Hi, I’m Melissa Clarke, a multidisciplinary Art Director based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I direct creative strategy, design, and production for member-focused communications across digital, print, and multimedia platforms. I excel at translating complex information into clear, accessible visuals that improve understanding and engagement, while ensuring brand consistency and compliance with governing guidelines. With experience spanning agencies and corporate teams, I lead design teams, collaborate cross-functionally with copywriters and project managers, and mentor designers to grow talent. I enjoy developing design systems, shooting and editing video content, and delivering high-quality work on tight deadlines to support business goals and educate audiences.…

Melissa Clarke

Hi, I’m Melissa Clarke, a multidisciplinary Art Director based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I direct creative strategy, design, and production for member-focused communications across digital, print, and multimedia platforms. I excel at translating complex information into clear, accessible visuals that improve understanding and engagement, while ensuring brand consistency and compliance with governing guidelines. With experience spanning agencies and corporate teams, I lead design teams, collaborate cross-functionally with copywriters and project managers, and mentor designers to grow talent. I enjoy developing design systems, shooting and editing video content, and delivering high-quality work on tight deadlines to support business goals and educate audiences.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Melissa Clarke, a multidisciplinary Art Director based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I direct creative strategy, design, and production for member-focused communications across digital, print, and multimedia platforms. I excel at translating complex information into clear, accessible visuals that improve understanding and engagement, while ensuring brand consistency and compliance with governing guidelines. With experience spanning agencies and corporate teams, I lead design teams, collaborate cross-functionally with copywriters and project managers, and mentor designers to grow talent. I enjoy developing design systems, shooting and editing video content, and delivering high-quality work on tight deadlines to support business goals and educate audiences.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Art Director at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
September 30, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Direct creative strategy, design, and execution of member-focused communications across digital, print, and multimedia platforms for BlueCare Tennessee (Medicaid line of business). Manage multiple projects from ideation to production, adhering to government mandates, design system, brand guidelines, and proper use of assets. Translate complex information into clear, engaging visual solutions to improve member understanding and engagement. Maintain business partner relations to determine project scope and messaging. Provide art direction to Designers; collaborate with Copywriters, Project Management and Planning to guide the creative process from concept through production. Shoot and produce educational talking-head content on iPhone; edit footage in Adobe Premiere Pro with color correction, audio enhancement, and motion graphics for polished final results. Conceptualize classroom murals for BlueSky Tech Institute Foundation program.
Art Director at Adams + Fairway Outdoor Advertising
September 30, 2018 - September 30, 2018
Concept and design billboard campaigns based on briefs; mentor Graphic Designer; train new Account Executives on advertising concepts and how to provide high-quality creative briefs; maintain high standards for creative briefs; raise the bar for outdoor advertising aesthetics in the market; meet with clients to learn about their business and develop effective campaigns; check client-supplied files for size and format; track workflow and workload; prepare production files and upload for printers.
Senior Graphic Designer at Noventis
July 31, 2016 - July 31, 2016
Freelance art direction, concept and design for Noventis’ new website; design and layout a multi-page annual report and all pertaining infographics; collaborate with the Writer and Marketing Director to design Shareholder’s interactive presentation; engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion.
Senior Graphic Designer at Weatherford
February 28, 2015 - February 28, 2015
Concept, design, execute and manage collateral material for product lines, campaigns, trade-shows, while adhering to brand guidelines. Develop materials such as brochures, micro-sites, trade-show booths. Collaborate with Writers, Photographers and Illustrators on projects to meet strategic objectives. Engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion.
Art Director at Tangelo Ideas
June 30, 2012 - June 30, 2012
Art direction, concept and graphic design for all advertising, direct mail, interactive/web designs, billboards, email blasts, point-of-purchase materials, packaging, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design. Engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion. Provide support and inspiration to Graphic Designers.
Art Director at Kelley Swofford Roy, Inc
January 31, 2008 - January 31, 2008
Design effective advertising concepts for clients. Generate a range of creative designs for corporate advertising, direct mail, email blasts, point-of-purchase materials, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design, billboards, trade-show booths. Gain an understanding of the target audience and business the advertisement is aimed for. Maintain a close working relationship with the Creative Director and Copywriter to form a productive creative partnership. Engaged in all stages of projects from initial concepts to the finished product. Ensure deadlines are efficiently met.
Design Manager at Marcus Evans
August 1, 2004 - September 29, 2006
Manage and provide leadership, motivation and support to junior Graphic Designers. Provide regular channels of communication between Designers and their assigned business sectors. Communicate ideas with the Marketing and Production teams for effective and efficient development of creative concepts and execution of wide range of projects, including logos, brochures, catalogs, filming, video editing, web banners, signage, advertisements, flyers, newsletters. Ensured all printable material was set correctly for the presses. Ensured the company’s brand was followed properly and presented throughout the production of all electronic and printed materials. Responsible for appearance of branded Sales and Marketing materials at Summit and Conference events held in North America.
Art Director at Adams + Fairway Outdoor Advertising
September 1, 2018 - September 1, 2018
Concept and design billboard campaigns based on creative briefs submitted by Account Executives. Mentor Graphic Designer and cultivate their talents. Train new Account Executives on advertising concepts and high-quality briefs. Maintain high standards for creative briefs and all creative. Raise the bar for the aesthetic and conceptual level of outdoor advertising in the market and industry. Meet with clients to learn about their business and develop effective outdoor advertising campaigns. Check client-supplied files for size and format. Track workflow and workload. Prepare production files and upload for printers.
Senior Graphic Designer at Noventis
July 1, 2016 - July 1, 2016
Freelance art direction, concept and design Noventis’ new website; design and layout a multi-page annual report and all pertaining infographics. Collaborate with the Writer and Marketing Director to design and develop Shareholder’s interactive presentation. Engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion.
Senior Graphic Designer at Weatherford
February 1, 2015 - February 1, 2015
Concept, design, execute and manage collateral material for product lines, campaigns, trade-shows, while adhering to brand guidelines. Develop materials such as brochures, micro-sites, trade-show booths. Collaborate with Writers, Photographers and Illustrators on projects to meet strategic objectives. Engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion.
Art Director at Tangelo Ideas
June 1, 2012 - June 1, 2012
Art direction, concept and graphic design for all advertising, direct mail, interactive/web designs, billboards, email blasts, point-of-purchase materials, packaging, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design. Engaged in all stages of projects, from concept to completion. Provide support and inspiration to Graphic Designers.
Art Director at Kelley Swofford Roy, Inc
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Design effective advertising concepts for clients. Generate a range of creative designs for corporate advertising, direct mail, email blasts, point-of-purchase materials, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design, billboards, trade-show booths. Gain an understanding of the target audience and business the advertising is aimed for. Maintain a close working relationship with the Creative Director and Copywriter to form a productive creative partnership. Engaged in all stages of projects from initial concepts to the finished product. Ensure deadlines are efficiently met.
Design Manager at Marcus Evans
September 1, 2006 - September 1, 2006
Manage and provide leadership, motivation and support to junior Graphic Designers. Provide regular channels of communication between Designers and their assigned business sectors. Communicate ideas with the Marketing and Production teams for effective and efficient development of creative concepts and execution of wide range of projects, including logos, brochures, catalogs, filming, video editing, web banners, email blasts, signage, advertisements, flyers, postcards, newsletters. Ensure printable material is set correctly for the presses. Ensure the company’s brand is followed properly and presented throughout the production of all electronic and printed materials. Responsible for appearance of branded Sales and Marketing materials at Summit and Conference events held in North America.
Art Director at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
March 1, 2019 - September 30, 2025
Directs creative strategy, design, and production of member-focused communications across digital, print, and multimedia for BlueCare Tennessee. Manages multiple projects from ideation to production, ensuring adherence to government mandates, design systems, brand guidelines, and proper use of brand assets. Translates complex information into clear visual solutions to improve member understanding and engagement. Maintains business partner relations to determine project scope and messaging. Provides art direction to Designers and collaborates with Copywriters, Project Management, and Planning to guide the creative process from concept through production. Shoots and produces educational talking-head content on an iPhone; edits footage in Adobe Premiere Pro with color correction, audio enhancement, and motion graphics. Conceptualizes murals for BlueSky Tech Institute in collaboration with Illustrator.
Art Director at Adams + Fairway Outdoor Advertising
August 1, 2016 - September 30, 2018
Concepts and designs billboard campaigns based on creative briefs from Account Executives. Mentors Graphic Designer and trains new Account Executives on advertising concepts and delivering high-quality creative. Elevates the aesthetic and conceptual level of outdoor advertising in the market. Meets with clients to learn business needs and develop effective outdoor campaigns. Checks client-supplied files for size and format. Tracks workflow and workload. Prepares production files and uploads for printers.
Senior Graphic Designer at Noventis
March 1, 2015 - July 31, 2016
Freelance art direction, concept and design for Noventis’ new website; designed and laid out a multi-page annual report and related infographics. Collaborated with the Writer and Marketing Director to design Shareholder’s interactive presentation. Involved in all project stages from concept to completion.
Senior Graphic Designer at Weatherford
July 1, 2012 - February 28, 2015
Concept, design, execute and manage collateral material for product lines and campaigns, while adhering to brand guidelines. Developed brochures, micro-sites, and trade-show booths. Collaborated with Writers, Photographers and Illustrators to meet strategic objectives. Engaged in all stages of projects from concept to completion.
Art Director at Tangelo Ideas
February 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012
Art direction, concept and graphic design for advertising, direct mail, interactive/web designs, billboards, email blasts, packaging, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design. Engaged in all stages of projects from concept to completion. Provided support and inspiration to Graphic Designers.
Art Director at Kelley Swofford Roy, Inc
November 1, 2006 - January 31, 2008
Design effective advertising concepts for clients. Generated a range of creative designs for corporate advertising, direct mail, email blasts, point-of-purchase materials, brochures, web banners, vehicle wrap design, billboards, and trade-show booths. Built strong relationships with the Creative Director and Copywriter to drive projects from concept to final product and ensured deadlines were met.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts — Communication Design at Texas State University San Marcos, TX
August 1, 2000 - July 1, 2004
Bachelor of Fine Arts — Communication Design at Texas State University San Marcos
January 11, 2030 - July 1, 2004

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Healthcare, Professional Services, Education, Other, Retail

Skills

Experience Level