talent and nurturing leader of creative teams emphasizing development, business success, and enjoying the process.

EXPERIENCE

SUSAN GRAAN CREATIVE CONSULTING LLC, Chicago, IL 

July 2017 - Present | Creative Director / Designer

Partnering with:
VML Commerce; Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide; DiSanti Hick + Partners; O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul; Shoptology; Arc Worldwide; Saatchi & Saatchi X; Closerlook Inc.

Imaginative and versatile designer with a hands-on, end-to-end approach. Adept at concept creativity, strategic thinking, and meticulous execution. Proven expertise in translating client objectives into visually compelling designs. Skilled in delivering memorable solutions for physical retail spaces and retail strategy, merchandising, digital, campaign awareness tactics, branding, photoshoot direction, print, product launches, brand guideline development, and presentation design. 

Collaborative and client-focused, consistently exceeding expectations with tailored, high-quality solutions. Adaptable across diverse projects and industries, committed to transforming ideas into visually stunning realities.

ARC, Chicago, IL

April 2024 - Aug 2024 | Creative Director | Contract

PERNOD RICARD ACCOUNT

Leading a strategic shopper marketing creative team to deliver various seasonal end-to-end 360° shopper campaigns. The scope of work includes robust retail POS displays and signage and on-premise, off-premise, experiential, and other tactical activations for five alcoholic beverage brands, representing approximately $1.3M in agency revenue. The role includes influencing design decisions, evaluating concepts to meet strategic goals, oversight of team assignments, and guiding success in designing
best-in-class experiences to drive brand growth.

VML COMMERCE, Chicago, IL

Jul 2022 - Jan 2024 | Sr Creative / Designer | Contract

HALEON ACCOUNT

In a fast-paced agency environment, supported the creative team in meeting brand strategy and business goals to build Haleon’s CPG brands and desired customer experiences through design leadership. Develop tactics that bring creative concepts to life and achieve program objectives. Responsible for end-to-end design of promotional campaigns, point-of-purchase, and digital across all campaign formats that deliver and adhere to the brand standards, ensuring cohesion and consistency.

O’KEEFE REINHARD & PAUL, Chicago, IL

Mar 2022 - May 2022 | Creative Director / Designer | Contract

ILLINOIS OFFICE OF TOURISM ACCOUNT

Illinois Tourism Account:
Collaborated with a cross-functional team to successfully develop and transform a new Illinois Tourism campaign launch, focusing on optimizing visual storytelling for maximum engagement. Created high-impact deliverables, ensuring they meet brand standards and resonate effectively with target audiences.

Created diverse print and digital deliverables with tight timelines and ensured the creative vision aligned seamlessly with the campaign objectives. I oversaw the end-to-end design lifecycle, from design toolkit conceptualization to seamless execution throughout the production of all print and static digital assets.

SHOPTOLOGY, Plano, TX

Nov 2021 - Mar 2022 | Creative Director | Remote Contract

PEPSICO, SHELL, EURONET & NEW BUSINESS ACCOUNTS

Helped grow brands by transforming insights into ideas and delivered on the client’s business goals. I applied a strong sense of design with conceptual and problem-solving skills to imagine new solutions for an ever-changing retail dynamic. 

I confidently led multiple projects simultaneously while working closely with account management and leadership while maintaining oversight of the creative team.

O’KEEFE REINHARD & PAUL, Chicago, IL

May 2018-June 2020 | Creative Director of Print Production

ILLINOIS LOTTERY ACCOUNT

Successfully implemented the ORRP’s first print production team while defining procedures and quality standards for all retailer-specific POS, print & digital OOH, and experiential activation executions to drive consumer engagement.

• Partnered in the design of a new visual identity for the Illinois Lottery rebrand. Owner and creator of comprehensive brand guidelines for clients, agencies, and brand partners.
• Led implementation and design of various monthly communication tools distributed to 7,500 Illinois Lottery retailers providing education about new tickets, sales strategies, POS best practices, and retail support to deliver a positive brand experience.

ARC WORLDWIDE | LEO BURNETT, Chicago, IL

July 2009-July 2017 | VP Creative Director

McDONALD’S ACCOUNT

Strategically guided end-to-end design solutions for POS and menuboards. The team was responsible for all national retail initiatives including new product and platform launches, promotions, sweepstakes, and brand activation. And, conceiving all in-store POS and photography.

• Co-led the 28 person national retail and promotional multi-disciplined creative team within six diverse business units representing $14M in agency revenue.
• Oversaw design and deployment of new digital menuboard to 14,000 U.S. restaurants. Team overcame various content design, technology, and budget challenges throughout all design phases. Initial results reported a 3-5% sales increase in stores with digital menuboards. System-wide rollout saw no customer disruption in ordering.
• Creative lead and sole agency representative for a $1M+ global menu refresh photoshoot abroad. Responsible for all pre and post-production creative direction and guiding emerging markets agency creative teams on best practices in food photography.
Strategically guided end-to-end design solutions for POS and menuboards. The team was responsible for all national retail initiatives including new product and platform launches, promotions, sweepstakes, and brand activation. And, conceiving all in-store POS and photography.

• Co-led the 28 person national retail and promotional multi-disciplined creative team within six diverse business units representing $14M in agency revenue.
• Oversaw design and deployment of new digital menuboard to 14,000 U.S. restaurants. Team overcame various content design, technology, and budget challenges throughout all design phases. Initial results reported a 3-5% sales increase in stores with digital menuboards. System-wide rollout saw no customer disruption in ordering.

June 2007-July 2009 | Creative Director

PROCTOR & GAMBLE ACCOUNT

July 2006-June 2007 | Associate Creative Director

CIBA VISION ACCOUNT

FRANKEL, Chicago, IL

McDONALD’S ACCOUNT
June 1996-July 2006 | Sr. Art Director

AWARDS 

Web Award
Outstanding Achievement in Web Development
CIBA Vision:  Fresh Look “Your Eyes Tell a Story” Contest Website

The Global Marketer Diamond Awards 
Best Point-of-Purchase Advertising Campaign
McDonald’s Simple Bold Retail Identity initiative

POPAI
Silver Indian: Primary In-store Component of Integrated Marketing Effort
McDonald’s Toy Story 2 kiosk (with Rapid Displays)

• Brand Building • Shopper Marketing/Retail • Branding & Visual Identity • Art Direction & Design • Photo-shoot Direction • New Product Launch • Team Leadership • Adobe Creative Suite