Jesse Thompson: Design | Direction | Production in Oakland, California

As a freelance creative, I lead design projects from concept to production for a range of clients across fashion, music, sports, and lifestyle. My work blends strategic thinking with bold creative direction to deliver work that stands out. Key Responsibilities: Conduct market and trend research to inform creative concepts. Design and manage creative assets. Source, match, and art direct creative talent including illustrators, photographers, and stylists. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment. Oversee production timelines, product approvals, and budget management. Manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Led art direction across all platforms, products, and events, working closely with cross-functional teams and label partners. Oversaw the launch of a new label, ensuring consistency and clarity across all brand touchpoints. Key Responsibilities: Directed the development of creative assets across content, packaging, merch, and campaign materials. Managed a team of in-house and freelance designers to ensure high-quality, on-brand execution. Created branding systems for artists and label initiatives. Collaborated with marketing, A&R, and external partners to produce visuals aligned with creative and strategic goals. Balanced tight timelines, contract deliverables, and budgets.

As Lead Graphic Designer at Uninterrupted, I worked at the intersection of culture, sport, and design to bring bold visual stories to life. Partnered closely with creative directors and apparel designers to develop seasonal graphics and support initiatives across product, marketing, and brand experiences. Key Responsibilities: Designed seasonal graphic assets across apparel collections, capsules, and marketing. Collaborated with internal teams to support brand campaigns, events, and partnerships. Delivered creative for SMU requests and cross-functional design needs. Contributed to brand collaborations, ensuring creative assets aligned with Uninterrupted’s mission and voice.

As Graphic Designer for Santa Cruz Skateboards I had the opportunity to work on a dynamic creative team with a 50 year history of pumping out truly iconic graphics. I helped lead the charge in crafting seasonal themes and designs for a variety of apparel collections and skateboard decks, creating visuals that resonate with our tribe and help brand our professional athletes. Deeply involved in developing innovative packaging solutions and marketing strategies tailored specifically for skateboarders. Beyond product design, I assist in animation storyboarding, video titling, in-store displays, and orchestrating photoshoots that authentically capture our brands.

I worked closely with brand managers, creative directors, marketing and social media managers, to craft compelling products and campaigns that deeply resonate with our community. My role involves conceptualizing, directing, and delegating workloads for both product and marketing, guiding projects from initial inspiration to final launch. Additional responsibilities include developing new innovation, assets management, and facilitating approvals for collaborations.

Responsible for seasonal conceptualizing and creation of a diverse range of graphics and typography in alignment with seasonal trends across multiple collections. This role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure the delivery of products within tight timelines, technical specifications, and budget constraints. Key responsibilities include overseeing graphics from inspiration through production, curating apparel lines, reviewing tech packs, and conducting sample reviews for final approvals.

Responsible for creating a variety of graphics and typography aligned with seasonal trends across multiple collections for special projects, regional markets, and collaborations. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact sales and culture-driven products within tight timelines, technical specifications, and budget constraints. Key responsibilities include gathering inspiration from online and physical sources, delivering over 300 products per fashion season, generating tech packs, conducting sample reviews, and handling data entry for art, sundries, and special garment finishes.

Work collaboratively within a team of three designers to craft graphics customized for distinct consumer segments. Responsibilities include conceptualizing and creating seasonal graphics, conducting market research and travel, generating tech packs, conducting sample reviews, data entry for art and garment finishes, and infusing trend-focused innovations into the global brand. Actively contribute ideas for cross-brand collaborations and special projects, forging close partnerships with cross-functional leads to chart enduring strategies for brand line expansion. Additionally, taking the lead in graphic development for global SMU catalogs, tailoring designs to resonate with both domestic and international key markets.