John Lemein • Creative
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS at URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
2024-Present
MBA Student – Gies College of Business
UC BERKELEY EXTENSION
2015-2019: Project Management, Effective Leadership & Management, Social Media Marketing Strategies, Introduction to Marketing
THE STARTER LEAGUE
2012-13: User Experience, Advanced HTML/CSS
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design, 2009
SKILLS/SOFTWARE
Creative Strategy/Art Direction
Marketing Strategy
Project Management:
Asana, Adobe Workfront, Smartsheet, Basecamp
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Lightroom
UI/UX Design:
Adobe XD, Figma, Balsamiq
After Effects (Beginner)
Acrobat/Distiller/Pre-Press
HTML5/CSS3/js/jquery
WordPress/php
Google Analytics/SEO
Ruby on Rails (Front End)
Github
Photography – Film/Digital
Photoshelter
Microsoft Office
Copy Writing/Editing
EXPERIENCE
OAKLAND ATHLETICS | DECEMBER 2022-OCTOBER 2024
Creative Director
Leads team of graphic designers, motion graphic designers, photographers, videographers and a project manager. Guides creative decision making for advertising, marketing, social media, in-game experience, internal and external communications, Athletics.com, retail items, and community events. Manages the Athletics brand and its various applications, whether digital, print, uniforms, apparel, stadium signage, etc.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS | SEPTEMBER 2022-DECEMBER 2022
Graphic Designer – Remote
Supporting the needs of the Blackhawks organization through creative solutions, including social media graphics, digital ads, email layouts, in-arena materials, publications and any other assigned projects.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS ATHLETICS | DECEMBER 2013-JUNE 2022
Director, Brand Creative and Digital Services (2015-2022)
Leads team of graphic designers and video producers covering all areas of visual communications at Cal Athletics, including social media, print publications, posters, branded products, feature videos, in-stadium board show content, etc.
Creative Services unit covers 30 Cal sports and 10+ administrative units.
Successfully managed transition from Nike to Under Armour apparel partnership in 2017, including a complete re-brand that unified all 30 Cal teams under one brand identity. All uniforms and practice gear, facilities, stationery and signage updated.
Upgrading and implementing department-wide project management system to organize and track creative project requests.
Responsibilities: creative strategy, brand management & guides; uniform design; licensing; marketing campaign development; client/collaborator relations; sponsorship assets, facilities branding; event signage, employee professional development; vendor and logistics oversight, freelancer/contractor management, equipment procurement, budgets.
Web Manager (2013-2022)
Build and maintain CalBears.com, CalAthleticsFund.com and the Cal mobile app. Design and code custom landing pages. Monitor and interpret analytics; create and track digital ads; check accessibility and optimize SEO. Educate coworkers on best practices and page editing skills.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | 2007-2013
Special Sections Layout, Marketing/Sales Graphic Designer, Online Auto Section Editor
FREELANCE & CONTRACT CREATIVE | 2004-Present
Front End Web Development, Graphic Design
FOUR CORNERS TAVERN GROUP | 2004-10
Manager, Head Doorman, Bartender, DJ
CINEMA/CHICAGO | 2006
Chicago International Film Festival Design Intern
OTHER
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | 1998
Eagle Scout