nolan garrido
creative+design director
5057 n ashland ave, unit 1, chicago, il 60640
312 560 5038
nolangarrido81@gmail.com
thumbnail.work
Howdy!
My name is Nolan and i am a Creative+Design Director and relentless problem solver based in Chicago. With the mind of a dreamer, curiousity of a child and hands of a craftsman, I create brand clarity and relevance. I collaborate with agencies and brands to connect with consumers in a meaningful way across various touchpoints and between general & multi-cultural markets. I embrace an entrepreneurial optimism, always seeking opportunities to make good things even better. And yes, I love what I do, starting every journey with a thumbnail sketch.
If you’re ready for a dash of whimsy, a sprinkle of brilliance, and a whole lot of creative LOVE, holla at yer’ boy!!!
shops
thumbnail 2016 - present, freelance & creative consultancy
creative+design director+designer
Crafting Brand Clarity
As the driving force behind Thumbnail, I specialize in helping brands find their voice and resonate with their audience. Whether it’s through creative direction or hands-on design work, I bring a wealth of experience to the table. Here’s how I contribute:
Creative Direction:
•I excel at shaping cohesive brand narratives. By enforcing design and branding guidelines, I ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
•With an eye for aesthetics and a finger on industry trends, I lead successful campaigns that leave a lasting impression.Design Leadership:
•I inspire creative teams to deliver innovative designs. Leading by example, I translate brand vision into captivating visual concepts.
•My proven expertise in design principles and excellent communication skills drive successful outcomes.Design Expertise:
•I blend artistic creativity with strategic thinking. My goal is to create impactful visual experiences.
•Key skills include:
- Visual Communication Excellence: Crafting compelling visuals that tell a story.
- Typography Mastery: Choosing the right typefaces for maximum impact.
- Brand Strategy and Storytelling: Weaving brand narratives that resonate.
- User-Centered Design: Prioritizing user needs and experiences.
- Collaboration and Teamwork: Working seamlessly with others.
- Creative Problem Solving: Finding elegant solutions.
- Adaptability and Continuous Learning: Staying ahead of the curve.Illustration: I am a chameleon when it comes to art, being able to emulate many styles depending on client needs.
highlights:
Through thumbnail I’ve had the opportunity to experience and collaborate with some amazing brands and solve business needs. For instance, freelancing at the agency level has allowed me to be integral at creating the new visual identity of CVS stores. And helped rebrand a global ad agency like Dentsu McGarryBowen. And come up with the big experiential idea to tour the Beam family of bourbons throughout the US. And create the brand identity of the industrial business of Avery labels. And design a few uber-premium, shopper-stopping, promotional packaging for Courvoisier. And help Wellness Pet Company become a family of brands. And create the brand identity of a promotional Blue Moon beer that celebrates veterans and the five branches of the military. And help come up with the tasty, campaign big idea, tagline and look for Snap Kitchen. As well as push the creative for local government entities like the RTA, Cook County Public Health and County Care Health Plan.
Going out and bringing in clients like Halisi, I helped name, brand and design a new brandy made with grapes grown from the rich soil of Africa. And reimagined what it means to be an education and training firm like LCW, built on cultural competence, diversity, equity and inclusion. And helped create the meaning, voice and look of Sovereignty, a CBD brand that helps people regain and maintain a better-balanced life.
love & the machine 2016 - 2018, design studio
founder/managing partner/creative director
At L&TM we launched and rebranded brands utilizing three basic principles: Mindfulness, pride and craftsmanship. We believed these principles equated to the idea of love. The machine part is that we churned out an endless amount of it.
I played a couple of roles here:
Managing Partner: Guiding Success with Precision
As a managing partner, I shaped our agency’s long-term vision and policies, always aiming for growth. I thrived on challenges, facing market disruptions and operational bottlenecks head-on with innovative solutions. Financial mastery was crucial—I ensured stability and sustainable growth by managing budgets and resource allocation. Leadership wasn’t just a title; it was a commitment. I inspired our team, prioritizing employee satisfaction and professional development. Additionally, my industry connections fueled business growth, expanding our horizons in the competitive landscape.
Creative Direction: Crafting Brands That Resonate
I didn’t merely design logos; I crafted brand narratives. Our brands pulsated with purpose, personality, and seamless alignment—from color palettes to story. My aesthetic vision transcended trends, focusing on timeless appeal. Balancing innovation and classic sensibilities, our campaigns stood out for feeling just right.
highlights:
we started l&tm as a side hustle in year 1, collaborating with and naming SUR, a performance supplement brand and getting them off and running. by year 2 we had 4 full-time partners and becoming the first partner for P&G, APDO category, in their new approach to external resource. This opportunity to start, run and lead a high performing studio was an amazing experience and most of all, an honor.
the integer group 2013-2016, agency
executive design director: molsoncoors brand
Creative/Design Director: Elevating Brands with Strategic Vision
When the client challenged our agency to raise the bar in design and craftsmanship, I stepped in. Leading a highly skilled team across Chicago and Denver, we delivered data-driven brand and retail strategies, innovative concepts, and meticulously crafted designs. Our collaboration with the integrated agency team resulted in successful product launches for the MolsonCoors Innovation group. Here’s how I made an impact:
Relationship Building
I maintained strong client relationships, aligning creative work with their objectives.Creative Direction
I owned brand design systems for in-store marketing, ensuring consistent and excellent brand expressions.Team Leadership
I directed multiple projects, promoted growth, and established clarity through regular reviews and meetings.Think Big
I championed on-strategy, executable ideas and campaigns grounded in research, insights, and culture. By inspiring staff to think differently, I introduced innovative ideation practices that resulted in significant breakthroughs.Ear to the Ground
Remaining informed about industry trends and best practices, I consistently introduced fresh and innovative ideas. This forward-thinking approach propelled our business forward.Think Strategically
Anticipating future possibilities, I transformed them into innovative strategies and concepts. My vision played a crucial role in guiding the creative team toward impactful results.Fostering Effective Teamwork
In order to achieve common goals, I built cohesive teams by harnessing diverse skills and perspectives. Trust, honesty, and authenticity played pivotal roles in our success.Talent Development
Attracting and retaining top talent, I fostered a positive work environment that inspired our team to excel.
leo burnett/arc worldwide 2004-2013, agency
executive art director
Leo Burnett and Arc are global advertising and marketing sister agencies situated in the same building, allowing me to work in between them. Through collaboration with strategy, account, creative and the client, i helped create integrated and shopper-based programs for many, many, many, many brands. One day working on retail activations and TV the next. I was integral in winning new business for the agency - P&G, Coca Cola, Walmart, Nintendo and Cheez-it to name a few.
Working on so many brands allowed me to hone my skills in ideation, creative direction, design, illustration and most importantly imagination. With this passion for craft, the agency created a new title that allowed me to hone it. The Executive Art Director focused on craft at a high level without management responsibilities. It was a dream role!
grayscale inc. 2000-2002, studio
designer/illustrator
Designed and created artwork for on premise events for millercoors and brownforman.
grayscale inc. 2000-2002, studio
designer/illustrator
Designed and created artwork for brands such as Philip Morris(Basic, Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Merit), US Army and Allstate. This included ads, direct mail, and POS.
outhaus inc. 1998-2000, design studio
jr art director
I listened and did everything my bosses asked of me so i could learn the business. Except for swatting their shot in our daily game of basketball. I worked on brands such as Target and FritoLay.
clients
alcon
allstate
u.s. army
asics
at&t wireless
avery
beam
blackberry
brown-forman: southern comfort, jack daniels, woodford reserve
chevron
choice hotels
coca cola company: coca cola, coke zero, diet coke, sprite, powerade, fanta
comcast
cook county public health
courvoisier
county care medicaid health plan
cvs/pharmacy
dean foods
deschutes brewery
diageo
disney
elkay
frito-lay
ginghiss formalwear
hollister
kelloggs: froot loops, pop-tarts, cheez-it
mcdonalds
molsoncoors: miller lite, coors light, coors banquet, miller fortune, coors peak, redd’s apple ale, redd’s wicked, third shift, henry’s hard soda, sol, blue moon, peroni, leinies
nestlé
nintendo: 2ds, 3ds, wii u
Oscar mayer
pathward
pernod: jameson
philip morris: marlboro, benson & hedges, virginia slims, basic, merit
purina
p&G: gillette, pampers, always, tampax, crest, oral-b, vicks, vidal sassoon, herbal essence, olay
rta, northeast illinois
sara lee
snap kitchen
springhill suites
symantec
target
walmart
wellness pet co.
whirlpool
start-ups
good garden
halisi
main street social
outspect
poasterboard
renew social
sovereignty
smplfy
sniffle
sur phytoperformance
the studio school
tribute strength
120/life
touchpoints
integrated marketing in print & digital:
brand strategy, brand identity, branding, television, outdoor, shopper, retail, merchandising, environment, experiential, digital, social, promotion, packaging
industry experience
markets: general, multicultural and local
beer, spirits, beverage, cannabis, communications, entertainment, tobacco, food, office supplies, hospitality, insurance, automation, cpg, grooming, babycare, femcare, haircare, healthcare, oralcare, skincare, supplement, education, energy, pharma, petcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, transportation, military & defense
education
university of louisville
ba 1996
concentration in illustration