CHRIS WEILAND
RKD GROUP
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR August 2023 - Present
CREATIVE DIRECTOR July 2021 - July 2023
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR May 2019 - June 2021
• Lead a blended team of art directors, writers, and production artists to create innovative, award-winning multi-channel fundraising campaigns for non-profit clients
• Elevate the quality of creative work produced within the agency through creative direction, recruiting talent, creative mentoring, and oversight
• Leverage data and insights into creative strategies that increase response and revenue for our clients
• Create a collaborative environment that integrates multi-disciplinary teams across the agency
• Cultivate client relationships that lift satisfaction and trust in our agency, leading to increases in our creative scope of work and agency revenue
• Serve as the agency’s cross-team brand consultant to evaluate, steward, and recommend brand positioning and direction for our clients and prospects
• Flow across creative teams to support, lead and consult on behalf of our agency’s digital specialization
• Win clients and new project work through RFP responses including Lions Clubs International Foundation, North Texas Food Bank, Communities Foundation of Texas, Covenant House, The Salvation Army, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Doctors Without Borders, and Save the Children
• Lead agency initiatives on behalf of the Chief Creative Officer
THE MArketing arm
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR 2017 - April 2019
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR 2012 - 2017
ART DIRECTOR August 2011 - 2012
• Worked in step with AT&T’s Brand Director to execute brand vision across media including experiential activations, promotional logo design, social media, and print advertising
• Managed AT&T’s sponsorship creative for 112+ sports and events properties including MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAA, Olympic NGB, Tribeca Film Festival, Golf, and Red Bull Racing
• Supervised Art Directors and Designers to create compelling, contextually-relevant visuals
• Initiated and led “Design in the Know” share outs of leader-brand industry creative with clients
• Worked with conceptors as a visual storyteller by creating presentations for new business pitches
• Developed AT&T brand guidelines for AT&T sponsorship within sports and events contexts
• Represented the agency in creative presentations to various AT&T business units
latitude-the richards group
ART DIRECTOR July 2007 - July 2011
• Developed concepts in alignment with creative briefs within time constraints
• Worked with food clients such as Red Lobster, Weight Watchers, Lala, and Schreiber
• Traveled to present creative concepts and post-production layouts to clients
• Created mockups for client presentations, internal use, and focus group testing
• Led art direction for photographers and stylists on photoshoots
• Developed digital guides for photographers, production artists, and retouchers
• Managed retouchers, production artists, and illustrators within timelines
• Oversaw multiple projects simultaneously in a team-oriented environment
Education
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN MARCOS
BFA - Communication Design [Art Direction] Spring 2007
Minor - Psychology
AWARDS
ADCH Show 2006 (Silver: Single Ad, Bronze: 3 Ad Campaign)
Creative Summit 2007 (TV Spot)