Cover Letter

Hey, I’m Leigh. Creative problem solving is one of my favorite things to do and one of my most natural abilities.

In my early twenties I pursued a BFA to sharpen my creative instincts and engage with culture through the visual languages of art and design. I became captivated by the tactile rhythm of printmaking and the structured problem-solving in graphic design which continues to influence my creative direction and visual sensibility today.

While my path towards an MFA shifted, it opened the door to an incredible decade-long career in freelance photography where I continued to build my multidisciplinary practice rooted in visual storytelling, iterative design thinking and conceptual depth.

Since then I’ve assembled a scrappy art direction portfolio—blending brand identity, layout systems and narrative cohesion—learning as I went through both in-house roles and freelance collaborations, often crafting simultaneously. I’ve had the privilege of working on projects that challenged me, inspired me, and remind me why I love this work.

How I approach Art Direction/Creative Collaboration

Communication is everything - Through thoughtful communication, I value facilitating a streamlined workflow ensuring that all parties are aligned and can contribute to the project’s success with confidence.

Leave your ego at the door - We all know ego when we see it. It takes awareness and practice to avoid letting your own ego run the show. Emotional awareness is an important value I bring into my work. As I see it, allowing the space for people to feel comfortable sharing thoughts and opinions is important to healthy group dynamics.

Good design borrows - This is how I’ve employed most of my graphic design skills. It’s a big part of my early stages of ideation, researching what’s already out there, has this been done before, what’s the competitor doing, did their efforts land? How can we make it ours? What do the trends tell us?  Now, rip-offs are blatantly unimaginative, but learning from your neighbor how-to-do or what-not-to do can give you a leg up in strategy. Research & resources must always be gleaned & considered thoughtfully.

Curiosity drives creativity - I am a lifelong learner, and have made a career for myself by constantly staying curious. I ask a lot of questions. I’m eager to know why a product or brief is important to the overall context of a brand. Knowing how to navigate established limitations can take you down successful paths of ideas & creative problem solving.

There’s no such thing as a furniture emergency - coined by a former Sr Graphic Designer at Haworth Furniture - Alysia Menendez, now Sr Creative Director at Kohler - the sentiment is that while it’s important to stay on task and deadline, acting like it’s the end of the world when something goes awry does nothing but deplete you of precious energy. Projects will occasionally hit snags, and when they do they’re best managed with a cool, clear head. I am used to the fast-paced creative turnaround that often comes with campaign work, and this little mantra helps me bounce between detailed hyperfocus & the big picture with jolly effort.

Nuance is a bold strategy - When I come into a new project/team as an outside voice I never show up expecting to reinvent the wheel. I want to know what’s working with the current strategy and imagery. Where can we grow? What can we keep? How can I best serve you? The evolution of a brand is often not in shiny, bold rebrands but in setting accessible standards that can grow & adapt with an ever-evolving culture & consumer.

There’s education in doing - I believe we’re never done learning. I don’t pretend to be an expert in something I don’t know. I rely on my fellow team members & partners to share insight to what’s in the box so that I can innovate & work outside it. While my Art Direction portfolio mostly highlights projects I creatively lead, much of my photographic career has been working with established agencies & in-house teams who put trust in passing me the baton & getting the project over the proverbial finish line. In return, I get to experience in direct context how they ideate, operate and communicate. This has enforced my own directorial abilities tenfold. 

I have personally managed budgets ranging from 1k-50k, I know how to be scrappy and resourceful when necessary and allocate funds efficiently when accessible. I’ve presented and pitched various campaigns in furniture, fashion, education, healthcare, technology, small business & product development arenas. 

Great teams make great work - every team is different. As a freelance creative I am adaptive within many established team dynamics. Feedback & constructive criticism is crucial for refining impactful concepts, and integration of multiple departments is paramount for building impactful, successful brand strategy.

I take great pride in maintaining a professional reputation built on strong communication, effective problem-solving skills, and the ability to foster comfortable and collaborative work environments, all while consistently meeting expectations and deadlines. While running my own business has been an exciting and rewarding experience, I am now ready to transition into a role as an established team member, contributing to long-term creative partnerships.

I am eager for the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences can contribute to your team and to explore how I can support your goals as an Art Director.

Thank you so much for consideration.