Accomplished Art Director and Creative Designer with 30+ years of experience delivering innovative design solutions in the industries of Advertising/Marketing/Promotion, Corporate Identity/Branding, Nonprofit, Digital Media, Retail/Consumer Goods, Packaging, Pharmaceutical, and Financial. Proven ability to lead creative teams, manage vendors, and oversee projects from concept through completion while meeting deadlines and budget goals. Skilled in brand strategy, copywriting, and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong track record of building lasting client relationships and driving design excellence.…

Kelly M. Grasso

Accomplished Art Director and Creative Designer with 30+ years of experience delivering innovative design solutions in the industries of Advertising/Marketing/Promotion, Corporate Identity/Branding, Nonprofit, Digital Media, Retail/Consumer Goods, Packaging, Pharmaceutical, and Financial. Proven ability to lead creative teams, manage vendors, and oversee projects from concept through completion while meeting deadlines and budget goals. Skilled in brand strategy, copywriting, and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong track record of building lasting client relationships and driving design excellence.…

Available to hire

Accomplished Art Director and Creative Designer with 30+ years of experience delivering innovative design solutions in the industries of Advertising/Marketing/Promotion, Corporate Identity/Branding, Nonprofit, Digital Media, Retail/Consumer Goods, Packaging, Pharmaceutical, and Financial. Proven ability to lead creative teams, manage vendors, and oversee projects from concept through completion while meeting deadlines and budget goals. Skilled in brand strategy, copywriting, and cross-functional collaboration, with a strong track record of building lasting client relationships and driving design excellence.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Principal / Creative Art Director / Designer at KMG Design & Art Direction (formerly Marchetti Design & Illustration)
January 1, 1992 - November 13, 2025
Provide conceptual design, art direction, and full-service creative communication design for clients across diverse industries, including brand identity, promotional marketing, advertising, copywriting, photoshoot direction, web design, and packaging.
Founder / Art Instructor at Artescape
January 1, 2019 - November 13, 2025
Founder of paint party business providing guided instruction for fundraisers, corporate events, and private gatherings; taught groups of up to 60 students, managed assistants, and designed all lesson plans. Also commissioned for murals.
Commission Artist at KMG Pet Portraits
January 1, 2018 - November 13, 2025
Commissioned realistic pet paintings; featured in OrangeLife Magazine (2019); donated work for fundraising events.
Brand Identity Designer at Circle Surrogacy, LLC
January 1, 2019 - November 13, 2025
Developed brand identity package and logo; produced 22-page brochure (print & digital), business cards, letterhead, and presentation templates for Circle Surrogacy.
Designer / Viewbook & Promotional Graphics at Quinnipiac University
December 31, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Designed 40-page viewbook, promotional graphics, campus plasma screen content, banners, logos, and apparel graphics.
Brand Identity, Web Design, & Advertising at Meticulosity
December 31, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Brand identity, web design, and advertising for Williams College (Discover Science), Ghirardelli Chocolates, Clark Toys, Little Footprint (UK), Tortuga Rum.
Creative Direction / Brand Identity at L&P Media
December 31, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Creative direction for corporate identity, event themes, websites, signage, advertising, and marketing materials; clients included I Love NY Tourism (award-winning), YMCA, Albany Medical Center, NYS, Siena College, NBT Bank, and more.
Packaging Designer at Product Ventures
December 31, 2010 - December 31, 2010
Packaging design for Bissell (30 SKUs), Frito-Lay (Tostitos & Cheetos), and Bayer medical devices.
Rebranding / Brand Development at Avantus (CIBMS)
December 31, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Rebranding, logo, brand standards, website, marketing collateral, trade show booths, and signage.
Brand Identity / Web & Marketing Materials at Simione Consultants
December 31, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Brand identity, website, marketing communications, trade show materials, and logo design.
Senior Art Director at Catapult Marketing (D.L. Ryan Companies)
December 31, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Designed and art directed national campaigns for Subway, Lysol, Reynolds, Excedrin, Clearasil, Triaminic; managed junior designers and photoshoots.
Senior Art Director at DraftFCB
December 31, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Senior Art Director for pharmaceutical clients; led ad campaign concepts, design, and product branding for GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott, and Novartis.
Senior Art Director at Harrison & Star
December 31, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Brand identity and campaign development for Lucentis.
Senior Art Director at TracyLocke
December 31, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Concept/design of national co-marketing campaign with Kimberly-Clark and ABC’s The View.
National Ad Campaign Concept / Trade Show Design at Timex
December 31, 2005 - December 31, 2005
National ad campaign concepts, trade show design for Annual Licensing Show at Jacob Javits Center.
Creative/Art Director at Mason & Kichar
December 31, 2002 - December 31, 2002
Advertising campaigns, corporate identity, and copywriting for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Duracell, Gartner Group, St. Raphael’s Hospital, and others.
Art Director at Leverte Associates
December 31, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Art Director; product logos, advertising, brochures, monographs, newsletters, and illustration for pharmaceutical clients.
Sole In-House Designer / Art Director at PIMCO Funds
December 31, 1997 - December 31, 1997
Corporate marketing materials, brochures, fund cards, newsletters, trade shows.
Designer / Art Director at BB&M / BBM&E
December 31, 1995 - December 31, 1995
Product logos, advertising, brochures, monographs, newsletters, illustration for Pfizer, Wyeth-Ayerst, Sandoz, and others.
Creative Art Director / Designer at Catch A Lift Fund
January 1, 2024 - November 13, 2025
Creative art director and designer of marketing for nationwide fundraising events, including printed collateral, signage, banners, event and program logos/identity, corporate proposals, grant impact reports, and apparel.
Brand Identity Designer at AFIA
January 1, 2021 - November 13, 2025
Full brand identity creation and design of logo, copywriting, apparel, marketing collateral, and signage.
Designer at Quinnipiac University
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Designed 40-page viewbook, promotional graphics, campus plasma screen content, banners, logos, and apparel graphics.
Brand Identity / Advertising Designer at Meticulosity
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Brand identity, web design, and advertising for Williams College (Discover Science), Ghirardelli Chocolates, Clark Toys, Little Footprint (UK), Tortuga Rum.
Creative Director at L&P Media
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Creative direction for corporate identity, event themes, websites, signage, advertising, and marketing materials; clients included I Love NY Tourism (award-winning), YMCA, Albany Medical Center, NYS, Siena College, NBT Bank, and more.
Packaging Designer at Product Ventures
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2010
Packaging design for Bissell (30 SKUs), Frito-Lay (Tostitos & Cheetos), and Bayer medical devices.
Marketing / Brand Designer at Avantus (CIBMS)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Rebranding, logo, brand standards, website, marketing collateral, trade show booths, and signage.
Art Director at Simione Consultants
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Brand identity, website, marketing communications, trade show materials, and logo design.
Senior Art Director at Catapult Marketing (D.L. Ryan Companies)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Design and art direction for Subway, Lysol, Reynolds, Excedrin, Clearasil, Triaminic campaigns; managed junior designers and photoshoots.
Senior Art Director at DraftFCB
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2006
Senior Art Director for pharmaceutical clients, including GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott, and Novartis; led ad campaign concepts, design, and product branding.
Senior Art Director at Harrison & Star
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2006
Brand identity and campaign development for Lucentis.
Senior Art Director at TracyLocke
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2006
Concept/design of national co-marketing campaign with Kimberly-Clark and ABC’s The View.
Art Director at Timex
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005
National ad campaign concepts; trade show design for Annual Licensing Show at Jacob Javits Center, including brochures and experiential displays.
Creative/Art Director at Mason & Kichar
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2002
Advertising campaigns, corporate identity, and copywriting for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Duracell, Gartner Group, St. Raphael’s Hospital, and others.
Art Director at Leverte Associates
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 1998
Product logos, advertising, brochures, monographs, newsletters, and illustration for pharmaceutical clients.
Sole In-House Designer/Art Director at PIMCO Funds
January 1, 1997 - January 1, 1997
Corporate marketing materials, brochures, fund cards, newsletters, and trade shows.
Designer / Art Director at BB&M / BBM&E
January 1, 1995 - January 1, 1995
Product logos, advertising, brochures, monographs, newsletters, illustration for Pfizer, Wyeth-Ayerst, Sandoz, and others.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design at Southern Connecticut State University
January 1, 1988 - January 1, 1992
Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design ( Magna Cum Laude ) at Southern Connecticut State University
January 1, 1988 - January 1, 1992

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Professional Services, Retail, Other, Consumer Goods, Non-Profit Organization, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Education

Skills

Experience Level