Eric Vermilyea

Available to hire

I am a dynamic Art Director with over 20 years of professional experience in design and creative direction.

About

I am a dynamic Art Director with over 20 years of professional experience in design and creative direction. I have expertise in multi-channel campaigns, brand identity, and experiential marketing, enriched by significant achievements during my time at Target Corporation. As a freelance designer, I have successfully directed artwork for diverse brands, adapting swiftly to various creative teams.

I hold a strong foundation in Fine Arts and am poised to elevate brand narratives through impactful design solutions that resonate with audiences. I enjoy leading creative teams across digital, social, in-store, and experiential channels, aligning design with business goals to deliver meaningful results.

  • Joined November 2024

Industry experience

  • Retail
  • Media & Entertainment
  • Consumer Goods
  • Professional Services

More experts in Minneapolis, United States

Projects · 6

https://www.twine.net/signin

Hand Job is my skateboarding company — a playful, experimental space where I get to push design, culture, and attitude on and off the board. Built around the slogan “Whatever feels good,” it’s about embracing the raw, unfiltered side of skateboarding: trying things, making things, and not overthinking them. From boards to graphics to gear, Hand Job is less about rules and more about expression, a reminder that skating is at its best when it’s fun, weird, and totally your own.

Whatever Feels Good
  • 1st Assistant Director

https://www.twine.net/signin

I bring a blend of concept direction, photo editing, and layout expertise that connects strategy to execution. At Target, I guided creative direction for major campaigns — from shaping the visual concept to overseeing photoshoots and editing imagery for consistency, clarity, and impact. My background in catalog and editorial design gives me a sharp eye for layout, pacing, and storytelling, ensuring every image works in harmony with copy and design systems. Whether collaborating with photographers, stylists, and producers or refining assets in post-production, I focus on delivering visuals that are not only polished but also build a cohesive, brand-right narrative across print, digital, and experiential platforms.

Target College Catalog
  • Art Director

https://www.twine.net/signin

Event design is all about creating an environment that tells a story and guides people through it seamlessly. From bold signage and clear wayfinding systems that make navigation effortless, to immersive themes that tie together visuals, décor, and branding, every element works to shape the guest experience. Thoughtful design transforms a space into more than just a venue—it becomes an engaging atmosphere where people connect, explore, and remember the details long after the event is over.

Event Design
  • Art Director

https://www.twine.net/signin

For the Flexcar rebrand, I led the design and rollout of a fully refreshed visual identity that touched every part of the customer experience. The work included designing graphics and signage systems for multiple locations, ensuring brand consistency across both large-scale environmental graphics and small directional details. I also created a cohesive wayfinding system, with directional signs that streamlined navigation and reinforced the brand’s modern, approachable tone.

Beyond the physical space, I carried the rebrand into digital by designing a clean, user-friendly website that aligned with the updated identity and made the customer journey more intuitive. To complete the experience, I extended the design system to staff uniforms, making sure Flexcar’s front-line teams were a visible, confident expression of the brand. The result was a rebrand that connected every touchpoint—digital, physical, and human—into one unified story.

Flexcar
  • Graphic Designer

I designed the full suite of creative for Robert Jon & the Wreck, including their album and CD artwork, promotional fliers, and an extensive range of t-shirts and merchandise. The goal was to capture the band’s raw, Southern rock energy and translate it into bold visuals that fans could connect with onstage and off. From the album cover to the smallest merch detail, I built a cohesive look and feel that not only amplified their music but also created a strong visual identity fans could wear, share, and rally around.

Robert Jon & the Wreck
  • Art Director

https://www.twine.net/signin

Futures Magazine is a resource designed to help high school students explore opportunities with the U.S. Armed Forces as they plan their next steps after graduation.

Futures Magazine
  • Art Director
  • Graphic Designer

Work experience· 4 roles

Associate Creative Director · Target Corporation, Minneapolis, USAOct 2017 – Aug 2025 · 7 yrs 11 mos

Led multidisciplinary teams on brand campaigns, in-store marketing, and digital storytelling. Mentored designers, partnered with writers and UX teams, and ensured creative alignment with business objectives across multiple channels. Fostered a collaborative leadership style focused on clarity, curiosity, and purposeful creativity.

Freelance Design / Art Direction · Studio Four 27, Minneapolis, USAJul 2017 – Present · 9 yrs 5 mos

Led creative direction across digital, social, in-store, and experiential marketing channels in collaboration with brands and agencies. Specialized in strategically grounded and visually impactful design, guiding teams to align creative efforts with business goals and drive meaningful results.

Designer · Design Center, Minneapolis, USAOct 2002 – Aug 2025 · 22 yrs 11 mos

Gained early experience in visual communication fundamentals by developing logo marks, brand systems, and editorial layouts for magazines. Learned the importance of typography, grid systems, and visual hierarchy to create cohesive storytelling, laying the groundwork for strong design instincts.

Designer · Carmichael Lynch Thorburn, Minneapolis, USAOct 1999 – Aug 2025 · 25 yrs 11 mos

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Moorhead State University1995 – 1998
Bachelor of Fine Arts · Moorhead State University, Moorhead, USA1995 – 1998
Bachelor of Fine Arts · Moorhead State University1995 – 1998

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