Cathleen Heard
Creative Leader / Graphic Designer
Creative Leader / Graphic Designer
Profile
Versatile Creative Leader and Graphic Designer with 20 years of experience spanning print, digital, and multimedia. Excels at design execution, project coordination, and team leadership, with proven adaptability in guiding creative processes. Delivered compelling work for global brands including Disney, Amazon Prime, MGM, NPR, and iHeartMedia. Ready to bring both design expertise and transferable project management skills to any industry.
Career HighlightsDynamite Comics
Produced and managed large-scale publications such as Disney Villains. Praised by Disney: Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman for design expertise. Collaborated on White Sand, 2018 Diamond Gem Award nominee.
Produced and managed large-scale publications such as Disney Villains. Praised by Disney: Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman for design expertise. Collaborated on White Sand, 2018 Diamond Gem Award nominee.
iHeartMedia
Boosted website traffic 5x and unique visitors 40%, elevating Philadelphia to a Top 3 Digital Gainer market. Selected as National Content Editor for the televised iHeartRadio Festival.
Boosted website traffic 5x and unique visitors 40%, elevating Philadelphia to a Top 3 Digital Gainer market. Selected as National Content Editor for the televised iHeartRadio Festival.
WXPN
Directed design for the Sustainability: The New Frontier campaign, generating $40,000 in fundraising revenue.
Directed design for the Sustainability: The New Frontier campaign, generating $40,000 in fundraising revenue.
Work Experience
Art Director, Creative Operations Lead
Dynamite Comics, Apr 2019 - Jun 2025
Dynamite Comics, Apr 2019 - Jun 2025
Guided design strategy to elevate reader engagement and financial performance. Conceptualized and delivered singular, brand-compliant creative assets while maintaining strong partnerships with major licensed intellectual properties. Mentored teams, coordinated freelancers, and guaranteed seamless, high-quality production.
Senior Designer, Production & Workflow Coordinator
Dynamite Comics, Jan 2016 - Apr 2019
Dynamite Comics, Jan 2016 - Apr 2019
Executed design and production for key publications, accomplishing harmonized branding and artistic excellence under Creative Director's guidance. Balanced multiple deadlines, ensured punctual delivery, and optimized production processes to accelerate turnaround and maximize output.
Digital Producer / Team Lead, Integrated Media Department
iHeartMedia, Apr 2010 - Jan 2016
iHeartMedia, Apr 2010 - Jan 2016
Supervised digital production operations, designed and produced multimedia and graphic assets for web and social platforms. Partnered with programming, marketing, and sales to align visuals with broader strategy. Onboarded talent in CMS, SEO, content creation, and copyright compliance.
Web Content Developer / Senior Graphic Designer
WXPN / NPR Affiliate, Oct 2006 - Apr 2010
WXPN / NPR Affiliate, Oct 2006 - Apr 2010
Served as primary graphic designer for NPR-affiliate and its microsites (World Cafe, Y-Rock, Kids Corner). Driving force in CMS migration and multiple site redesigns. Handled content publication, blogging, and training documentation.
Core Competencies
Visual Storytelling, Print and Digital Design, Print Production, Creative Team Leadership & Mentorship, Project Coordination & Workflow Optimization, Stakeholder Collaboration
Technical Skills
Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, HTML/CSS, Canva, Generative AI (Beginner)
Continuing Education
MidJourney (Coursiv), Figma (Udemy), Project Management Foundations (LinkedIn Learning)