Creative Director, brand strategist, and designer with 15 years of experience helping organizations build brands people genuinely connect with. I specialize in translating business goals into cohesive brand systems across identity, content, campaigns, websites, and customer experience.

Laura Schmalstieg

Creative Director, brand strategist, and designer with 15 years of experience helping organizations build brands people genuinely connect with. I specialize in translating business goals into cohesive brand systems across identity, content, campaigns, websites, and customer experience.

Available to hire

Creative Director, brand strategist, and designer with 15 years of experience helping organizations build brands people genuinely connect with. I specialize in translating business goals into cohesive brand systems across identity, content, campaigns, websites, and customer experience.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Creative Director at Adoorn
January 1, 2025 - June 1, 2026
Transformed Adoorn from a founder-led startup into a cohesive consumer brand, developing the strategy, visual system, and guidelines across touchpoints. Partnered on a full website redesign ahead of the holiday season, driving 3x year-over-year sales growth and stronger e-commerce performance. Directed brand, packaging, website, advertising, lifecycle marketing, and content; established a design-forward brand presence contributing to Architectural Digest recognition and retail expansion with Rejuvenation and Walmart.
Creative Director (Contract) at Yardzen
December 1, 2023 - July 1, 2024
Created Yardzen Brand Book, establishing a unified visual system across typography, color, photography, and customer touchpoints. Built a cross-channel content strategy spanning social, email, and editorial, increasing website traffic from social by 38%. Launched Yardzen's first AI product, partnering across product, marketing, and design to acquire 100K+ users in the first week. Reimagined the email experience with stronger visual storytelling, contributing to a 12.4% increase in email revenue.
Director of Brand Strategy at Snug
April 1, 2022 - September 1, 2023
Shaped go-to-market strategy for five new markets, helping grow the customer base 25% month over month. Defined the brand positioning, voice, and customer journey, creating a more cohesive experience across channels. Managed agencies and cross-functional partners across advertising, social, content, email, and campaign development. Produced a social content strategy that generated more than 250,000 views in four months.
CEO, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Wildist
August 1, 2019 - August 1, 2022
Led strategy, creative direction, and business operations, growing Wildist into a leading online education platform for outdoor photography and filmmaking. Conceptualized and produced more than 20 online workshops, expanding audience reach and deepening brand engagement. Directed product launches, brand campaigns, talent partnerships, and customer acquisition initiatives that contributed to 35% year-over-year growth. Built and managed a team of 10 employees and agency partners, developing integrated campaigns across content, social, email, and web. Negotiated and executed the sale of Wildist to Creative Live (NYSE: FVRR) within three years of launch. Secured strategic brand partnerships with Arc'teryx, Sony, Peak Design, Lexar, 66° North, and Billabong.
Head of Brand and Business Development at Futuristic Films Agency
May 1, 2019 - October 1, 2019
Directed a full agency rebrand, redefining the visual identity, brand voice, positioning, and messaging platform. Led advertising and branded content initiatives for clients including Starbucks, Verizon, New Belgium, and DPS Skis.
Brand Marketing Director at Artifact Uprising
October 1, 2013 - May 1, 2019
Directed a cross-functional team of 15 across brand, creative, and growth, establishing an integrated customer experience across channels. Managed and mentored a team of six, contributing to 40% year-over-year growth through email, social, web, mobile, and brand partnerships. Partnered with creative and product leaders to shape the visual direction, customer journey, and go-to-market strategy for key launches and campaigns. Built integrated marketing campaigns and brand initiatives that strengthened customer engagement across the lifecycle. Oversaw creative direction for major photography and film productions, defining the visual language across campaigns, packaging, and digital experiences.

Education

MFA, Visual Communication Design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
January 1, 2025 - June 16, 2026
B.S. in Fashion Merchandising, Minor in Business Management at Colorado State University
January 11, 2030 - June 16, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Retail, Professional Services, Consumer Goods