Demian Kato | Freelancer Resume

DEMIAN KATO Denver, CO |-|- linkedin.com/in/demiankato | www.hellokato.com Experienced Creative Director with over 15 years of success leading innovative and high-impact brand strategies for global and local clients across diverse industries, including tech, wellness, retail, and entertainment. Adept at driving brand positioning, audience engagement, and creative excellence, with a proven track record of executing large-scale digital and experiential campaigns. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing complex creative projects, and delivering measurable results that align with strategic business goals. Expertise in brand development, digital innovation, and content creation, combined with a passion for mentoring talent and optimizing creative processes to exceed client expectations. ● Brand Strategy Development ● Team Leadership & Mentoring ● Cross-Functional Collaboration ● Experiential Marketing ● UX/UI Design & Strategy ● Visual Storytelling ● Client Relationship Management ● Project Management ● Strategic Planning & Execution PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Founder + Creative Director Hello Kato August 2023 – Present ● Founded lean creative agency to provide creative consultation, brand development, digital strategy, and visual design for progressive and established brands in the nonprofit, health & wellness, lifestyle, and entertainment industries ● Provide services including creative direction, photo/video shoots, brand strategy, and team development by assessing client needs, researching market trends, and developing pitches for approval. ● Track and meet project timelines, deadlines, and budgets by managing daily workflow. ● Develop well-crafted visual assets that build brand identity and drive customer engagement. Creative Director Mission Minded – Remote February 2024 – February 2025 ● Facilitated the development and execution of strategic creative campaigns for nonprofits, foundations, and independent schools, resulting in elevated brand positioning and audience engagement. ● Partnered with executive leadership to conceptualize and implement innovative solutions for complex brand challenges, ensuring strategic alignment and creative distinction. ● Directed and mentored internal teams and contract-based talent, including art directors, copywriters, and developers, to ensure seamless collaboration and high-impact deliverables. ● Enhanced agency capabilities by integrating strategic frameworks into the creative process, driving client satisfaction and delivering measurable success. Creative Director Opus Agency – Remote May 2022 – July 2023 ● Led the development and execution of large-scale experiential events, both in-person and virtual, for prominent global tech brands, significantly enhancing brand visibility and customer engagement through immersive experiences. ● Managed and mentored a high-performing creative team and internal design studio, fostering a collaborative and results-driven environment that consistently delivered innovative solutions aligned with client objectives and brand vision. Executive Creative Director Terrapin – Boulder, CO July 2021 – February 2022 ● Supervised brand development initiatives that solidified Terrapin’s competitive position in both established and emerging markets, driving increased brand engagement and reinforcing the company’s industry leadership. ● Spearheaded the complete rebranding of Terrapin, including the development of a new brand position, logo, and tagline, and executed a high-profile 3-day brand activation at Denver's Underground Music Showcase, significantly elevating brand visibility and market presence. ● Oversaw creative strategy for Terrapin’s entire cannabis brand portfolio, pioneering the introduction of strain-specific flower packaging, which enhanced product differentiation and strengthened consumer recognition. ● Expanded the marketing department by 100%, strategically cultivating and mentoring a high-performing creative team, driving professional growth and ensuring the successful execution of innovative marketing initiatives. Creative Director Terrapin – Boulder, CO September 2020 – July 2021 ● Directed and mentored a creative team to develop and execute a comprehensive brand strategy for Terrapin and its sub-brands, Double Bear and The Woods, ensuring alignment with regulatory compliance across multiple states while delivering impactful, cohesive brand experiences. ● Led the successful rebranding of Double Bear, including repositioning the brand, redesigning packaging, and launching new apparel, which resulted in the brand’s emergence as one of Michigan's top 10 cannabis brands. ● Conceptualized and launched Terrapin’s inaugural 4/20 campaign, driving a 30% increase in social media followers and significantly enhancing brand engagement across all retail locations. ● Spearheaded the development of innovative creative initiatives across various platforms, including product packaging, immersive marketing campaigns, photo/video productions, and digital experiences, reinforcing brand identity and fostering customer loyalty. Creative Director TBWA/The Integer Group – Denver, CO May 2019 – February 2020 ● Led the conceptualization and launch of Nature Made’s direct-to-consumer brand, overseeing the development of its name, visual identity, social media strategy, and personalized consumer quiz, while managing multi-week photoshoots and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure a successful launch. ● Managed a team of six creative professionals, including art directors and copywriters, to execute high-impact campaigns across digital, social, retail, and out-of-home platforms, aligning creative output with Pharmavite’s strategic brand objectives. ● Partnered with UI/UX and Insight & Strategy teams to redesign Nature Made’s website, ensuring ADA compliance and establishing accessibility best practices within a three-month timeline, setting a new standard for inclusive digital design. ● Transformed Nature Made’s brand identity to attract a younger audience by implementing modern packaging designs, an updated color palette, and cohesive visual assets, strengthening the brand’s market position and consumer engagement. Associate Creative Director TBWA/The Integer Group – Denver, CO October 2016 – May 2019 ● Directed the global launch of Nestlé’s acquisition of Starbucks CPG, overseeing the production of two photoshoots, executing digital retouching, and deploying retail displays, OOH billboards, and digital assets within a stringent two-month deadline, ensuring seamless brand consistency across all channels. ● Spearheaded creative strategies for high-profile global brands including Mars/Wrigley, P&G, COTY, Starbucks, World Kitchen, and Johnson & Johnson, leading a cross-functional team of 7-12 creatives to deliver innovative campaigns. ● Implemented a social media strategy for World Kitchen’s six brands on Facebook and Instagram, driving a 136% increase in site traffic, generating 73.3 million impressions, and boosting engagement rates from 0.38% to 11.03%. ● Led brainstorming sessions and provided strategic direction on concept development, creating impactful key visuals and design elements that repositioned brands by leveraging social trends and audience insights to optimize campaign performance. Digital Design Director Crocs, Inc. – Niwot, CO March 2014 – July 2016 ● Drove an 80% increase in product page visits and a 30% boost in conversion rates by developing compelling B2C creative content, including award-winning videos, retail installations, and immersive digital experiences. ● Directed a team of four designers in the creation and distribution of eCommerce assets and global design guides, ensuring consistent and impactful brand messaging across all digital channels. ● Managed the production of global lifestyle video content for Crocs' 2015 Fall/Holiday and 2016 Spring/Summer campaigns, overseeing cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality content for digital platforms, retail stores, and out-of-home advertising. ● Provided strategic leadership in digital content development, leveraging industry trends and insights to inform and execute innovative digital strategies that enhanced brand visibility and engagement. Senior Interactive Designer Crocs, Inc. – Niwot, CO May 2012 – March 2014 ● Led the conceptualization and execution of the company’s first mobile shopping experience, including the creation of a detailed whitepaper, visual designs, and UX/UI storyboards, and presenting these initiatives to senior leadership. ● Developed and delivered comprehensive digital design assets across all consumer touchpoints for a global eCommerce brand, enhancing user experience and brand consistency across platforms. ● Successfully increased online conversions and brand visibility by designing and launching a mobile spring lookbook, transitioning from traditional direct mail to an interactive touch-friendly experience, which earned recognition for Best Mobile Website Design. ● Conducted thorough research into digital trends, industry best practices, and competitor strategies, providing actionable insights and recommendations to internal stakeholders to drive digital innovation. EDUCATION Digital Design San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy University of San Francisco – San Francisco, CA HONORS & AWARDS 2016 Communicator Award of Excellence – Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts 2015 Best Design Mobile Website – Web Marketing Association