Cre8ive Circus • San Diego

Graphic Designer / Ringleader 

Started selling tickets in 2012 

Karen enjoys being a freelance graphic designer for personal flexibility, which also provides her clients financial flexibility. With 27 years of industry experience, she could fill a circus tent with her professional contacts, vendors and samples. Cre8ive Circus entertains all industries and the comfort level is high that your project will be completed on time and on budget as promised, because the show must go on. 

Art Director  

2009 – 2012  

Global Art Director for the in-house Corporate Marketing Creative Studio who was accountable for design and layout of creative projects that supported and built the Nielsen brand. Specialized in print advertising campaigns, trade show booth structures and graphics, event signage, internal communication collateral and product marketing. Managed heavy workloads with minimal supervision, collaborated in a global virtual team environment, presented concepts and switched daily priorities to manage high priority rush jobs. 

Art Director  

2003 – 2009 

Responsible for concept, design, layout and production of all print graphics for in-house marketing department for B2B clients. Projects included collateral, print advertising, branding, direct mail campaigns, employee communications, graphics and signage for events and exhibit booth construction with large panel graphics. In 2004, designed the Claritas brand and corporate standards. In 2008, re-branded the Claritas look and feel to the Nielsen brand. Independently supervised freelancers, managed print vendors and print quotes while always keeping the project within budget. 

Freelance Graphic Designer  

1996 – 2003 

Created logos and brands for multiple start-up companies during dot.com days in Silicon Valley.

Art Director 

2000 – 2001 

Art Director 

1999 – 2000  

Graphic Designer 

1996 – 1999 

Graphic Designer 

1994 – 1996  

Drexel University   

B.S. in Graphic Design 

1990-1994