Designer + Brand Strategist helping teams tell their story through smart, effective design. creativemaren.com/work I’m a Minneapolis-based graphic designer, art director, and creative strategist with 10+ years of experience helping brands communicate clearly and effectively. My work combines design and marketing strategy to create visuals that connect. By designing with intention, I turn strategy into clear, consistent design that aligns with client goals and brings ideas to life. I design across three core areas: 1. Branding + Identity — logo design, brand systems, and guidelines that establish a cohesive foundation. 2. Marketing + Communications — presentations, reports, flyers, and booklets that translate strategy into engaging design. 3. Events + Environments — signage, collateral, and visuals that bring experiences and spaces to life. I’ve worked with small businesses, nonprofits, Fortune 100 and 500 companies, and political campaigns to create design that’s thoughtful, polished, and reliable. Clients trust me to balance strategy and design to deliver results that last.…

Maren Nelson

Designer + Brand Strategist helping teams tell their story through smart, effective design. creativemaren.com/work I’m a Minneapolis-based graphic designer, art director, and creative strategist with 10+ years of experience helping brands communicate clearly and effectively. My work combines design and marketing strategy to create visuals that connect. By designing with intention, I turn strategy into clear, consistent design that aligns with client goals and brings ideas to life. I design across three core areas: 1. Branding + Identity — logo design, brand systems, and guidelines that establish a cohesive foundation. 2. Marketing + Communications — presentations, reports, flyers, and booklets that translate strategy into engaging design. 3. Events + Environments — signage, collateral, and visuals that bring experiences and spaces to life. I’ve worked with small businesses, nonprofits, Fortune 100 and 500 companies, and political campaigns to create design that’s thoughtful, polished, and reliable. Clients trust me to balance strategy and design to deliver results that last.…

Available to hire

Designer + Brand Strategist helping teams tell their story through smart, effective design. creativemaren.com/work

I’m a Minneapolis-based graphic designer, art director, and creative strategist with 10+ years of experience helping brands communicate clearly and effectively. My work combines design and marketing strategy to create visuals that connect. By designing with intention, I turn strategy into clear, consistent design that aligns with client goals and brings ideas to life.

I design across three core areas:

  1. Branding + Identity — logo design, brand systems, and guidelines that establish a cohesive foundation.

  2. Marketing + Communications — presentations, reports, flyers, and booklets that translate strategy into engaging design.

  3. Events + Environments — signage, collateral, and visuals that bring experiences and spaces to life.

I’ve worked with small businesses, nonprofits, Fortune 100 and 500 companies, and political campaigns to create design that’s thoughtful, polished, and reliable. Clients trust me to balance strategy and design to deliver results that last.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Creative Lead at Pivot Strategies
May 1, 2021 - May 5, 2022
• Oversaw creative team producing internal communications projects for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. • Art directed and designed project branding, reports, newsletters, corporate decks, infographics, web design, storyboards, and video. • Successfully adapted to various industries, understanding and incorporating industry-specific trends and requirements into design concepts. • Led expansion of Pivot’s graphic identity and new marketing materials. • Managerial responsibilities: project management, developing and streamlining internal processes, team member development, and leading creative strategy and ideation.
Senor Designer at Way to Grow
January 1, 2016 - April 28, 2021
• In-house creative lead responsible for all art direction, brand management, and design. • Work included devising communication strategy and designing promotional materials, web design and graphics, motion graphics, event collateral, and all copywriting responsibilities. • Webmaster and digital communications manager. • Coordinated print production and vendors. • Major projects: annual reports, event identities, and fundraising campaigns.
Managing Coordinator at Minnesota Association of Museums
March 1, 2015 - September 30, 2017
• Marketing, design, and event strategist. • Designed all graphics and external communications, including a brand expansion, website overhaul, promotional materials, and conference identities. • Organized and executed major programming and subsequent communications for three Annual Conferences, regular workshops, networking events, and Minnesota Museums Month.
Graphic Designer, Art Director, Creative Strategist at Freelance
January 1, 2015 - Present
• Collaborates with diverse clients to understand their design needs and deliver tailored solutions. • Provides art direction and design expertise for a variety of projects include brand development, digital and print marketing, exhibit design, web design, and event identities and collateral. • Manages end-to-end project lifecycles, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality design assets within budget constraints. • Operates as an independent contractor, showcasing strong self-motivation, time management, and organizational skills. • Communications work includes assisting with copywriting, brand and marketing strategy, and increasing organizational capacity.
Communications Coordinator at Wallin Education Partners
March 1, 2013 - January 5, 2015
• Designed for print and web including annual reports, promotional materials, social media graphics, and event collateral. • Standardized branding across all media. • Responsible for writing and executing annual communications plans and program messaging. • Website and social media management resulted in increased engagement.

Education

Master of Arts, Graphic and Web Design at Minneapolis College of Art and Design
August 20, 2015 - December 18, 2018
2019 recipient of the Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Award
Bachelor of Arts, Art History at Concordia College, Moorhead
August 15, 2005 - May 5, 2009
Magna Cum Laude

Qualifications

Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Award
May 1, 2019 - May 1, 2019

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Travel & Hospitality

Skills

Experience Level