Summary

Cathleen Schaad is an accomplished creative professional and strategic thinker with 30 years experience in publishing, communication design, and project management.

Employment

Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown MA
Book Designer, 2019-present

Publisher of high quality children’s books for ages 0-16. Charlesbridge’s catalogue focuses on content that promotes a positive worldview, and embraces a child’s innate sense of wonder and fun.

• Responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously; creating 12-15 books per publication year
• Responsible for complete book designs, from covers to interiors, and contributes to the entire bookmaking process
• Responsible for designing and managing book series and their art programs
• Responsible for researching, hiring, supporting and art directing illustrators through the picture book creation process, as well as, for middle-grade/young adult novels covers and interior art
• Collaborate with and support Editorial teams to realize a collective vision
• Collaborate with and provide Sales and Marketing with presentation materials to promote titles
• Collaborate with and support Production department to ensure the quality and correctness of print reproduction

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Studio Schaad Design, Melrose MA
Principal, Art Director and Designer, 2009–2019

Boutique graphic design studio located just north of Boston, MA that specialized in communication design and project management. Portfolio is largely focused on projects for the educational sector, cultural institutions, and organizations that are socially motivated or demonstrate corporate citizenship.

Art directed and designed web and print projects from concept through finished piece. Responsible for all facets of business and project management including budgeting, writing proposals, creative briefs, overseeing production, and when applicable the scheduling of and creative direction of sub-contracted talent. Maintained positive ongoing relationships with freelance illustrators, photographers and printers.

• Capable of translating complex concepts and producing communications for a wide variety of print mediums and digital platforms.
• Highly collaborative working style accompanied by energy, maturity and leadership qualities.
• Demonstrated success executing and overseeing comprehensive branding, marketing, and communications strategies for long-term clients.
• Possesses outstanding communication and writing skills.
• Able to manage change, meet fast-paced deadlines and complete projects from concept to completion within deadline and budget constraints.
• Life-long learner that stays abreast of continued advances in communications, marketing, and web best practices and technologies.

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WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA
Senior Designer, 2000–2009 
Designer, 1994–2000 
Designer Assistant, 1989–1994 

Developed and maintained the visual identities for national television brands, in addition to internal and external marketing and communications for WGBH. Responsible for all facets of project management including, budgeting, production schedules and press checks. Art directed interns, freelance illustrators and photographers.

Design for various media including:

• print collateral: advertising, books, brochures, catalogues, direct mail, invitations, logos, magazines, newsletters, packaging, posters, premiums, presentations, press materials, reports, sell sheets, teacher guides and other marketing collateral
• multimedia projects: interactive PDFs, DVD menu interfaces, slide shows, motion graphic displays
• television: story boarding, animation, broadcast and set graphics, post-production

Massachusetts College of Art, Boston MA
Adjunct Faculty, 1989–1995
Instructed Design majors on how to use computer lab software to enhance the quality of their portfolios and produce polished work.

Education

Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
Web Design Certificate

Lesley University
Candidate for Masters Degree in Expressive Therapies

Massachusetts College of Art and Design
BA Graphic Design

Awards & Honors

• • Melrose Symphony Orchestra
    Board of Directors, 2012–2022
  • Graphic Design USA: Certificates of Excellence
    for Publications Print + Online
  • APEX Awards: Grand Award for Publication,
    Award for Publication Excellence
  • Clarion Award
  • Communicator Award: Award of Distinction

Computer Skills

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite software and Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Proficient in standards-based hand-coded HTML
  and CSS
• Proficient in theme building for WordPress, or customizing templates in CMS systems such as WordPress or Squarespace
• Working knowledge and trained in Adobe After Effects, Fireworks, Flash, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP and MySQL