Cara Berlan

CONTACT

CARABERLAN@GMAIL.COM

SKILLS

  • Adobe Creative Cloud

  • Microsoft Office Suite

  • Google Applications

  • Typography

  • Packaging Design

  • Print Production

  • Brand Standards and Guidelines

  • Asset Creation and Management

  • HTML and CSS

  • Organization

  • Communication

  • Collaboration

PROFILE

Personable graphic designer with 3 years of professional experience working with Adobe Illustrator, inDesign, and Photoshop, to create print and digital media. Managed packaging process from sketch to production, upholding brand guidelines and collaborating with cross functional partners. Seeking a new and challenging opportunity to learn and grow as a designer.

EXPERIENCE

PACKAGING DESIGNER, JOANN FABRICS AND CRAFTS, HUDSON, OHIO - JANUARY 2022 - APRIL 2023

  • Managed packaging for Front End & Impulse, Fabric, Papercrafting, and Seasonal Floral and Sewing Notions brands; and collaborated with cross functional team members at weekly meetings to ensure progress of overall product development.

  • Utilized assets and adhered to brand standards when creating new or updating existing packaging formats and guides.

  • Reworked physical packaging structures to maximize sustainability while preserving customer experience.

  • Designed product and packaging for featured sewing notions program garnering $4 million in annual sales.

PACKAGING DESIGN INTERN, JOANN FABRICS AND CRAFTS, HUDSON, OHIO - MAY 2021 - DECEMBER 2021

  • Researched and developed packaging for a possible private label sewing notions program, discovered this would save the company $800,000 annually, and presented these findings to the Company’s C-suite Executives.

  • Assisted manager in revamping fabric labeling system to create a more clear and concise layout for customers.

  • Prepared print ready files by proofing packaging samples at the digital and pre-production stage.

TEAM MEMBER, JOANN FABRICS AND CRAFTS, HUDSON, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 2020 - MAY 2021

  • Facilitated orders for shipment throughout the United States while assisting customers with questions and helping team members on register and cut counter.

GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN, ARIZONA STATE FAIR, PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 2020 - OCTOBER 2020

  • Designed digital marketing assets to promote attendance at the Arizona State Fair and attended weekly meetings to coordinate projects and upcoming events with cross functional team members.

STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT, KENT STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, KENT, OHIO - DECEMBER 2019 - MARCH 2020

  • Utilized a catalog of assets to design flyers, posters, programs, email headers, presentations, and other marketing materials for events hosted by the Office of Human Resources.

EDUCATION

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, KENT, OHIO — VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN AND USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN, DECEMBER 2021

AWARDS

Cum Laude, Honors College Scholar, Dean’s List, Honors Scholarship Recipient, Trustee Scholarship Recipient, Anna Mae Mannion Scholarship Recipient