Hi, I'm Jim Steck, and I bring over 35 years in illustration and advertising experience to every project. I am an internationally known illustrator with a global client roster that includes major brands like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, and Denny's, as well as major publishing houses such as Simon & Schuster and various educational firms. Before focusing on my illustration practice, I built a powerful foundation in advertising as a Senior Art Director at two Orlando-based advertising agencies. In these award-winning roles, I directed numerous campaigns that earned local, regional, and national industry recognition. My design leadership experience includes serving as Lead Designer for the publishing department at Ripley's Believe It or Not!, where I was responsible for designing and creating numerous published books. Additionally, I held a tenure as Senior Designer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where my primary focus was design direction, supplemented by illustration and character animation for K-12 educational technology. As President and Illustrator, I am driven by a passion for crafting digital visuals that evoke emotion and resonate with audiences worldwide. My commitment is to deliver diverse illustrative styles, ensuring our clients’ visions are not just met but surpassed.

Jim Steck

PRO

Hi, I'm Jim Steck, and I bring over 35 years in illustration and advertising experience to every project. I am an internationally known illustrator with a global client roster that includes major brands like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, and Denny's, as well as major publishing houses such as Simon & Schuster and various educational firms. Before focusing on my illustration practice, I built a powerful foundation in advertising as a Senior Art Director at two Orlando-based advertising agencies. In these award-winning roles, I directed numerous campaigns that earned local, regional, and national industry recognition. My design leadership experience includes serving as Lead Designer for the publishing department at Ripley's Believe It or Not!, where I was responsible for designing and creating numerous published books. Additionally, I held a tenure as Senior Designer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where my primary focus was design direction, supplemented by illustration and character animation for K-12 educational technology. As President and Illustrator, I am driven by a passion for crafting digital visuals that evoke emotion and resonate with audiences worldwide. My commitment is to deliver diverse illustrative styles, ensuring our clients’ visions are not just met but surpassed.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Jim Steck, and I bring over 35 years in illustration and advertising experience to every project.

I am an internationally known illustrator with a global client roster that includes major brands like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, and Denny’s, as well as major publishing houses such as Simon & Schuster and various educational firms.

Before focusing on my illustration practice, I built a powerful foundation in advertising as a Senior Art Director at two Orlando-based advertising agencies. In these award-winning roles, I directed numerous campaigns that earned local, regional, and national industry recognition.

My design leadership experience includes serving as Lead Designer for the publishing department at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, where I was responsible for designing and creating numerous published books. Additionally, I held a tenure as Senior Designer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, where my primary focus was design direction, supplemented by illustration and character animation for K-12 educational technology.

As President and Illustrator, I am driven by a passion for crafting digital visuals that evoke emotion and resonate with audiences worldwide. My commitment is to deliver diverse illustrative styles, ensuring our clients’ visions are not just met but surpassed.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior Designer PXD Product Experience Design, Illustrator at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
February 1, 2023 - August 27, 2025
Worked in a leading learning technology company serving over 50 million K-12 students globally. Responsible for designing, illustrating, and art directing instructional tools and materials including animated illustrations, anchor-charts series for PowerPoint lessons utilized nationally for social and emotional learning. Developed over 200 illustrations and backgrounds enriching tutorial book covers and spreads, incorporating research on skin tone diversity for inclusive content. Received overwhelming approval from focus groups of teachers and elementary students.
President / Illustrator at Steckfigures, Inc.
February 1, 1997 - Present
Operate as an internationally recognized digital illustrator and graphic designer, creating engaging and emotionally resonant visual assets for a wide range of clients including children’s books, magazines, restaurant campaigns, toy companies, and enterprises. Specialize in diverse illustrative styles, colorful backgrounds, character continuity, and typography across multiple mediums. Lead creative projects that inspire fun engagement, new challenges, and curiosity in kids through puzzles, games, books, toys, and souvenirs.
Senior Designer at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
February 1, 2023 - October 5, 2025
Guided the design, layout, and art direction of leading-edge instructional tools; developed an anchor-charts illustration series used in national PowerPoint lessons for social and emotional learning; contributed research-informed skin-tone diversity visuals; produced 200+ illustrations and backgrounds enriching tutorial book covers and spreads.
Art Director, Lead Designer at Ripley Entertainment Publishing
January 1, 2014 - October 1, 2025
Led design for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! publications with bold color schemes, typography, and layouts; crafted style guides for hardcopy covers and interior spreads; produced multiple annuals and souvenir books; coordinated production to meet tight deadlines.
President / Illustrator at Steckfigures, Inc.
January 31, 1997 - Present
Founder and international digital illustrator; translate complex concepts into engaging visual assets across greeting cards, children’s picture books, magazines, toys, and campaigns; lead diverse projects for 25+ children’s books and numerous brands; oversee design, publishing, and client relations.

Education

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Qualifications

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Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Consumer Goods, Travel & Hospitality, Retail, Professional Services