

(Art Director)
Nashville, TN. Open to remote.
© 2026
(01)
(Résumé)
© 2026
(01)
(Résumé)

01 / Profile
01 / Profile
Art Director | Brand Identity | Campaigns | Packaging | Illustration
caradunning@gmail.com | caradunningcreative.com
linkedin.com/in/caradunning
Nashville, TN | Open to Remote
Art Director with 15+ years of experience building brands that connect, from the shelf to the scroll. I bring creative strategy, original thinking, and a strong foundation in illustration to work that is as distinctive as it is purposeful. Equally comfortable developing a brand identity, concepting a campaign, or art directing a photo shoot, I thrive where strategy meets imagination. I believe the best creative comes from listening, collaboration, and a process that gives great ideas room to grow. Passionate about mentoring designers, building strong visual systems, and creating work that doesn’t just meet the brief, but makes a meaningful impression.
Art Director | Brand Identity | Campaigns | Packaging | Illustration
caradunning@gmail.com | caradunningcreative.com
linkedin.com/in/caradunning
Nashville, TN | Open to Remote
Art Director with 15+ years of experience building brands that connect, from the shelf to the scroll. I bring creative strategy, original thinking, and a strong foundation in illustration to work that is as distinctive as it is purposeful. Equally comfortable developing a brand identity, concepting a campaign, or art directing a photo shoot, I thrive where strategy meets imagination. I believe the best creative comes from listening, collaboration, and a process that gives great ideas room to grow. Passionate about mentoring designers, building strong visual systems, and creating work that doesn’t just meet the brief, but makes a meaningful impression.
02 / Core competencies
02 / Core competencies
Art Direction & Campaign Concepting
Brand Identity & Visual Systems
Packaging Design & Retail Execution
Creative Strategy & Brand Development
Visual Storytelling & Creative Problem Solving
Photo & Video Art Direction
DTC, E-Commerce & Retail Marketing
Cross-Functional Creative Collaboration
Team Mentorship & Creative Leadership
Illustration & Custom Artwork
Experiential & Environmental Design
AI-Assisted Creative Workflows
Art Direction & Campaign Concepting
Brand Identity & Visual Systems
Packaging Design & Retail Execution
Creative Strategy & Brand Development
Visual Storytelling & Creative Problem Solving
Photo & Video Art Direction
DTC, E-Commerce & Retail Marketing
Cross-Functional Creative Collaboration
Team Mentorship & Creative Leadership
Illustration & Custom Artwork
Experiential & Environmental Design
AI-Assisted Creative Workflows
03 / Associate Art Director
03 / Associate Art Director
pH-D Feminine Health / Vireo Systems
March 2023 to Present | Nashville, TN
CPG Brand Portfolio | National Retail & DTC
• Drive art direction and creative development across a portfolio of CPG brands, translating marketing objectives into original concepts and cohesive brand experiences across retail, digital, social, and experiential channels.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of brand identities and visual systems, extending creative direction across packaging, e-commerce, paid media, influencer campaigns, and retail environments.
• Lead creative execution for national retail packaging programs, including brand refreshes, new product launches, and line extensions, collaborating with marketing, regulatory, and production partners to bring designs from concept through print.
• Art direct commercial photo and video productions from concept through post-production, including creative development, casting input, prop styling, shot planning, on-set direction, and final asset selection.
• Develop creative for integrated marketing initiatives, including Amazon storefronts, product detail pages, digital campaigns, trade show environments, and consumer-facing brand activations.
• Collaborate with marketing, product development, sales, and external partners to align creative solutions with brand strategy, consumer needs, and business objectives.
• Mentor junior designers through creative direction, constructive feedback, and collaborative problem-solving, supporting stronger design execution and greater consistency across projects.
• Integrate AI-assisted creative tools into concept development, image production, and creative workflows to expand possibilities and improve efficiency while maintaining brand integrity and visual quality.
• Help establish and maintain scalable creative systems, including Figma libraries, Frontify brand portals, and digital asset management processes that support consistency across multiple brands and channels.
pH-D Feminine Health / Vireo Systems
March 2023 to Present | Nashville, TN
CPG Brand Portfolio | National Retail & DTC
• Drive art direction and creative development across a portfolio of CPG brands, translating marketing objectives into original concepts and cohesive brand experiences across retail, digital, social, and experiential channels.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of brand identities and visual systems, extending creative direction across packaging, e-commerce, paid media, influencer campaigns, and retail environments.
• Lead creative execution for national retail packaging programs, including brand refreshes, new product launches, and line extensions, collaborating with marketing, regulatory, and production partners to bring designs from concept through print.
• Art direct commercial photo and video productions from concept through post-production, including creative development, casting input, prop styling, shot planning, on-set direction, and final asset selection.
• Develop creative for integrated marketing initiatives, including Amazon storefronts, product detail pages, digital campaigns, trade show environments, and consumer-facing brand activations.
• Collaborate with marketing, product development, sales, and external partners to align creative solutions with brand strategy, consumer needs, and business objectives.
• Mentor junior designers through creative direction, constructive feedback, and collaborative problem-solving, supporting stronger design execution and greater consistency across projects.
• Integrate AI-assisted creative tools into concept development, image production, and creative workflows to expand possibilities and improve efficiency while maintaining brand integrity and visual quality.
• Help establish and maintain scalable creative systems, including Figma libraries, Frontify brand portals, and digital asset management processes that support consistency across multiple brands and channels.
04 / Freelance Art Director & Illustrator
04 / Freelance Art Director & Illustrator
Independent
June 2012 to March 2023 | Chicago, IL / Remote
CPG, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle & Small Business
• Developed original brand identities, packaging, campaigns, and illustration for clients across consumer products, health and wellness, lifestyle, and small business industries.
• Built visual identity systems from the ground up, establishing cohesive approaches to typography, color, illustration, photography, and brand application.
• Created custom illustration and artwork for packaging, advertising, editorial, and digital experiences, bringing a distinctive visual perspective to commercial creative.
• Concepted and produced photo shoots with a hands-on approach to art direction, styling, photography planning, and post-production, often maximizing creative impact within limited budgets.
• Partnered directly with clients to understand business challenges, develop creative solutions, and carry projects from initial concept through final production.
• Managed multiple projects and client relationships independently, balancing creative ambition with practical timelines, budgets, and production requirements.
Independent
June 2012 to March 2023 | Chicago, IL / Remote
CPG, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle & Small Business
• Developed original brand identities, packaging, campaigns, and illustration for clients across consumer products, health and wellness, lifestyle, and small business industries.
• Built visual identity systems from the ground up, establishing cohesive approaches to typography, color, illustration, photography, and brand application.
• Created custom illustration and artwork for packaging, advertising, editorial, and digital experiences, bringing a distinctive visual perspective to commercial creative.
• Concepted and produced photo shoots with a hands-on approach to art direction, styling, photography planning, and post-production, often maximizing creative impact within limited budgets.
• Partnered directly with clients to understand business challenges, develop creative solutions, and carry projects from initial concept through final production.
• Managed multiple projects and client relationships independently, balancing creative ambition with practical timelines, budgets, and production requirements.
05 / Tools & technology
05 / Tools & technology
Design & Production
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects), Figma, Canva
Creative Operations
Asana, Trello, Frontify
AI & Emerging Technology
Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Claude
Design & Production
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects), Figma, Canva
Creative Operations
Asana, Trello, Frontify
AI & Emerging Technology
Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Claude
06 / Education & development
06 / Education & development
Fine Arts | University of South Florida
Undergraduate coursework in Fine Arts
Art Direction Certificate | ELVTR
Art Direction Professional Development Program
Fine Arts | University of South Florida
Undergraduate coursework in Fine Arts
Art Direction Certificate | ELVTR
Art Direction Professional Development Program