© 2023 JJ SPARK CREATIVE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ABOUT
Branding & Identity
Graphic Design
Photo Direction
Prop Styling
Photography
Project Management
Website Design
Social Media
Integrated Marketing
DOTDASH MEREDITH, DAILYPAWS.COM, PHOTO DIRECTOR, DIGITAL DESIGNER & VISUALS EDITOR
Defined and developed look and feel of dailypaws.com visual brand from inception. Contributed skills in logo design, typography, art direction, and illustration to facilitate launch. Designed engaging infographics, social posts, illustrations, and motion graphics. Conceived, planned, styled, and directed original photography with people, pets, and food.
• Created Daily Paws visual tone and manner, contributing to site traffic of 1M hits within 3 months
of launch, surpassing initial goal by 7 months.
• Envisioned and organized multi-faceted photo shoot with large variety of pets and people, efficiently producing 300+ striking photos.
• Conceptualized, styled, and photo directed 50+ stunning, homemade pet treat images, setting
brand apart from competing websites.
JJ SPARK CREATIVE LLC, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Transformed ideas into inventive brand directions and engaging visual content. Demonstrated strong eye for typography, color palettes, and layout hierarchy. Conceptualized, propped, and directed photo shoots as well as produced studio sets for original photography. Designed, edited, and updated small business websites.
• Developed visual identity for mission-based initiative, Change of Socks, inspiring people to donate 150K+ pairs of socks for homeless within 1st month.
• Designed and styled sets for photography, ordering walls, flooring, paint, and furnishings, emulating beautiful home settings, keeping all work in-house, and saving 100% of external costs.
• Photo directed and styled photography across the country, capturing success and personality of quilt industry’s favorite small businesses for leading Dotdash Meredith-published magazine.
MEREDITH CORPORATION, INTEGRATED MARKETING, GROUP DESIGN DIRECTOR
Produced high-quality consumer magazine publications for America’s leading brands, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Nestle, Kohler, Kraft, Iams, Pepsi, Hyundai, Publix, Mary Kay, and new business. Directed studio and location photography with broad experience in interiors, food, people, and pets. Recruited, managed, and mentored on-staff, interns, and international freelance designers.
• Elevated visual brand for numerous high-level companies by connecting and strengthening relationships with customers through company-branded consumer magazines.
• Art-directed designs for new business pitches, retaining and winning business.
KRAGIE NEWELL ADVERTISING, ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Developed, supervised, and executed creative direction, advertising campaign designs, and identity programs in agency setting. Provided expertise in photo direction, color approval, and printing. Conceived and produced graphics for television advertising spots, including major brands McDonald’s and Chevrolet. Cultivated and maintained strong client relationships.
• Managed creative for Iowa’s Tourism and Business Development, promoting statewide initiatives.
• Created award-winning designs for identity and collateral material, increasing brand awareness.
EDUCATION, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design
RECOMMENDATIONS
I worked with Jody for two years when we launched and grew Daily Paws, a digital pets brand owned by Dotdash Meredith. Growing a brand presence from the ground up is no easy task, and as visuals editor, Jody did a great job spearheading the look and feel of the site and continued to bring it to life every day. I’ve never worked with someone as positive and empathetic who lifts other people up with them as much as Jody. She makes any work environment a better place to be and she’s a true asset to any team lucky enough to have her! - Leah Lopez Cardenas, Senior Editor, Real Simple, Dotdash Meredith (Co-Worker)
Jody is a wonderful work partner. Talented, smart, and flexible. She truly keeps the needs of the project in mind and uses her immense talent to solve problems in new, creative ways. She and I worked together on the launch of a brand-new website. Her skills in logo design, typography, art direction, and illustration made a huge difference in the successful brand launch. Jody is also a joy to work beside every day. Her upbeat, positive personality helps create a collaborative team environment. - Karman Hotchkiss, Senior Editorial Director, DailyPaws.com, Dotdash Meredith (Manager)
I was Editor-in-Chief of Meredith Integrated Marketing, an in-house, full-service "agency" that served major advertisers/clients. Jody was the Group Design Director, responsible for overseeing several on-staff designers as well as dozens of freelance contributors (illustrators, photographers, and stylists), and worked closely with an editorial team of staff editors and freelance writers. Jody thrived in this structure, as she was both a strong leader and a collaborative team member. With a keen design sense, she is an objective and firm leader as well as a patient and nurturing mentor. Her listening skills, sense of humor, and ability to balance personal and professional life make her a compassionate, understanding, and supportive team member. Importantly, in our business, her passion for work was apparent in her presentation skills, too, as she helped "win" (and keep) many pieces of business for the Integrated Marketing team. - Don Johnson, Editor-In-Chief, Meredith Integrated Marketing (Manager)
Jody was a great team member and leader, she gave positive and constructive input to keep her team on track with client goals. She has great insight into mentoring and matching talent to fit appropriate needs. She hired or acquired the best-qualified people to fulfill the project requirements. Jody is a terrific networker and relationship builder both at client presentations and in one-on-one situations. She is a good listener and resolves problems and conflicts fairly and gracefully. She is a talented designer and manager, well-spoken, and dedicated to producing the best possible results no matter the project.- Nancy Wiles, Design Director, Meredith Corporation (Direct Report)
I can attest to Jody’s great communication and marketing skills working with clients, team members, and our staff. She is empathetic, has great listening talent, presentation style, and amazing creativity. Jody is passionate about her work and doing whatever challenges or tasks are in front of her with grace and style. - Deb Ohrn, Deb Ohrn Designs (Co-Worker)
Jody is the consummate professional -- smart, creative, thoughtful, and a master at working with multiple types of assignments and personalities. During the years we worked together at Meredith,
I admired how Jody was able to translate clients' communications goals into high-impact visual pieces. She is client-focused, results-driven, and just a joy to work with. - BJ Towe, Writer, Words That Work, Inc. (Co-Worker)
Jody is a deeply talented and perceptive strategic, visual thinker — skilled at transforming business imperatives into the most appropriate and compelling storytelling. Best of all, working with her is an absolute pleasure and joy. - Elizabeth Baldwin, Pickle Group, Los Angeles (Creative Director)
INCREASE BRAND AWARENESS & CAPTIVATE AUDIENCES THROUGH DIGITAL AND PRINT EXPERIENCES
Dynamic marketing designer with expertise in creative direction, brand management, and visual storytelling through print, digital, and social platforms. Leverage strong critical and conceptual thinking abilities to express concepts through stunning visuals. Organized, detail-oriented, and proven success transforming complicated content into succinct, compelling messages. Utilize exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills to collaborate with teammates remotely and in hybrid environments. Skilled in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma.