Tjody (Pronounced "Cho-dee") DeVaal

Successful and versatile design professional with award winning and industry recognized work in package design, identity branding, and creative strategy. Management of creative process, vendors, and budgets. Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. Exquisite taste/style and eye for precise detail. Enthusiastic team player. Effective communicator & excellent collaborator.


EXPERIENCE
DeVaal Design/ Pricipal & Graphic Designer, Mpls, MN 1996-present

Comprehensive design including packaging, 3D design, identity branding, private label, point-of-purchase, collateral, illustration. Important projects include:

  • Design of 500 plus private labels following corporate guidelines or creating original art for existing brands
  • Production under tight deadlines of multiple design projects concurrently in five states for bottling company based in Mpls.
  • Headed the redesign and conversion of all corrugated private label packages to 6-color registered film
  • Creation of Nature Crystal identity, a major private label for Premium Waters, Inc
  • Design consultant Collectors Edition Dolls. Mattel Corp., El Segunda, CA

Sunflower Markets, LLC /Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator, Mpls MN 2007-08

Establishment of a new visual brand identity for an innovative natural & organic grocery. Collaboration with creative marketing team on all graphic concepts & production:

  • Creation & design of new Sunflower look: packaging, collateral, point-of-purchase
  • Produced all direct mail, weekly ROPs and newspaper ad inserts under tight deadline
  • Designer of many private labels. Coffee design launched with major sales increase
  • Redesign & illustration of 8-page monthly ad, spiking sales 60-70% in 10 days following release
  • Design of icon system and new store signage for clear & effective communication
  • Illustration & design of all collateral promotion for Grand Opening event as new Sunflower Market opens, June 2007

Hillis Mackey & Company /Packaging Designer, Mpls, MN 1994-1995

This company specialized in consumer food & beverage packaging including label design, identity, & new packaging. Clients included: Coca Cola, Land-O Lakes, General Mills, 3M.
  • Responsibilities in addition to design included illustration & new business presentations

    • Pedersen & Gesk /Packaging Designer, Mpls, MN 1991-1993

    One of the most highly regarded & award-winning firms at the time, this design company excelled at retail consumer packaging, identity branding, & product development.
  • Two projects designed & illustrated won national & international industry awards

    • McCool & Company /Junior Designer, Mpls, MN 1988 to 1991

    McCool & Company, a corporate communications company was a subsidiary of Fallon Advertising & sister company to Duffy Design. Premier clients including: USWest, American Crystal Sugar, Lee Jeans, the 1991 U.S. Open (golf) and Weyerhaeuser Paper.
  • Designed collateral materials from concept and mock-up to final printed piece
  • Art direction of a 16-page promotional piece won regional design award

    • Star Tribune /Graphic Design Intern, Mpls, MN 1987 to 1988

    An internal division of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Newspaper.
  • Concept, design, layout and production supervision of 4-color tabloids and special seasonal inserts
  • Original cover artwork for grade school educational tabloids
  • Illustrations routinely used in the Star Tribune weekly Travel Section

    • Northwest Teleproductions /Production Coordinator, Freelance 1986-87

    A film and video production company in Bloomington, MN, specialized in broadcast and radio work.
  • Auditioned and hired actors for both TV and radio spots
  • Assisted producer and director to coordinate sets, costumes and props.

    • EDUCATION

    Minneapolis College of Art & Design / BFA, Merit Scholarship Recipient, 4.0 GPA

    HONORS/AWARDS/ACTIVITIES