Howdy, I’m Erin Herndon—graphic designer, printmaker, typesetter, thinker, crafter, illustrator, and creative person—currently working in packaging design in San Luis Obispo, CA.
I believe in the power of storytelling. I believe in design methodology as a universal and underutilized problem-solving tool. I believe that Espresso-Thins are the best Oreo flavor and that I am the slowest if most persistent crossword solver this side of the Mississippi. I believe that the best way to spend a Saturday morning is on a bike with a café stop ahead and a few pals in tow. I believe in a healthy balance of reverence for the old ways as much as excitement for the new. I believe that Nicolas Cage is secretly a genius actor and that I will inevitably drive my loved ones insane when I ask “hey do you want to know about the history of that font?” juuust one time too many.
Résumé
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
Bachelors in Fine Arts
Proficiencies
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Package Design
Branding & Identity Design
Brand Collateral Design
Print Marketing & Advertising
Signage & Way-finding
Editorial Design
Merchandise Design -
Web Design
Animation & Vector Motion Graphics
Photo Direction, Editing, Retouching, & Production
Digital Marketing & Advertising
Social Media Planning & Curation -
Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, AfterEffects, Lightroom
Sketch
Blendr -
Typesetting, Lettering & Customization
Illustration: vector, engraving, painting, low quality doodles in note margins
Printmaking: block printing, screen printing, etchings, rubbings, younameit
Photography: film & digital, planning, styling, editing, retouchingOrganization: time management and planning, juggling many projects and task-switching, I enjoy making lists and checking boxes
Collaboration: working closely with other designers on team projects, collaborating with clients to translate their visions, and partnering with vendors of all kinds to bring products to life
Communication: written and verbal communicating, presenting ideas internally and to clients clearly and efficiently, keeping track of vendors, press checks, and production details -
Gardening and growing my own food
Writing snail mail letters to friends
Reading [sad fiction] books
Almost finishing crosswords
Riding bikes with friends
Hand-making pasta
Dabbling in film photography
Makers & Allies
Graphic Designer
2019 – 2022
Specialized in package design primarily for the beer, wine, and spirits industries. Created and managed brand’s visual stories from the ground up. Design for print applications (including complete logo and branding systems, product packaging, signage and way-finding, marketing and advertising programs) involved concepting and collaboration both internally and with clients to hone our vision, and long partnerships with print vendors to test products, methods, and technologies to bring our physical designs to life. Design for digital applications (websites, marketing and advertising programs, comprehensive brand guidelines, and content creation such as planning/styling/editing photoshoots and curating social media) involved thorough internal collaboration, planning, systems testing, and close partnerships with developers and strategists.
This position demanded high levels of time management and planning skills, multitasking, and organization. In addition, required well developed written and verbal commutation and presentation skills, and a real love of collaboration with clients, vendors, and of course internal team members.
Five Acres Agency
Digital Graphic Designer
2019
Created animations, motion graphics, and digital advertisements for brands within existing guideline standards. Additionally assisted in photo and video retouching.
California Polytechnic State University
Marketing Graphic Designer
2018–2019
Worked closely with Cal Poly Marketing department team on a variety of marketing and internal projects. Created digital and print advertisements, collateral and extension of University programs within existing brand standards. Produced 3D designs such as packaging, way-finding, and environmental design.
Four Lanterns Winery
Graphic Design Consultant &
Tasting Room Attendant
2017–2019
As a graphic design consultant, I created various digital and print advertisements, merchandise design, logo refresh and brand expansion, website design, and packaging design.
As a tasting room attendant, I poured wine for customers and listened to stories about their lives, learned how to ask better questions, waited tables, organized and managed product inventory, and in the fall, assisted with grape harvest and production.