John Pearson

John Pearson

Senior Graphic Designer · Jerry Leigh of California

Long Beach, CA

In My Own Words

I have 17+ years of proven trend-setting experience creating clothing, graphics, brand messaging and visual design. I am a seasoned creative leader and technical design expert strategizing opportunities to transform and scale niche and global lifestyle brands.I am a collaborative partner with a strong sense of vision paired with a high level of execution and possess vital capabilities of resolving complex creative challenges.

Work Experience

Senior Graphic Designer

Jerry Leigh of California

2019 – Present

I work within the Disney Parks Team at Jerry Leigh creating artwork for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and their many overseas properties.

Senior Manager of Graphic Design, Factory Guess?

Guess?, Inc.

2017 – 2019

- Led a team of designers to accommodate for all print and graphic artwork for the Factory and Off Price divisions. Partnered with Buying and Product Development to design and maintain every piece of artwork across both Women's and Men's product lines. - Designed and forecasted trends for each season. Translated complex, high-end design techniques and trend into design targeting the specific Guess? customer within a quick turn 30 week cost structure. Presented mood and direction for each upcoming season to upper management and cross-functional teams. - Managed the relationship with our suppliers and provided feedback and technical information to ensure proper and timely execution. - Instrumental in getting the brand on a fast paced 20 week t-shirt calendar. Created monthly deliveries for both Men's and Women's graphics. Provided support for each style to our factories. - Collaborated with Buyers utilizing my apparel design and fabric background. Responsible for all cads and technical sketches across all categories.

Design Director, Men's

Margaritaville Apparel Group

2016 – 2017

· Refresh and innovate the design perspective, graphic branding and fabrication by bringing an overall strategic cohesiveness within trend, fit and color story resulting improving appeal to buyers and distribution channels · Define vision for concept innovation by sizing market opportunity, defining brand proposition, assessing competitive landscape and determining operational feasibility. Translate business objectives into creative vision and insights to resonate with target consumers · Collaborate with internal partners including merchandising and sales to exercise deliberate oversight in the balance of category offerings, mix of product ratio and optimize cost and materials to cut waste · Identify opportunities to evolve categories and invigorate current portfolio to meet market needs: created men’s swimwear with newer fabrics, textures and prints as well as a design perspective for a new youth segment · Evaluate materials and their usage, treatment

Design Director

Ascot Motorsports

2014 – 2016

· Built brand apparel and lifestyle identity. Proposed overarching strategic and creative vision to actualize racing legacy, develop new categories and promote collections

· Sourced heirloom inspiration from the Ascot Raceway historical archives including original programs, vintage photos/posters and various pieces of ephemera and story tell the track’s legend into a modern lifestyle brand

· Executed external partnership opportunities and authentic storytelling content to galvanize brand credibility amongst targeted consumers:

- Built Instagram identity grossing 16K+ followers

- Created engaging digital racing content in online Journal

- Partnered with other racing brands to build racing credibility and cultivate a strong presence at events

· Directed a commercial aired on NBC Sports in 2015. Strengthened link between Ascot’s heritage and new underground racing landscape in an illustrative and powerful video for targeted consumers

Assoc. Design Director, Men's Knits

American Eagle Outfitters

2013 – 2014

· Exploited expertise at the intersection of graphics, washes and design perspective to create Director role focused on accelerating growth in men’s apparel while managing four staff members across men’s knit top categories

· Designed and forecasted trends for mass consumer appeal. Translated complex and high-end design techniques and trend into apparel design within fast fashion cost structure targeting a larger consumer demographic

· Demonstrated creative problem solving by adapting premium fabric dyes and wash techniques into expertly replicated printed wash effects to maximize cost of goods. Provided ability for innovations to expand reach and deepen market penetration for a new cost effective consumer

Sr. Designer Men's Knits & Sweaters

Guess? Inc.

2008 – 2013

· Pioneered innovative garment dye techniques and trends within brand. Created signature Oil Wash in Spring 2010 collection which resulted in becoming an industry trend and imitated amongst competitors

· Strategized a globally consistent brand image through transformational design practices across regions to amplify recognition, optimize materials and cut cost. Collaborated with European and Asian departments internationally

· Identified opportunities to elevate and innovate category design offerings within men’s knits and sweaters and increased sales by incorporating new trends, fit techniques and wash/garment dyes

· Led concept meetings with cross-functional partners to exercise persuasive communication amongst leadership teams to ensure adoption and execution of collection themes, product and merchandising

Men's Designer/Graphic Designer

Tankfarm & Co.

2005 – 2008

· Leveraged technical design experience to elevate overarching apparel technique and conceptualize compelling legacy positioning the ultimate Americana and adventure lifestyle

· Created notable campaigns to animate messaging and engage consumers in brand recognition journeys:

- Engage Sense of Adventure: Ideated and developed a campaign inspired by vintage travel posters, designed apparel with hidden messages to engage consumers in a “surprise and delight” apparel journey around the globe. Oversaw design implementation including sourcing production vendors and American dye houses and overall campaign promotional execution

- Amplify Heritage Brand: Responded to sales/retail trend and reinforced brand DNA through re-innovating in military and fieldwork design elements. Partnered with Buckle and Nordstrom retailer channels to strengthen positioning and messaging by more cohesively integrating product and merchandising; resulted in an increased sell-in numb

Men's Designer/Graphic Designer

Atticus Clothing

2002 – 2005

· Conceptualized and developed new consumer facing positioning by evolving the punk rock lifestyle into a cohesive apparel line. Created design aesthetic and product, digital online presence, seasonal catalogs, merchandising collateral and print advertisements

· Mastered technical expertise to develop apparel including shooting product and editorial photography, managing line sheet collection and catalog styling for retail buyers, and designing tech packs for accurate manufacturing execution

Education

Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration

Savannah College of Art & Design

1997 – 2001

Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration

Interests

ArtPlaying with my sonsFamily adventures

Industries

BikeGolfDiveCreative AgenciesFashionFishingLifestyleMoto & PowersportsMusicOutdoorRunSkateSnowStreetwearSurfSwimTechTriathlonWakeYogaHealth & Fitness

Connections