My name is Alyssa Lee.
I am a designer and illustrator living and working in the Chicago area.
In 2009, I began freelancing independently, creating pieces for local bands and companies. I found work through a creative agency as well, leading me to work with some awesome companies, such as Redbox, XSport Fitness, and United Airlines. I eventually found my way to Reverb, where I am currently enjoying my time as a Product Designer.
I am not currently available for freelance work, although I am still available to meet up for consultations and coffee. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Where I've Been
Reverb | see portfolio
Product Designer
July 2023-current
- Collaborate with Product Managers, Engineers, and Design leadership to develop a user-centered solution for all parties
- Own projects in my pillar from concept to completion, occasionally tagged into other pillar team’s work for a deeper perspective on customer problem statements and company goals
- Open communication with partner teams through all stages of design, from research and brainstorming to concepting, critiques, and final files
- Consider design implications and interactions for all areas design touches: desktop, mobile web, iOS, Android, logged-in and logged-out, and dark mode
- Evaluate design work for potential to reach company Affordability and Engagement goals, pitching improvements where appropriate
- Develop engineering-ready Figma files for handoff
- Drive projects forward through frequent check-ins, quick turnarounds, straight-forward asks
- Assist with QA and with light code development to keep projects moving forward at reasonable pace
- Lead with curiosity, question feedback when appropriate and encourage fruitful conversations with Design Leadership
Brand Design Manager
October 2022-July 2023
- Manage two junior designers directly, giving them feedback on work, encouraging learning opportunities, developing plans for career growth, leading them to their own solutions rather than directing
- Translate difficult or unclear feedback from project stakeholders into actionable feedback for designers, keeping them motivated and morale high
- High attention to detail to encourage the same from my juniors, but also a realistic perspective on when to approve work
- Contribute art direction to small- to medium-sized projects, managing those projects through to completion, prioritizing design involvement based on potential project impact
- Coordinate between designers, copywriters, and marketing coordinators
- Present large-scale company initiatives to leadership (Q4 Holiday creative planning, Kevin Shields Fender Blender launch)
- Championed the Brand Design team’s work in company Design Lightning and Department meetings whenever possible
- Successfully advocated for one employee receive a promotion from IC1 to IC2
- Continued contribution as a Brand Designer
Senior Brand Designer
October 2017-October 2022
- Worked on design projects from concept to completion, including sales, promotions, product campaigns
- Implemented all aspects of promotions, including email development, landing page development
- Collaborated with copywriters and marketing managers to deliver final assets
- Served as illustration and motion graphics resource
- Designed both for clarity and aesthetics
- Contributed to department projects to develop rules around the Brand and drive forward movement
- Easily adapted to quick turnarounds and communicated the reprioritization of other projects
- Contributed towards company goals through developing user-centric campaigns
- Readily accepted feedback, pushed back when discussion could help define brand rules, and offered friendly feedback to other designers
Mac & Mia
Senior Designer
April 2017-October 2017
United Airlines | see portfolio
Senior Designer
April 2016–April 2017
- Completed projects for our creative department’s many clients, including Food Services, Global Services, and United Club, among others
- Adapted visual styles to match each Client’s individual sub brand and to meet that Client’s goals
- Worked on a variety of mediums, including infographics, apparel, long-form print media, and e-publishing
- Presented work to project stakeholders, explaining visual choices and expanding on strategy
- Accepted and incorporated feedback from project stakeholders, brand, and legal teams
- Worked on projects from concept to completion with little oversight
Chicago Music Exchange | see portfolio
Graphic Designer & Marketing Manager
February 2014–April 2016
- Sole designer, developing everything from print materials to emails and sale campaigns
- Directed strategy of and designed sales, promotions, and campaigns for multi-channel consistency
- Organized in-store events and associated promotional materials
- Developed email calendar and managed send time and audiences, monitored resulting web traffic
- Managed social media channels, Google Adwords, Bing PPC, Facebook advertising, Twitter Ads
- Managed website functionality and content, including Shopify design using liquid code
- Provided busy Photography department with moodboards and project outlines for efficient collaboration
- Vetted Shopify plugins and any third-party services to increase both online and in-store efficiency
- Coordinated between sales staff, video staff, and shipping staff to balance resources and share promotion awareness
- Monthly budget management and marketing data reporting
Redbox
Junior Designer
September 2012–February 2014
- With Redbox Tickets, produced branded maps for display on kiosks in the ticketing flow
- Developed some Redbox Tickets promotional banners to be placed in Redbox emails
- With Redbox proper, altered provided box art from Clients into kiosk stickers and cardboard displays (specifically Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Just Dance)
- Expanded key art from Senior designer into assets to fill out campaigns and fit multiple channels
- Developed one-off social media graphics that worked within brand and sub-brand guidelines
- Developed logos and type lockups for promotions; expanded the campaigns to print, kiosk, and web deliverables
- Collaborated with two senior designers, art director, and an outside agency on the beginning of the Redbox rebrand
XSport Fitness
Junior Designer
March 2011–March 2012
- Designed signage to be displayed inside gyms like sandwich boards and promotional posters
- Designed monthly 4×6 promotional mailers
- Designed large-scale window clings for new gyms on East Coast
- Helped with physically assembling monthly print packages for different gyms
- Sourced imagery from stock photo resource
Selected Experiences
IPRA Agency Showcase: Judge
January 2019
PechaKucha: Batavia Presentor
Side Hustles: Being Creative After 5PM
May 2018
Ink Wars Competitor
Weapon of Mass Creation Fest
August 2017
