Brand-focused designer with 13 years of experience modernizing marketing collateral and brand systems while staying true to established identity elements. A decade at a B2B supplier to national QSR brands centered on building and maintaining a brand guideline and template system used across packaging, POS, brochures, pitch decks, catalogs, and digital/social graphics. Now runs an independent studio, building brand systems and content templates for restaurant clients and delivering final assets for both print and digital use. Comfortable auditing existing materials, presenting updated direction to stakeholders, and delivering polished, professional work independently and remotely.…

Stacey Schwiesow

Brand-focused designer with 13 years of experience modernizing marketing collateral and brand systems while staying true to established identity elements. A decade at a B2B supplier to national QSR brands centered on building and maintaining a brand guideline and template system used across packaging, POS, brochures, pitch decks, catalogs, and digital/social graphics. Now runs an independent studio, building brand systems and content templates for restaurant clients and delivering final assets for both print and digital use. Comfortable auditing existing materials, presenting updated direction to stakeholders, and delivering polished, professional work independently and remotely.…

Available to hire

Brand-focused designer with 13 years of experience modernizing marketing collateral and brand systems while staying true to established identity elements. A decade at a B2B supplier to national QSR brands centered on building and maintaining a brand guideline and template system used across packaging, POS, brochures, pitch decks, catalogs, and digital/social graphics.

Now runs an independent studio, building brand systems and content templates for restaurant clients and delivering final assets for both print and digital use. Comfortable auditing existing materials, presenting updated direction to stakeholders, and delivering polished, professional work independently and remotely.

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Work Experience

Founder & Creative Director at The Food Nerds
January 1, 2026 - Present
Build and maintain brand guidelines and content templates for restaurant clients to ensure visual consistency across social, web, and print. Design updated layouts and materials using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign while working within each client's existing brand identity. Deliver final assets in required formats for both print and digital, managing projects independently and remotely from concept to delivery. Present creative direction and rationale directly to clients, aligning updated materials with business objectives.
Senior Multimedia Designer at Highland Baking Co.
January 13, 2016 - January 8, 2026
Lead designer, developing marketing and brand assets across packaging, point-of-sale materials, brochures, trade show visuals, advertisements, and digital graphics. Designed and managed visual content for LinkedIn and Instagram, producing on-brand artwork and campaign graphics. Collaborated cross-functionally to develop cohesive visual strategies aligned with brand goals. Art directed and executed photo and video shoots, overseeing styling, lighting, composition, and post-production. Produced high-quality retouching, compositing, and motion graphics to elevate product storytelling. Maintained organized digital files and asset standards across SharePoint and network systems. Managed project timelines from concept to delivery, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design at The Art Institutes Schaumburg, IL
January 11, 2008 - July 1, 2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design at The Art Institutes
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012

Qualifications

Fitness Nutrition Certification
August 1, 2023 - October 27, 2023

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Computers & Electronics, Wholesale & Distribution, Travel & Hospitality, Media & Entertainment, Education, Other
    Chick-Fil-A
    Project Brief: A QSR client was exploring new chicken sandwich concepts to feature on their menu. Our culinary team developed several ideas, which the creative team brought to life through photography and design. My Role: Knowing that the client was an avid college football fan, our sales representative suggested weaving that passion into the project. Our art director proposed featuring the brand’s cow mascots dressed in football uniforms for the cover design—a playful, personalized touch. I illustrated both the front and back cover mascots, assisted with photography and image editing, and designed the overall layout of the presentation book, as well as created an animation to display on our TVs during the customer showing. Creative Insights: Adding personal details that resonate with the client can make all the difference. In this case, the football theme struck the perfect chord—the customer loved it, and it was a joy to bring the concept to life.…
    Chick-Fil-A
    Project Brief: A QSR client was exploring new chicken sandwich concepts to feature on their menu. Our culinary team developed several ideas, which the creative team brought to life through photography and design. My Role: Knowing that the client was an avid college football fan, our sales representative suggested weaving that passion into the project. Our art director proposed featuring the brand’s cow mascots dressed in football uniforms for the cover design—a playful, personalized touch. I illustrated both the front and back cover mascots, assisted with photography and image editing, and designed the overall layout of the presentation book, as well as created an animation to display on our TVs during the customer showing. branding illustrator photo designer graphicdesigner Full project can be found on https://www.twine.net/signin…
    Hardee's
    Project Brief Hardee's was looking for new sandwich ideas to add to their menu. The goal was to create visually compelling presentation materials that showcased the culinary team’s innovations and captured the brand’s bold, all-American appeal. My Role I was responsible for photographing the sandwich and burger builds, focusing on lighting, composition, and styling to highlight texture and flavor. I then designed the menu concept book, incorporating the company’s established brand aesthetic to create a cohesive and appetizing presentation for internal review and client use. Creative Insights This project combined two of my favorite aspects of creative work—food photography and design. While we typically shoot on a white background, I experimented with a black backdrop for this project and found it made the build colors stand out dramatically, adding depth and emphasis to the food. Capturing the build process in this way allowed me to highlight the craft behind each item, while the finished book tied everything together into a clean, visually mouthwatering showcase that reflected Hardee’s hearty, craveable brand identity. photo branding designer graphicdesigner…
    the LUNCHBOX
    The Lunchbox is a 90s-themed pop-up restaurant bringing a dose of childhood nostalgia to a modern dining experience. Specializing in elevated versions of classic lunchbox favorites, the brand delivers playful yet refined food offerings in a setting designed to spark memories and conversations. I helped them launch their brand by providing logo and menu design, as well as exclusive packaging for their branded milk cartons. logo branding illustrator designer graphicdesigner…
    Ciao Bella
    A playful, Italian-inspired daytime eatery serving elevated brunch and lunch with a whimsical, feminine twist. With a focus on bold flavors, beautiful presentation, and an Instagrammable atmosphere, the brand blends the charm of an Italian café with modern brunch culture. To bring the brand to life, Ciao Bella Brunch Café was seeking services to help them with a cohesive, eye-catching launch that included logo design and brand identity, menu and packaging design, business cards, and promotional mailers. logo graphicdesigner branding designer See full project at https://www.twine.net/signin…
    Smashburger
    Project Brief: Smashburger partnered with our creative team to strengthen its visual identity and refresh its brand presence across multiple customer touchpoints. My Role: Our team developed visually engaging menu concepts and produced high-quality, styled food photography to highlight Smashburger’s signature offerings across both print and digital platforms. We also designed in-store and exterior signage that complemented the brand’s bold, modern identity and enhanced the guest experience. To extend the brand into motion, we created a custom logo animation for use in digital signage and promotional media (shown in the following post.) Creative Insights: This project was a great example of how cohesive design can unify a brand across every channel. From the texture of the food photography to the movement in the logo animation, each element worked together to tell the same story—fresh, bold, and full of flavor. photo branding designer graphicdesigner…
    Dave & Buster's
    Project Brief: Our creative team partnered with Dave & Buster’s to help revitalize their brand through innovative menu concepts, vibrant food photography, and dynamic signage design. My Role: My contributions centered on aligning the visual storytelling with the brand’s lively personality—ensuring that each design element reinforced the sense of fun and engagement that defines the Dave & Buster’s experience. Creative Insights: This collaboration was all about energy and connection. By combining bold visuals, playful layouts, and immersive food imagery, we were able to help the brand express its personality consistently across both in-store and digital touchpoints—creating a cohesive experience that truly captured the spirit of play. photo branding designer graphicdesigner Full project can be found on https://www.twine.net/signin…