Why Hire Me

I’m a business-minded, profit-driven designer with experience in web and digital design in addition to my print expertise. I’m known for contributing creative solutions as well as for my technical ability.

I’m an effective listener and communicator as well as a detail-oriented designer who embraces good design theory and ethics in order to maximize the success of a final product. I’m highly passionate, curious and motivated, productive under pressure and able to keep a cool head on my shoulders even under the most challenging circumstances (and deadlines!).

Need a bit more proof? Read accolades from past coworkers below or ask me for a list of references. They will be more than happy to speak with you.

Experience

  • 2017 – Present

    Agatha James Creative is my freelance business specializing in:

    • Branding + Logo Design: Work with clients to identify their unique personality, create custom brands and protect them by providing comprehensive style guides explaining best practices for logos and brand elements

    • Print + Digital Design: Custom print and digital design for brochures, reports, books and catalogs, direct mail, print and outdoor ads, social media ads, static and animated banner ads, packaging design, presentation design, HTML emails, app interface design and more

    • Website Design + Development: Create tailored, responsive website designs via web-based content management systems like SquareSpace and Wordpress

  • 2018 – Present

    Lead the Business Acceleration team’s global design function and creative process from conception through execution

    Manage the visual interpretation of our brands globally

    Provide art direction for and collaborate with junior designers and freelancers

    Create highly engaging, globally appealing design pieces for existing and potential client-related marketing collateral and sales pursuits as well as internal collateral

    Implemented global content management platform enterprise-wide with over 6,000 users across all ManpowerGroup brands, including creating guidelines, structure, governance, templates, and content

    Sourced and implemented a technology solution to streamline data-based design quickly and at scale globally, providing clients with highly relevant, actionable insights

  • Husch Blackwell was formerly Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.

    2011 – 2018

    • Conceptualized, designed and produced compelling print and electronic collateral marketing material for the full-service law firm and its 20 offices, strategic business units and attorneys

    • Supported business development strategies and elevated the firm’s brand recognition

    • Created all graphic and design elements for marketing collateral and communication pieces including infographics, books, brochures, newsletters, presentations, ads and invitations for seminars, events, business meetings, trade shows and special projects

    • Collaborated with the IT team to redesign the firm’s website to be responsive using a mobile-first approach

    • Designed and published iOS apps highlighting our clients using InDesign’s digital publishing suite

    • Managed relationships with outside providers, such as advertising agencies, printers and photographers

  • Sept. – Dec. 2011

    • Consistently ranked in the top five for sales at the Bayshore, Wisconsin location

    • Provided basic technical support/troubleshooting for both mobile devices and Macs

    • Member of the Visual Team, which is responsible for creating and maintaining the in-store visual merchandising standards

  • 6AM Marketing was formerly Glowac + Harris + Madison

    2009 — 2011

    • Responsibilities included graphic design, art direction, strategy, PR, copywriting, social media, managing accounts and supporting account executives and creative staff, proofing and other administrative duties

    • Managed projects and campaigns from conception to execution

    • Created concepts and designed B2B and B2C materials for clients and agency, both for print and web

    • Proofread nearly all agency projects and prepped files for production

    Clients included: Brookstone Homes, Capital Brewery, Chippewa Valley Hospital, Dane County Regional Airport, Deluxe Guitar Exchange, Divine Savior Healthcare, Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hilton-Madison Monona Terrace, HSHS Medical Group, Ice Age Trail Alliance, McDonald’s Co-op, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield Laboratories, Madison Gas & Electric, Orange Shoe Personal Fitness, The Payroll Company, Park Towne Development, The QTI Group, Schwarz Insurance, U.S. Auto Force, Wisconsin Builders Association, and Webcrafters

  • 2007 — 2009

    • Started as a design intern at the Environmental Resource Center

    • Later hired as a freelance designer after graduation from UW–Madison

    • Designed posters, flyers and brochures for clients and in-house projects

    • Examples: Trail signs displayed throughout Wisconsin State Parks, educational brochures and posters for rain gardens and the Great Lakes, a booklet about Wisconsin Agricultural Standards, training booklets for stream monitoring and sampling, as well as other miscellaneous work

Education

University of Wisconsin – Madison
Class of 2008

  • JBA in Journalism and Mass Communication, emphasis in graphic design and advertising

  • Minor in Integrated Liberal Studies

Software

Power User

  • Adobe Creative Cloud, especially InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop

  • Squarespace websites (Squarespace Circle Member)

  • Infogram

  • Microsoft Office Suite

  • Mac and PC OS

Design Work

More about Jennifer

A native of Stillwater, Minn., I earned my BA in strategic communication and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (go Badgers!). Since then I have put my design skills to work for clients big and small – full-service advertising agencies and freelance clients in addition to designing for internal marketing communications teams at companies on a global level.

I have been honing my skills as a graphic designer for more than 15 years and currently reside in Milwaukee’s North Shore area with my husband and two children. 

Accolades for my work

  • “Your unparalleled design skills and pure creative genius has come to life in the Scaled Insights initiative. I am consistently impressed with your creative collaboration and innovative visualizations. Your commitment to producing the highest quality outputs has directly influenced the sophistication, adoption, and excitement around this initiative. You are often faced with quick timelines, multiple high-priority projects, and last-minute content changes, but you manage it all seamlessly. Your creative collaboration and partnership are invaluable to our team.”

    — Director of Business Acceleration, Talent Solutions

  • Jenny is a tremendous asset to multiple teams across the company – contributing significantly to many new business pursuits and client growth and expansion. Stakeholders across sales and delivery teams acknowledge the professionalism and attention to detail that she brings to the table. Jenny is the epitome of creative collaboration – she partners with each person she works with to translate requests into compelling information design that always upholds our brand standards while also infusing her original creative ideas to ensure the organization is leading from a creative standpoint. She also balances teaching and doing - sometimes making needed edits in tight turnarounds and also explaining her rational behind her solutions so we can learn how to build our own creative ideas in the future. Jenny makes anyone lucky enough to work with her always look good.

    —Business Acceleration VP, Talent Solutions

  • You continue to amaze with your creativity, breadth and speed!

    —Senior VP, ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions

  • "Jenny continues to overachieve and maintains high performance in service to the organization. Jenny is not only talented, but she is patient, collaborative and has developed strong relationships with all key stakeholders (who are big fans of hers!). Jenny’s contributions to the organization are immeasurable in terms of their impact to the business."

    —VP of Business Acceleration, Talent Solutions

  • "Jennifer is an extremely talented graphic designer and is exceptional at what she does. She expertly manages multiple projects at a time, is very detail-oriented, and is great at translating ideas into a creative product. Jennifer has a wonderful work ethic and is someone with whom it is very easy to collaborate!"

    — Kanoe Riedel, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator

  • "Hot damn! You blew it out of the water. Thank you so much – I'm more than thrilled!"

    — Freelance wedding invitation and RSVP card client

  • "Jennifer has proven to be as versatile as a Swiss army knife in her dual role here... Besides those hats, she's worn many others—and worn them well. She brings a positive attitude and positive energy to the workplace. She works quickly and efficiently, understands complex technologies and always has great ideas on how to improve workflow processes."

    — Bo Monroe, Web Developer

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer for over six years. Jennifer is an extremely talented graphic designer that is a delight to work with. She is one of the most knowledgeable, organized and efficient professionals I know. Jennifer needs little direction on a project and goes above and beyond to provide a quality work product. She keeps her cool under stressful deadlines and her communication skills are impeccable. Jennifer is a very valuable member of our team!"

    — Peggy Schicantek, Business Development Specialist

  • "Jenny is an absolute pleasure. She works very hard, makes everyone else look good, is exceptionally attuned to translating complex concepts into consumable and beautiful design work, is fun, collaborative, kind, dedicated, smart and goes above and beyond.  She is an absolutely integral part of our team and Talent Solutions overall."

    —VP of Business Acceleration, Talent Solutions

  • "I really enjoyed working with Jennifer... She is creative, talented and able to think out one or two steps ahead, at minimum. She is always timely, not to mention organized... Jen did it all – under great pressure at times – with a smile. She is kind, smart, professional and easy to work with... Any company who is fortunate enough to employ Jen will add someone that I used to describe in this way: She is a 'rare gem.'"

    — Mary Jo Trapani, Senior Technical Writer and Marketing Writer

  • "Jen proves her value in so many ways for our ad agency—from graphic design to generating ideas to teaching clients how to customize a website to social media and art direction. She makes sure that new business presentations look great and get delivered on time. Jen is a team player who works hard while having fun. Her positive attitude is contagious. Her work style is proactive. She makes our agency a better place to work."

    — Doug Voegtle, Creative Director

  • "Jennifer was part of the team responsible for creating and maintaining the in-store visual merchandising standards. The combination of her creative lens and strong interpersonal skills allowed her to bring ideas and suggestions to the table in a productive way, while ensuring the best possible imaging of our brand."

    — Kira Wetzel, Senior Business Intelligence Consultant at Mikan Associates

  • "Jennifer's relocation is leaving very big shoes to fill here at our agency. She handles multiple projects and priorities with aplomb, remains calm under deadlines and is one of the best team players I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Her honest commitment to co-workers and clients. as well as her depth of knowledge, has strengthened our team considerably."

    — Stephanie Hammes, Director of Marketing and Sales

  • "Jennifer has been a significant part of our success here. She is able to handle multiple responsibilities with style and grace. The clients she works with love her and she has their best interest at heart while always working for the best interest of the agency."

    — Wayne Glowac, Chief Marketing Officer