About | April Speights • Graphic Design

Hello!

I’m April, a team-oriented graphic designer based in Denver. I have six+ years of experience with print and digital marketing. Although I’m an artist at heart, I taught and tutored English & writing for nearly a decade before turning formally to design. Whether it’s visual or verbal, I’m a killer communicator!

Hello!

I’m April, a team-oriented graphic designer based in Denver. I have a wide range of experience within print and digital marketing. I’m always looking to learn new skills, and eagerly accept projects that expand my creativity.

Work History

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Denver Public Schools
Denver, CO
November 2021 – Present

Meet and collaborate with internal ‘clients’ (members of the Communication department and other departments) to discuss needs, propose strategies and determine creative solutions for individual projects
Strengthen school enrollment efforts with print and digital marketing materials (flyers, brochures, booklets, banners, mailers)
Support school visual enhancement with large scale wall wraps, banners, and logo creation / refreshes
Consistently meet deadlines and ensure quick project turnaround time by completing 3-5 projects per day
Ensure brand integrity and enhance Denver Public Schools branding whenever possible

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Westcor Land Title Insurance Company
Denver, CO
May 2020 – November 2021

Oversaw and approved all visual marketing materials and gave creative direction to design/web team
Created visually appealing print and digital collateral (email graphics, flyers, postcards, social media posts, landing pages, company summaries, financial documents, infographics, etc.)
Spearheaded brand refresh of Westcor and its affiliate companies
Designed and built full WordPress sites (7+); used Figma to frame and design sites; customized sites with HTML5 & CSS and updated as needed
Designed and pushed out Mailchimp email campaigns with custom graphics; translated social and print collateral into Mailchimp templates
Created written copy and edit existing copy for marketing materials (email blasts, etc.)
Met with clients weekly / biweekly via Zoom and Teams to discuss project progress, marketing goals and needs, and to brainstorm

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Skyport Hospitality
Greenwood Village, CO
Aug. 2019 – Mar. 2020

Supported Skyport Hospitality’s mission of an elevated airport guest experience through design and production of engaging video and print ads, wall graphics, packaging, splash pages, signage and menus for dining and retail concepts (i.e. Snooze, Dunkin’, Qdoba, SkyMarket, Shake Shack) across national airports
Produced company business cards, memos and infographics
Designed and edited RFPs
Offered creative direction for new projects
Collaborated with departments at corporate office to ensure consistent brand messaging of materials
Operated large format printer and laminator
Updated Skyport website and coded new pages in HTML & CSS

Graphic Designer (Freelance)

Releaves Trading Co.
Shasta Lake, CA
Jan. 2019 – July 2019

Guided the brand identity creation and launch of Releaves Trading Co. with demographically targeted packaging, social media, POS and tradeshow displays, promotional materials, branding, blog posts, and website design
Maintained website and WooCommerce shop
Planned marketing and Instagram campaigns

Graphic Designer (Agency)

Mockingbird Studios
Watsonville, CA
Oct. 2016 – May 2019

Collaborated with the creative team to develop effective print/digital/social media for 20+ agency clients
Designed branding, direct mail, tradeshow materials, emailers, websites, digital advertising, catalogs, e-books, digital illustration, social media posts, etc.
Offered art and photography direction
Wrote and edited copy for in-house marketing
Designed in-house marketing collateral
Designed and managed the agency’s WordPress sites and blogs
Met with agency clients to discuss project vision, offer WordPress help, and collaborate on projects
Ensured the success of the first-ever Santa Cruz VegFest with branding and promotional print, social media, and digital advertising

Work History

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Denver Public Schools
Denver, CO
November 2021 – Present

Meet and collaborate with internal ‘clients’ (members of the Communication department and other departments) to discuss needs, propose strategies and determine creative solutions for individual projects
Strengthen school enrollment efforts with print and digital marketing materials (flyers, brochures, booklets, banners, mailers)
Support school visual enhancement with large scale wall wraps, banners, and logo creation / refreshes
Consistently meet deadlines and ensure quick project turnaround time by completing 3-5 projects per day
Ensure brand integrity and enhance Denver Public Schools branding whenever possible

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Westcor Land Title Insurance Company
Denver, CO
May 2020 – November 2021

Oversaw and approved all visual marketing materials and gave creative direction to design/web team
Created visually appealing print and digital collateral (email graphics, flyers, postcards, social media posts, landing pages, company summaries, financial documents, infographics, etc.)
Spearheaded brand refresh of Westcor and its affiliate companies
Designed and built full WordPress sites (7+); used Figma to frame and design sites; customized sites with HTML5 & CSS and updated as needed
Designed and pushed out Mailchimp email campaigns with custom graphics; translated social and print collateral into Mailchimp templates
Created written copy and edit existing copy for marketing materials (email blasts, etc.)
Met with clients weekly / biweekly via Zoom and Teams to discuss project progress, marketing goals and needs, and to brainstorm

Graphic Designer (In-House)

Skyport Hospitality
Greenwood Village, CO
Aug. 2019 – Mar. 2020

Supported Skyport Hospitality’s mission of an elevated airport guest experience through design and production of engaging video and print ads, wall graphics, packaging, splash pages, signage and menus for dining and retail concepts (i.e. Snooze, Dunkin’, Qdoba, SkyMarket, Shake Shack) across national airports
Produced company business cards, memos and infographics
Designed and edited RFPs
Offered creative direction for new projects
Collaborated with departments at corporate office to ensure consistent brand messaging of materials
Operated large format printer and laminator
Updated Skyport website and coded new pages in HTML & CSS

Graphic Designer (Agency)

Mockingbird Studios
Watsonville, CA
Oct. 2016 – May 2019

Collaborated with the creative team to develop effective print/digital/social media for 20+ agency clients
Designed branding, direct mail, tradeshow materials, emailers, websites, digital advertising, catalogs, e-books, digital illustration, social media posts, etc.
Offered art and photography direction
Wrote and edited copy for in-house marketing
Designed in-house marketing collateral
Designed and managed the agency’s WordPress sites and blogs
Met with agency clients to discuss project vision, offer WordPress help, and collaborate on projects
Ensured the success of the first-ever Santa Cruz VegFest with branding and promotional print, social media, and digital advertising

Graphic Designer (Freelance)

Releaves Trading Co.
Shasta Lake, CA
Jan. 2019 – July 2019

Guided the brand identity creation and launch of Releaves Trading Co. with demographically targeted packaging, social media, POS and tradeshow displays, promotional materials, branding, blog posts, and website design
Maintained website and WooCommerce shop
Planned marketing and Instagram campaigns

What I’ve Delivered

Print Collateral

Company Memos, Infographics, Flowcharts, etc.
Menus
Wall Graphics
Hat Patches
Product Packaging, Inserts, & Labels
Buttons / T-Shirts / Swag
Directional Signage
Brochures & Bifolds
Tradeshow Materials
Rack Cards
Table Tents
Stanchions
Booklets
eBooks
Banners
Outdoor Signage
Invitations
Flyers
Catalogs
Magazines

Branding

Logos
Pitch Decks & RFPs
Business Cards
Labels & Tags
Stationery
Branding Guides
Branding Boards / Social Media Moodboards

Digital & Social Media

Video Ads
Splash Pages
Custom Website Design & Build (WordPress, Wix, SquareSpace, Shopify)
Website Editing (Frontend & Backend)
Emailer Design
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter posts
Monthly Social Media Planning
AdRoll, Google AdSense & SEO
GoFundMe, Kickstarter & EventBrite Graphics

What I’ve
Delivered

Print Collateral

Company Memos, Infographics, Flowcharts, etc.
Menus
Wall Graphics
Hat Patches
Product Packaging, Inserts, & Labels
Buttons / T-Shirts / Swag
Directional Signage
Brochures & Bifolds
Tradeshow Materials
Rack Cards
Table Tents
Stanchions
Booklets
eBooks
Banners
Outdoor Signage
Invitations
Flyers
Catalogs
Magazines

Branding

Logos
Pitch Decks & RFPs
Business Cards
Labels & Tags
Stationery
Branding Guides
Branding Boards / Social Media Moodboards

Digital & Social Media

Video Ads
Splash Pages
Custom Website Design & Build (WordPress, Wix, SquareSpace, Shopify)
Website Editing (Frontend & Backend)
Emailer Design
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter posts
Monthly Social Media Planning
AdRoll, Google AdSense & SEO
GoFundMe, Kickstarter & EventBrite Graphics

Education

AS Digital Media / Digital Publishing
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA
2016-2017

Teaching Credential – English
California State University Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
2011-2012

BA English, Preparation for Teaching
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
2008-2010

Education

AS Digital Media / Digital Publishing
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA
2016-2017

Teaching Credential – English
California State University Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
2011-2012

BA English, Preparation for Teaching
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
2008-2010