Experience

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  Target

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Senior Art Director

    • Sep 2019 - Present
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Using my creative talents to develop original ideas for digital advertising campaigns in the Home category on Target.com, while working closely in collaboration with associate creative directors, copywriters, experience designers, media experts, and developers. Deciphering creative briefs and bringing each idea to life by crafting detailed visual concepts, including motion and interaction design and championing elevated 3D interiors and outdoor living work. My work with target has been a part of the overall digital growth prior to 2019 and through the pandemic. The home category in digital has grown more than 200% year over year. Championing Targets values, strategies and goal while being on the forefront of cultural and technical trends.

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  Araya Jensen Creative

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Artist

    • Jan 2018 - Present
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Creating from a sense of purpose and joy. ☀️Art Prints☀️Still Life Photography☀️Creative Workshops☀️Installations

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  Willful®

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Founder-Creative Director

    • Jan 2012 - Dec 2018
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Sales and Business Development: New business development, customer relations and service, collaboration and prospecting, word-of-mouth and social media marketing, trade show marketing, sales and pricing strategies, market analysis.Brand development: Web site design and maintenance, traffic growth, web site statistics and advertising revenue. Developed brand strategy and systems. Analyzing current trends in style, design and color, nationally and internationally.Product Development/Marketing: Creating unique product for the modern houswares market. Curating a collection of handmade goods. Creating wholesale line sheets for business to business sales. Art Direction, Photo styling (single product and lifestyle). Photography. Writing monthly newsletter. Press Releases. Product marketing materials.Management:Managing employees from up to 5 employees + multiple contracts. Managing brand expectations including look, mission and quality. Maintaining strong relationships with manufacturing partners, business partners and customers alike. Always personal customer service.

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  Authentic Construction

  • Senior Designer/Project Manager

    • Aug 2009 - Jun 2010

    Designing spaces for all areas of the home including kitchens, baths, entire room additions and exterior modifications. Projects are often historic preservations needing special attention to detail. Providing complete design services from visual presentation through CAD plans via Chief Architect along with hand rendered presentations. Following job through from initial contact to final punch lists ensuring high level of communication and detail along with necessary paperwork

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  Crystal Kitchen + Bath

  • Senior Designer / Sales

    • Jun 2006 - Jan 2009

    Designing and selling high end remodeling projects for the entire home. Specializing in all aspects of Kitchen and Bathroom design including; showroom sales,measuring, bidding, cabinet design, space planning, product selection. Professional presentation including; Hand drawings and computer drawings (design software 20/20) conceptual plans, working drawings, floor plans, elevations and mechanical plans. New and existing homes.●Created and presented seminars to groups up to 30 potential clients on subjects relating to remodeling in the CKC showroom and at the Kitchen Window culinary showroom●Top Sales of over $750,000 in remodeling sales for the year 2008●Gaining media exposure by speaking as an expert for the following local and national media: Midwest Home, Twin Cities Home Improvement, Kitchen Makeovers, Home Style and Lyved.com and Bob Vila.com.

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  Home Valu Interiors

  • Senior Designer/Retail Display Designer

    • Jun 2003 - Jun 2006

    Selling Kitchens, Bathrooms and related products and services to clients obtained via showroom walk-ins, networking and referral leads. Managing all aspects of design projects encompassing designs layouts, product selection, order placement, deliveries, troubleshooting, service calls, project files, documentation, collections and coordinating the work of sub contractors (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tile and countertop installers). ● Personal Sales of over $575,000 in fiscal year 2005● Ranked 5th overall Kitchen and Bath Sales out of all 7 Home Valu/Drexel Stores● “Rising star” (Rookie of the Year) award first full year as a Kitchen/Bath Designer

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  Sofas and Chairs Custom Interiors

  • Design/Sales

    • 2000 - 2001

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  Creative Lighting/Bellacor.com

  • Lighting Consultant/Visual Display Designer/Copywriter

    • 1999 - 2001