Robert (Bob) O'Brien

Creative Director @ Body-Solid, Inc.

About

20+ years of experience within creative departments in both B2B and B2C environments, 10+ years as a Creative Director. Expertise in omni-channel experience, integrated brand marketing, UI/UX design, brand guidelines, packaging and email marketing, all with an ability to lead across both digital and traditional print platforms. My approach integrates creativity with strategy. I bring a diverse skill set to the table, my expertise has been shaped from agency-life to client-side roles giving me a well-rounded perspective to deliver innovative solutions that drive brand success. As a creative team leader, my team of five manages two websites, social media content, catalogs, brand guidelines, and all in-house photography and video production all to ensure consistency across all channels. This has provided me with a competitive advantage to strategically develop brand campaigns from conception, through design, through final production and distribution. I thrive on tackling challenges and am committed to delivering innovative solutions that drive brand growth. I have extensive experience in creative direction, social media content creation, web content management, brand development, marketing strategy, team development and photography.

Country

United States

City

Winfield

Industry

Marketing & Advertising

Skill

Project Management, Interactive Creative Direction, Internal and External Communications, Creative Problem Solving, Teamwork, Microsoft Office, Brand Marketing, Digital Media, Creative Strategy, Adobe Photoshop, Communication, Corporate Identity, Web Content Management, Branding & Identity, Digital Production, Digital Designs, Creative Direction, Art Direction, Adobe Creative Suite, Brand Development

Experience

Creative Director

Body-Solid, Inc.

2016-4 - Present · 10 yrs 6 mos

Forest Park, IL

Translating brand strategy, consumer insights, and internal feedback into a cohesive plan for all external facing branding for two in-house brands. The in-house creative team supports a B2B company, as well as a B2C company. Within this current role, I guide the creative team through strategy, ideation, design, and production-to-completion of fresh creative solutions for a wide variety of internal and external requests, all within timeframe and budget. This team manages all brand development, brand standards, internal and external marketing efforts, web development, social media, photography/video, email marketing, advertising, as well as sales staff and trade show support. I lead, manage, and mentor the creative team of art directors, social media managers, designers, web developers, illustrators, and copywriters. One milestone we recently accomplished was the migration of a B2C website from a proprietary web provider onto the BigCommerce platform. The new platform has dramatically increased sales by utilizing the addition of sales analytics, order tracking, integrated sales tax, shipping/tracking, and abandoned cart re-marketing all for an enhanced e-tailing experience.

Associate Creative Director

DeVry University

2012 - 2016 · 4 yrs

Downers Grove, IL

I helped manage and grow the team to 14 teammates. This team developed all promotional materials for the University and its subsequent schools.

Senior Art Director

DeVry University

2009 - 2012 · 3 yrs

Downers Grove, IL

As the first-ever, full-time, art department employee I was tasked with creating the Brand Guidelines for a recently relaunched DeVry University. Shortly following the success from this launch, DeVry’s graduate school, Keller, undertook a similar project. In an attempt for complete submersion into the Keller brand (both as a student and brand shepard) I began studying for my own master’s degree in marketing. I was later promoted to Associate Creative Director.

Senior Designer

CompTIA

2003 - 2009 · 6 yrs

Downers Grove, IL

– Designed and delivered supporting print material for two annual trade shows, creating everything from ad slicks and brochures to department logos for trade publications for this tech sector non-profit organization

Freelance Senior Art Director

Nielsen

2002 - 2003 · 1 yr

Schaumburg, IL

– Contributed to all design pieces ensuring alignment with the existing brand structure to enforce that the subject matter was translated into effective pieces of marketing collateral

Freelance Art Director

Draft Worldwide

2001 - 2001

Chicago, IL

– Developed all new P.O.P. pieces for new Burger King – Managed all new food product photoshoots

Senior Graphic Designer

tms

1998 - 2001 · 3 yrs

Oakbrook, IL

– Served as designer and art director for leading global agency of consumer and packaged goods with Keebler, McDonald’s, Build-a-Bear, PetSmart, Motorola, and Sprint – Collaborated on marketing campaigns, trade show collateral and product brochures