Experience

Open Road Brands, LLC.

• United States
• Fine Art
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Art Director

  • Aug 2020 - Present

  Responsible for staffing and managing the Graphic Design Studio in Kansas City as well as Art Direction of multiple product lines. A key focus of this role is leading creation of unique and original artwork with a high level of quality. Success in this job requires strong awareness of marketplace trends and partnership with licensors like Disney, Warner Bros., Lucas, Marvel and others. Responsible for staffing and managing the Graphic Design Studio in Kansas City as well as Art Direction of multiple product lines. A key focus of this role is leading creation of unique and original artwork with a high level of quality. Success in this job requires strong awareness of marketplace trends and partnership with licensors like Disney, Warner Bros., Lucas, Marvel and others.



Michael Lee Illustration and Design

• Artist/Designer/Business owner

  • 2000 - Present

  Illustration, Graphic design, and freelance creative for various clients. Illustration, Graphic design, and freelance creative for various clients.



Hallmark Cards

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Innovation Leader

  • Feb 2017 - Mar 2020

  Responsible for developing a pipeline of innovative programs and consumer centric solutions to grow the greetings business. Lead the stimulus creation for research activities (qualitative and quantitative) and storyboarding of consumer experiences for new products. Regularly lead successful brainstorming and ideation sessions with multi-disciplinary teams.

• Creative Director

  • Feb 2016 - Feb 2017

  Led creative strategy and product ideation for new product development of Hallmark branded gift solutions to be sold in Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. Oversaw Art Directors as they executed seasonal gift programs making sure all products were on schedule and on budget. Driving a big white minivan to Bentonville to pitch new concepts to Walmart buyers was a regular part of the role. Jealous much?

• Senior Art Director

  • Mar 2015 - Feb 2016

  I spent most of each day in this role trying to think up and develop new products that were so unique that Mass Retailers couldn't find them off-shelf at an Asian vendor. Along with my editorial partner and creative team I brainstormed new ideas for some part of almost every day. It was a blast! I also led a team of designers, editorial, electrical engineers, industrial designers and PAs to get programs executed. I addition, I lead the development of trade show booth design and collateral marketing materials. Show less

• Innovation Leader - Creative Strategist

  • Sep 2014 - Mar 2015

  Leading creative strategy and product ideation for new product development of Hallmark branded gift solutions to be sold in the mass channel. Consumer insight based product development was a must. The key focus of this role was innovative seasonal key items that often used sound, interactivity and technology across a wide range of product formats including plush, molded plastic, ceramics and other hardlines.

• Product Development Manager

  • Oct 2011 - Sep 2014

  Creative product development for seasonal and everyday gifts, plush, ornaments and kids collections. Experience selling in programs and products to Walmart, CVS and Walgreens. Commercializing innovative products and new product development for mass retailers were a key focus of the role.

• Retail Product Development Manager - Keepsakes

  • Jun 2008 - Oct 2011

  Led the development of Hallmark's Keepsakes Ornaments from concept to retail shelf. Extensive experience working with in-house and freelance sculptors using both traditional and digital sculpting. Partnered with multiple vendors in Asia on all aspects of product development but primarily focusing on molded plastics and ceramics.

• Art Director of Party Innovation

  • Apr 2007 - Jun 2008

  Responsible for developing a pipeline of innovative programs and consumer centric solutions to grow the kids party business. Lead the stimulus creation for research activities (qualitative and quantitative). Developed road maps of future products and experiences through migration mapping and consumer insight development work.

• Art Director of Kids Party

  • Oct 2004 - Apr 2007

  Lead a team of creatives in the development of designed party product from concept through production in Asia. Product examples included 3d sculpted favors, shaped piñatas, shaped balloons, paper engineered centerpieces and core party formats. This position included extensive involvement with key licensors including Disney, Marvel, WB, Lucas and others.

• Designer in the Hallmark Licensing Studio

  • Oct 2001 - Oct 2004