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Profile

As a creative director & strategist, I’ve worked with companies and brands that need to cut through the noise and connect deeply with their audiences. Bold, human-centric leadership and innovative vision are essential—and that’s where I come in. With a background that defies convention, I bring a multi-disciplinary and multi-sensory data-driven thought-filled approach to my work, specializing in creating experiences that engage across every touchpoint.

 

Whether it’s defining a compelling brand & visual identity, developing dynamic creative strategies, digital strategies, content strategies and creation, or leveraging the latest AI technologies, I deliver results that break through, stand out, resonate, and drive measurable impact.

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Experience

Creative Strategist &
Creative Director

Cision

Chicago, IL - Hybrid

9.22 - 8.23

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Lead creative direction & strategy for a global communications leader, evolving brand identity & multi-channel marketing campaigns, resulting in a 100% increase in engagement across digital platforms.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Spearheaded global brand refresh and creative direction across multiple branded digital & traditional channels, resulting in a 200-400% uplift in digital engagement & improved brand positioning. (corporate website, social channels, marketing, content, collateral, presentations, e-books, email)

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Led a global creative team, fostering collaboration across in-house & freelance teams, and delivering cohesive brand-building leadership content, innovative design & brand solutions , enhancing brand consistency & creative output across channels, & driving double-digit increases in new and existing audience engagement through innovative content strategies.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Managed global thought leadership content, leveraged data-driven insights to develop comprehensive targeted content strategies that resonated with diverse audiences, across webinars, industry reports, & social media campaigns, resulting in a 150% increase in audience engagement & reach.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Managed a portfolio of key client accounts, ensuring client satisfaction, retention, and growth through delivering tailored, impactful creative solutions.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Presented creative strategy, brand and visual identity concepts and design-centric multi-channel campaigns to C-suite level audiences, driving alignment and project approval.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Direction, strategy & execution of annual Thought Leadership Report & other global campaigns, doubling KPIs for performance marketing & client acquisition, evolving brand messaging & identity across web, social media, PR, & digital marketing touch-points.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project delivery and integrated results, from concept to roll-outs & launches, achieving client satisfaction & retention.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Develop data-driven brand content strategies that led to earned media coverage by media such as Fast Company, among other significant trade publications.

Consulting

Freelance - Hybrid

06.23 - Current

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Partnering with clients to develop impactful and meaningful creative concepts that connected deeply, aligned with brand voice, vision, market, data, and legacy, spanning short and long-term goals.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ  Developed creative strategies that resonated with target audiences, driving successful rebrands and campaigns for various clients.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Integrated data and industry research to ideate innovative campaigns, resulting in increased brand awareness and engagement.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ  Developed corporate rebranding for a real estate enterprise, delivering a comprehensive growth roadmap, creative direction, & brand strategy that increased client engagement by 20%, & differentiated the brand from competitors.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ  Transformed complex market data into compelling brand narratives, aligning the company's visual identity with its core values, purpose, & service offerings to enhance market differentiation, position, & customer loyalty.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Created cohesive & cross-functional style guides, ensuring consistency across messaging, visual identity, & user experience (UX) spanning web, mobile, & physical brand touch-points, improving UX & brand cohesion.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Oversaw presentations and cross-functional collaborations, ensuring alignment with client goals and market trends.

ÌŠÌŠ ÌŠ Partnered with clients to create impactful, long-term brand strategies that aligned with business objectives, audience insights, core tenets, & emerging market opportunities, ensuring sustainable growth.

Skills

Professional Relationship & Leadership Qualities

(Soft Skills)

  • Visionary Leadership & Strategic Communication

  • Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Global Awareness

  • Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building

  • Team Development & Mentoring

  • Change Management & Adaptability

  • Problem-Solving & Decision Making

  • DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) Advocacy

  • Emotional Intelligence & Active Listening

  • Community Development & Engagement

  • Risk Management & Crisis Resolution

  • Operational Dexterity

  • Value Creation & Strategic Focus

  • Adaptable Governance

  • Trend Analysis & Thought Leadership

  • Executive Decision Making

  • Resource Optimization & Management

  • Performance Management & Goal Setting

  • Business Acumen & Market Analysis

  • Remote Team Leadership

Specialized Knowledge, Expertise & Experience

Brand & Creative Strategy

(Hard Skills)

  • Brand Development & Identity Systems

  • Creative Direction & Art Direction

  • Campaign Strategy & Concept Development

  • Content Strategy & Architecture

  • Brand Strategy

  • ​Global Brand Consistency

  • Design Thinking & Innovation

  • Visual Analysis & Semiotics

  • Experiential & Environmental Design

  • Dynamic Branding & Animation

  • AI Integration & Development

    • AI Prompt Engineering

    • AI Imagery Development

    • AI Training for Creative Teams

  • Data Strategy & Visualization

  • Growth Strategy Development

  • Value Creation Frameworks

  • Assessments & Process Design

  • Cultural Adaptation & Localization

  • Brand Governance Systems

  • Recognition & Badge Systems

  • Developer Experience Mapping

  • Blockchain-Verified Systems

  • Content Resource Management

    • Guidelines Development

    • Asset Libraries

    • Template Systems

Marketing & Communication

  • Digital Marketing Strategy

  • Social Media Strategy

  • Advertising Campaign Development

  • Email Marketing & Automation

  • E-Commerce Optimization

  • Landing Page Development

  • FB Ads Management

  • Presentation Design

  • Brand Storytelling & Narrative

  • Campaign Copywriting

  • Marketing Analytics & Metrics

  • PESO Model Implementation

  • Cross-Channel Marketing Integration

  • Content Personalization Strategy

  • Community Platform Development

  • Marketing Automation

  • SEO Strategy & Implementation

  • Press Release Development

Content Creation & Production

  • Multimedia Design & Production

  • Motion Graphics & Animation

  • Interactive Content Development

  • Real-time Content Production

  • Cross-platform Content Adaptation

  • Video Production

    • Pre-Production Planning

    • Production Management

    • Post-Production

  • Ideation, Visualization & Concept Art

  • Typography & Layout Design

  • UX/UI Design & User Flow

  • Technical Documentation

  • Content Localization

  • Asset Library Development

  • Photography & Illustration

  • Voice & Audio Production

Digital Asset Management

  • Advanced File Organization Systems

  • Metadata Management

  • Version Control

  • ​Media Libraries

  • Cloud Storage Solutions

  • Archive Systems

  • Rights Management

  • Asset Tracking Systems

  • Backup Protocols

  • Project Documentation

  • Workflow Optimization

  • Rights Management

  • Asset Tracking Systems

  • Backup Protocols

Technical &
Production Expertise

Technical Infrastructure & Workflows

  • Cross-platform Compatibility

  • Mobile-first Development

  • Performance Optimization

  • Security Protocols

  • Backup Systems

  • Version Control Methods

  • Cloud Integration

  • API Implementation

  • Automation Workflows

Software Proficiency

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Complete)

  • After Effects (Java within Ae), with Cinema 4D

  • Design: Figma, Corel Painter

  • Lightworks full production applications & tools

  • Project Management: Trello, Asana, Flock

  • Presentation: Keynote, Google Slides

  • CMS: WordPress, Shopify, Woocommerce

  • Social Media Platforms

  • Social Media Management Tools

  • SMS & DM Marketing Platforms

  • Analytics & Tracking Tools

  • Scheduling & Automation Tools

  • Marketing: Various CRM & ESP platforms

  • Web Development: HTML/CSS, PHP

  • AI Tools & Platforms

    • e.g. Bard (Google), Canva AI, Capcut, ChatGPT (v4-6.1), Claude, DALL-E, Descript, ElevenLabs Dubbing, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, GPT-4, Leonardo.ai, Lightworks AI, Midjourney, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Perplexity, Pika Labs, Runway, Stable Diffusion​

  • Other Multi-Device Tools

    • Asana, Canva, Dropbox, Figma, Freeform, Google Drive, Google Workspace, Goodnotes, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Notes (Apple),  Tidio, Toddl, Trello, WeTransfer, Zoom

  • DAWs:

    • Ableton, Digital Performer, Reason, Native Instruments, Cubase, Pro Tools

  • Sample Libraries, Virtual Instruments, Audio Plug-ins 

  • Notation: Sibelius

  • Legacy: Dreamweaver, Flash, Muse, Final-Cut

Hardware & Equipment Proficiency

  • Camera Systems

    • Sony Professional Series

    • Canon Professional Series

    • GoPro & 360 Cameras

    • Professional Lens Collection

    • Support & Stabilization Systems

  • Advanced Camera Accessories

    • Intervalometers

    • Specialty Mounts

    • Custom Rigging

    • Rails

  • Lighting

    • Full Studio Configuration

    • Portable Solutions

    • Lighting Specifics

      • Fresnel

      • LED Arrays

      • HMI

      • Tungsten

      • Green/Blue Screen

  • Audio Equipment

    • Professional Microphones (SM7B, AT2020, Neumann)

    • Preamps (Avalon VT-737, Neve)

    • Wireless Systems

    • MIDI Controllers & Interfaces

  • Recording Systems

    • Multi-track Setups

    • Portable Recording Solutions

  • Custom Audio Configurations

    • Patchbays

    • Power Conditioners

    • Custom-modified Preamps

  • Production Equipment

    • CD Duplication

    • Laser Cutting

    • Multi-functional Mixers

  • Projection & Mapping Systems

  • Set-ups for outdoor, indoor, studio, live, installations, public speaking, presentations, podcasting, theater

Audio & Music Production

  • Professional Audio Engineering

    • Studio Recording

    • Live Sound

    • Location Recording

  • Sound Design

    • Sonic Branding

    • Sound Effects

    • Ambient Design

  • Music Production

    • Composition

    • Arrangement

    • Performance

      • Voice, Piano, Keys, Synths, Percussion +

  • Production

    • Direction

    • Recording

    • Processing

  • Post-Production

    • Mixing

    • Mastering

    • Sound Design

  • Custom Sound Library Creation

  • Audio Restoration

  • Surround Sound Production

  • Binaural Recording

Prior Design & Creative
Work Roles 

2006-2018

  • Graphic Design

  • Brand Design

  • Digital Media

  • Video Editing

  • Video Production

  • Web Design

  • Print Design

  • Multimedia

  • Multimedia Design

  • Ideation, Concepts

  • Concept Art

  • Story-board

  • Logos

  • Motion Graphics

  • Corporate Identity

  • Social Media Content Creation

  • UX & User Flow

  • Ad Creation

  • Marketing Materials

  • Creative Problem Solving

  • Detail-Oriented

  • Ecommerce

  • Digital Assets

  • Digital Assets Management

  • Layout Creation

  • Typography

  • Palettes

  • Color Theory

  • Illustration

  • Building Extensive Multimedia Libraries 

  • Adobe After Effects, Premier, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign

  • Basic Web HTML, Responsive HTML (W3C) / CSS, PHP, some CSS, (Javascript within After Effects)

  • Final-Cut, Cinema 4D, Motion, Flash

  • Dreamweaver, Muse, Wordpress

  • SEO

  • Email Systems

  • Email Marketing

  • Press Releases

"In my 25+ year career working with some of the best creative minds in marketing and design, I have never seen more innovative and inspirational talent in one person. Zen is one of the best creative leaders to have on any team."

— Delza Laxamana,

Former VP of Corporate Positioning, Cision

Get in Touch

(442) 777-3733‬

ZenAtrisCreative@gmail

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  • Bandcamp
  • Vimeo
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