I’m Charlie Banachoski, a hands-on Creative Director and designer who partners with marketing teams to solve real business problems through strong visual strategy and execution. I’ve built and led in-house creative teams, and I’m comfortable working alongside agencies and stakeholders across everything from brand and packaging to point of sale and consumer-facing communications. Most recently, I’ve been extending my clients’ marketing organizations as a full-time freelance creative director, helping companies win in the marketplace with insight-driven design and end-to-end creative direction. Across my experience spanning industries like coatings, healthcare, technology, and CPG, I focus on clarity, speed, and quality—guiding each phase from ideation through production while managing complexity and change.…

Charlie Banachoski

I’m Charlie Banachoski, a hands-on Creative Director and designer who partners with marketing teams to solve real business problems through strong visual strategy and execution. I’ve built and led in-house creative teams, and I’m comfortable working alongside agencies and stakeholders across everything from brand and packaging to point of sale and consumer-facing communications. Most recently, I’ve been extending my clients’ marketing organizations as a full-time freelance creative director, helping companies win in the marketplace with insight-driven design and end-to-end creative direction. Across my experience spanning industries like coatings, healthcare, technology, and CPG, I focus on clarity, speed, and quality—guiding each phase from ideation through production while managing complexity and change.…

Available to hire

I’m Charlie Banachoski, a hands-on Creative Director and designer who partners with marketing teams to solve real business problems through strong visual strategy and execution. I’ve built and led in-house creative teams, and I’m comfortable working alongside agencies and stakeholders across everything from brand and packaging to point of sale and consumer-facing communications.

Most recently, I’ve been extending my clients’ marketing organizations as a full-time freelance creative director, helping companies win in the marketplace with insight-driven design and end-to-end creative direction. Across my experience spanning industries like coatings, healthcare, technology, and CPG, I focus on clarity, speed, and quality—guiding each phase from ideation through production while managing complexity and change.

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Work Experience

Creative Director at Banachoski Design, LLC
February 1, 2018 - Present
Full-time freelance design practice working with companies, agencies, and marketing decision makers. Provides creative direction and brand/graphic design support across client deliverables, partnering closely with marketing stakeholders to develop solutions that perform in the marketplace. Clients include Maverick Dental, HWI, Ziegenfelder, Teledyne/FLIR, Carnegie Mellon University, HornerCom, and PantherTeeth.
Creative Director at PPG Architectural Coatings
April 1, 2009 - January 31, 2018
Built and led an in-house design team with designers at every level, enabling rapid response to customer requests and supporting market growth, stronger retailer relationships, and reduced costs. Delivered a full spectrum of brand and design projects for 15 paint, wood stain, and specialty/adhesive brands across US and Canada B2B and B2C channels. Guided ideation through production (including press checks, photo shoots, and post-production), collaborated with cross-functional teams (marketing, insights, merchandising, legal, and production), leveraged external agency partners, and established best practices for asset management and creative project management. Recruited and developed creative talent, built career ladders, and implemented metric strategies to test new services and improve operational excellence.
Creative Director at Hornercom (formerly known as Jack Horner Communications)
April 1, 2000 - February 28, 2009
Led creative development of agency deliverables, including print and digital design across industries such as food & beverage, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, education, pharmaceutical, textiles, legal, and financial services. Produced marketing communications, advertising support, press kits, direct mail, and public relations campaign materials. Managed projects end-to-end from ideation and design through production and delivery, prepared client presentations and RFPs, and recruited, interviewed, trained, and developed interns. Worked with clients including Heinz, Development Dimensions International, Microsoft, PPG, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Alder School of Professional Psychology, American Textile Company, Dickey McCamey & Chilcote, and TriState Capital.

Education

Bachelor of Science – Graphic Design at La Roche College
January 11, 2030 - September 2, 2026

Qualifications

Creative Manager Training (Beyond the Creative Sessions)
January 11, 2030 - September 2, 2026

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Retail, Real Estate & Construction, Education, Manufacturing, Other