I started my career working for a record label, gathered expertise at a nationwide printer, presented to clients at Connecticut's largest ad agency, and migrated to New York City and Jersey City to not only streamline the behind-the-scenes work for worldwide consumer and B-to-B companies, but became the grass-roots lead on introducing them to digital publishing... while simultaneously creating one of the most successful Meetup.com groups on Long Island.
One thing I've noticed after over 30 years of being a designer is:
It's not just the work. It's the people. And integrity means everything.
Below is an abbreviated overview of where I've spent some of my time in the last years, as well as a small spattering of the 135 apps, tools and software I've used in the past. What a ride! And I'm not finished.
Contact me for more information, or sign-in to see portfolio work.
Brand Experience
Work Experience:
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE | MARKETING DEPARTMENT
2017-present
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Senior-level creative role combining hands-on design with art direction, creative strategy, brand oversight and collaboration across teams.
Conceptualize, design and produce integrated advertising, marketing collateral, presentations, branded emails in Constant Contact and social media content for top-producing real estate professionals and corporate marketing teams.
Serve as a trusted creative lead and brand steward, ensuring visual consistency, production quality and design excellence across campaigns.
Partner with agents and internal stakeholders to translate business objectives into cohesive brand identities and marketing solutions that strengthen visibility and client trust.
Act as liaison for social media strategy between the Long Island region and New York City corporate team, aligning creative direction and content across platforms.
Serve as the subject-matter expert for photography and image quality, advising on branding photography, image selection and retouching, and using Photoshop with Remini to enhance facial detail and resolution in agent portraits for print and digital use.
Led the complete reorganization of the marketing department’s server, establishing a standardized directory structure and file-naming convention that improved file retrieval, reduced duplication and created consistent asset-management practices across Long Island and Hamptons offices.
Developed scalable workflow tools—including a shared social media content calendar and guide and a workload visibility chart—to improve planning, collaboration and efficiency across offices and teams.
Expanded social content capabilities by adapting After Effects templates to produce monthly animated social content, becoming the primary After Effects user within an eight-person social media team.
Integrated AI-assisted tools, including Photoshop Generative Fill and large language models, into creative workflows to support image development, headline and body copy development, and faster production.
Currently expanding technical capabilities through training in Cloze and Canva data-tagging and data-merge workflows for scalable, personalized marketing production.
BBDO NEW YORK
eg+ WORLDWIDE
2004-2017
SENIOR PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Senior production design role within BBDO New York’s global advertising network, combining high-level creative production, brand stewardship and technical expertise across major national and global accounts.
Served as the go-to production designer for complex file and workflow issues, working with creative directors and print producers to solve problems and keep major projects on track.
Led production design for major accounts including Bank of America, Emirates Airlines and ITG Brands/Winston across print, out-of-home, digital and packaging campaigns.
Maintained brand standards and performed detailed quality control for global clients including AT&T, Gillette, Bacardi, ExxonMobil and Starbucks, ensuring final files met technical and production requirements.
Worked with leadership as the department moved from print to digital workflows and participated in a client presentation to ExxonMobil showcasing Adobe Digital Publishing Suite.
Helped launch early social media efforts within eg+ Worldwide, photographing and preparing creative assets that gave the agency a more personal online presence.
Mentored junior staff in production standards, prepress and file management, helping improve consistency, efficiency and quality.
MILLER MARKETING
& ADVERTISING
2002-2004
ART DIRECTOR
Directed the creative vision and execution of client campaigns from concept through final production across branding, print, collateral, presentations and early digital communications.
Directed creative development from concept through final production across branding, print, marketing collateral, presentations and early digital communications.
Interviewed, hired, trained and mentored creative staff, helping build and develop the agency’s design team.
Managed freelance designers and print vendors, coordinating creative and production needs to keep projects on schedule and maintain quality.
Worked directly with clients as a creative advisor, presenting concepts, gathering feedback and guiding revisions through final approval.
Remained hands-on with design and production, including the development of HTML email communications.
Introduced the agency’s first digital asset management system, improving the organization and accessibility of creative files.
NORTH CASTLE PARTNERS ADVERTISING
2001-2002
ART DIRECTOR
The largest full-service advertising agency previously located in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Creative and presentation lead for marketing collateral for clients such as the Connecticut rideshare authority, MetroPool; and Zinsser®.
Led design and creative development for MetroPool, Zinsser and the Connecticut Department of Transportation across advertising and marketing materials.
Worked closely with the NC4 account team and directly with client contacts when needed to develop creative solutions and move projects through approval.
Supported the People’s Bank/UCONN campaign, contributing design and production expertise across campaign materials.
Maintained brand consistency, production quality and project schedules while remaining hands-on throughout the design and production process.
Natural Organics
Nature’s Plus
2000-2001
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
In-house graphic design role within the marketing department of a Long Island–based nutritional supplement company, supporting consumer publishing, advertising and marketing communications.
Designed covers, feature spreads and full editorial layouts for Energy Times, including researching and selecting stock photography.
Created B2B marketing collateral, media kits, company advertising and kiosk updates, along with product-label revisions.
Developed custom print pieces incorporating specialty formats and die cuts.
Established a digital asset and file-management system to improve organization and access to creative materials.
Stepped in for the Art Director when needed, helping maintain creative continuity and keep projects moving.
Recognized by the in-house print team for strong prepress knowledge and production expertise.
Resident Publications
R.P. Media Group
1999-2000
ART DIRECTOR
Art Director for a Manhattan publishing company producing multiple weekly lifestyle newspapers, leading the design and production team while remaining hands-on with editorial and advertising design.
Managed a five- to six-person design and production team responsible for multiple weekly Manhattan lifestyle newspapers.
Interviewed, hired and trained creative staff while overseeing day-to-day design and production.
Designed editorial layouts, feature stories and advertising campaigns for the publications.
Managed photography selection and coordinated with outside vendors to support editorial and advertising needs.
Oversaw prepress schedules and production, including delivery of final flats to printers in Connecticut.
Created promotional materials supporting the publications and their marketing efforts.
Minuteman Press
1997-1998
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Graphic Designer for a full-service commercial print shop, working directly with local business clients and handling projects from design and typesetting through prepress and final production.
Designed corporate and promotional materials for local businesses across a wide range of industries.
Worked directly with clients to develop designs, make revisions and prepare projects for production.
Refined typesetting and typography skills through detailed creative review with ownership.
Handled extensive prepress work, including proofing, eight-up step-and-repeat mechanicals, die cuts, bleeds, trapping and press checks.
Partnered closely with print staff to ensure designs reproduced accurately and efficiently.
Recognized for reliability, creativity and a strong work ethic.
CDMO, Inc.
Taragon Records
1996-1997
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Graphic Designer and sole member of the art department for an independent record label, creating album artwork, catalogs and promotional materials while managing the company’s day-to-day design and production needs.
Designed album covers, promotional materials and marketing pieces for the independent record label.
Created and maintained a large recurring CD catalog, combining database information and imagery through an early data-merge workflow.
Imported, prepared and optimized supplied album-cover artwork for use across catalogs and promotional materials.
Used early Photoshop cloning and retouching techniques to clean up, repair and enhance supplied imagery.
Established the company’s first consistent brand identity and visual voice across its marketing materials.
Independent Work & Leadership
ADRIENNE BRAND
PHOTOGRAPHY
2005-2019
Founder & Owner | Freelance Photographer
Founder and owner of a successful outdoor portrait photography business, providing custom portrait, branding and promotional photography while managing all creative and business operations.
Provided end-to-end portrait, branding and promotional photography services, from initial client consultation and creative planning through shooting, editing and final delivery.
Handled extensive photo retouching, color correction and image enhancement to produce polished, professional final imagery.
Created and maintained the business’s visual identity, marketing collateral, website presence through Zenfolio and social media.
Managed all aspects of the business, including client acquisition, pricing, contracts, scheduling and project delivery.
LONG ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY
MEETUP
2005-2010
FOUNDER & ORGANIZER | COMMUNITY LEADER
Founder and organizer of a Long Island photography community that grew from five members to more than 350, creating opportunities for photographers to learn, network and shoot together.
Grew the group from five members to more than 350 active photographers, building a strong Long Island photography community.
Organized photography outings, networking events, educational sessions and other opportunities for members to connect and develop their skills.
Developed relationships with sponsors and coordinated partnerships supporting group activities and events.
Earned media coverage in Newsday for the group’s growth and community involvement.
Recognized by the CEO of Meetup during a seminar at BBDO for successfully building and leading the photography community.
Education:
B.A. Communications / Journalism
News Editorial Emphasis, English Concentration
Shippensburg University, PA
Concert Committee Member
Yearbook Editor
Student Activities Committee Member
A.A.S. Communications & Media Arts: Journalism Suffolk Community College, NY
Student Activities’ Student of the Year | 1993
Editor-in-Chief, Compass | 1992-1993
Feature Editor, Compass 1991-1992
Who’s Who of Junior College Students | 1993
Who’s Who of Junior College Students | 1992
Orientation Leader | 1993
Orientation Leader | 1992
Captain: Clippers Softball | 1993
Apps & Software Used
[ BOTH CURRENT & LEGACY ]
AI Software
Photoshop
I use Photoshop’s AI and Generative Fill tools to extend backgrounds, reframe and resize images for different ad formats, and manipulate existing photography to fit the layout I have in mind. Rather than allowing the dimensions of the original image to dictate the design, I can expand, rebuild or adjust an image to create the composition and negative space I need while keeping the final result natural and visually consistent.
ChatGPT
What started as an enjoyable jaunt into making an image of me in blister packaging as a Creative Director turned into me using ChatGPT like a creative Swiss Army knife: rewriting clunky copy into something something that sings, project managing complex projects to prevent them from turning into chaos, and even troubleshooting when software decides to gaslight me. It’s my go-to for brainstorming fresh campaign angles, and sharpening client presentations. Bonus: it never rolls its eyes when I ask it to rephrase the same sentence ten ways.
Layout Software
InDesign
Ranked in the Top 5% of InDesign
users via LinkedIn, 2021.
Indesign is an amazing layout design tool with limitless capabilities for all your graphic design needs. I've been using InDesign since before it was called InDesign... it was PageMaker.
Figma
Don't get too excited. 🤭 While I have been introduced to Figma, it's one of the newest programs I've started to fold into my repertoire. But I'm extremely excited about the prospects of mastering Figma, and have already fleshed-out a list of things that I'll be creating with it. And the more I discover, the longer the list will be. In the next few years, we'll uncover just how much Figma will – or won't – take over the design world.
ChatGPT
Canva has made incredible improvements over the years, and while many professional designers are forced to use it, I've embraced the quick layout and animation options that satisfy clients' needs. Being educated in various software and apps allows me to not only use those platforms, but to teach it to others.
What I'd like to see happen with Canva:
Canva's organization needs improvement. Most designers who are accustomed to strict file organization like myself are opposed to Canva's "recent files" view being the prominent option. The preference for this needs to be optional. Since 1996 I've almost never used the "Recent Files" option – I just don't trust it. I feel that taking 3 seconds more to find the actual newest file (which I've clearly labeled) is always the safer way to go.
Quark Xpress
Is Quark still around?
Remember when Blockbuster video was the number one video store in the world, and no one else could imagine any other option? When Netflix arrived on the scene, everything changed.
I remember learning Quark thinking, "I guess this will be the software I'll use for the rest of my life." Simply because that's the way the world used to work. Then InDesign came on the scene. Now Figma is encroaching upon the territory of both InDesign and Quark.
The good news is that I absolutely adore technology! I love learning new programs that blow away the old. And I'm thrilled to have worked with companies who embrace change.
PageMaker
In the late '90s, university students were lucky enough to have Macs with PageMaker installed. For some reason (probably financial) QuarkXpress was nowhere to be found on campus, so students mastered PageMaker. Luckily, Aldus became Adobe and InDesign was born. Those of us who were part of the wave of PageMaker students still occasionally pay homage to the program that welcomed us into the world of design.
Photography Software
Photoshop
I've been using Photoshop since before Adobe announced the inclusion of the clone tool. In one of the first versions, I removed part of a singer from in front of a piano and reconstructed the background. It's been so long, I've been working with Photoshop since before applying shadows was a one-step click.
Camera Raw
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Lightroom
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Remini
How cute! I have Remini listed.
But for optimal usage, you have to know how to use it. What images work best with Remini, how to prep images before dropping into Remini. What to do with the output file from Remini... Sure, you can drop an image into Remini and see what comes out. But I know how to do it for optimal results. That's what experience gets you.
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Illustration Software
ChatGPT
I've been using Illustrator since 1992, when professors were still teaching students how to hold the mouse, point and click. I was using Illustrator when folks still cared about trapping and the CMYK color values of black and how they affect your design based on the color paper you're using.
Social Media
I've been using Illustrator since 1992, when professors were still teaching students how to hold the mouse, point and click. I was using Illustrator when folks still cared about trapping and the CMYK color values of black and how they affect your design based on the color paper you're using.
Meta
I’ve set up countless Meta accounts for agents and small businesses, from Facebook Pages to Instagram profiles, ensuring brand consistency across platforms. Beyond the basics, I guide clients in using Meta’s built-in tools — Business Suite, Ads Manager, and cross-posting features — to streamline their presence and expand reach. Too often, accounts are created and then left half-finished; I focus on setting them up strategically so they’re not just placeholders, but fully functional marketing assets.
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YouTube
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TikTok
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Threads
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Twitter | X
Does anyone really call it X?