01 Who I am
Hi! I’m Gwen.
I love to create. I also love to travel, hence the seemingly random travel photos scattered across my site. I am a graphic designer by trade, an artist and musician by leisure and an avid runner and chocolate consumer by pastime.
I was born and raised on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (and no, my childhood was nothing like what is depicted on the TV show). After attending college at UNC-Chapel Hill, I settled in Charlotte, where I currently reside with my husband and energetic toddler.
Professionally, I have extensive experience straddling the print and digital worlds of design. I am always thinking about the user experience and the end product. From pocket cards and posters to billboards and bus wraps, I have designed for print on every scale. In the digital realm, I have tackled everything from email marketing and social/digital ad campaigns to landing pages and web design. With a background in journalism, I am passionate about designing data-heavy infographics and following AP Style. (Death to the Oxford comma!) I also dabble in motion graphics, video editing and digital illustration.
02 Skills
Email marketing
I am experienced in both custom-coded, responsive email design as well as utilizing email marketing software such as MailChimp, Salesforce and Constant Contact.
Digital illustration
I use Adobe Fresco on my iPad for all custom illustrations, fonts and various hand-drawn design elements.
Specialties
Layout • Typography • Infographics • Email marketing • Web design • Animation • Video editing • Fine art/illustration • Project management • AP Style
03 Experience
Senior designer | ABZ Creative Partners
Charlotte, NC • January 2011 to present
- Work as a senior graphic designer for a boutique, full-service marketing firm.
- Collaborate with team to produce multi-piece campaigns across print and digital platforms, including ads, billboards, social media, emails and more.
- Tackle design and layout challenges daily by creating complex brochures, flyers, direct mailers, billboards, bus wraps, infographics and print and digital ads.
- Spearhead all website projects by building landing pages, microsites and websites for clients using WordPress or custom code, working in tandem with developers.
- Develop branding for clients with innovative logo designs, fonts and color palettes.
- Execute all email marketing design for the firm, creating responsive email journeys and e-newsletters through clients’ CRMs and email platforms or by using HTML/CSS.
- Produce illustrative animations, motion graphics and animated digital ads.
Freelance designer | Gwendolyn Belle Design
January 2010 to present
- Establish new branding for clients by designing logos, websites, business cards, letterhead and other marketing collateral.
- Manage clients’ social media accounts and fashion custom social content.
- Conceptualize miscellaneous print pieces per client’s vision, including merchandise and T-shirt designs, posters, book covers and more.
Graphic designer | BIESSE America
Charlotte, nc • December 2010 to February 2011
- Worked as a part-time designer for an international manufacturing company.
- Collaborated with marketing director to design flyers and brochures.
- Updated HTML email templates and coded and deployed internal eblasts.
Design intern | USA TODAY
McLean, VA • June to august 2009
- Worked as part of the design team for a national, multi-platform news and information media company.
- Created illustrative “snapshot” charts and infographics for the print edition of the newspaper.
- Archived and analyzed data and website traffic for the online edition USA TODAY.
04 Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel HIll, NC • 2006-2010
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism | Graphic design concentration
- Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art | Painting and drawing concentration
- GPA 3.9 | Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Study abroad programs
- Journalism – Graphic design
Pontificia Universidad Católica | Buenos Aires, Argentina
June to July 2010 - Studio Art
Lorenzo de Medici | Florence, Italy
January to May 2008