I help brands find their voice and teams find their flow.
I am a Design Director with over 17 years of experience defining exactly what makes a brand stand out and endure. My expertise lies in bridging the gap between ‘making it look good’ and making it work for the business. I don’t just execute campaigns; I build sustainable brand systems and mentor the teams who run them. Ultimately, I’m focused on two things: crafting visual systems that scale globally, and empowering designers to do the best work of their lives in a creative culture built for sustainability and growth.

Experienced in managing large and small teams, delivering award-winning work (CLIO and CANES awards and published in Communication Arts and Design, Print, and Graphis) across multiple disciplines, and overseeing the creative process from concept to production.

hello.karenkoch@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE
Wieden+Kennedy (Portland) 2008-Present
Current Accounts: Lilly - A Medicine Company
Previous Accounts: Expedia Group, Lord Jones, Happy Dance, Travel Portland, EA (Electronic Arts), Coke, Facebook, Herbal Essences, Laika, Levis, Nike, Oregon State University, Oreo, Samsung, Secret, Target, HomePartners, Kachka Restaurant Group, ...

Webster Design and Associates Senior Graphic Designer 2003-2008
Clients: ConAgra Foods, Make-A-Wish Nebraska
Sidekick Design - freelance work and side business 2006-2008
Clients: The Ace Hotel, One Percent Productions, Waiting Room Lounge, AIGA Omaha, NE, multiple bands/concert venues 
Work: poster design, branding, logo design, wedding invite design 
Oriental Trading Company Product Designer 1998-2000

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Published in Communication Arts Design Annual 2013 - W+K Holiday Decor
2013 Business Insider 50 Sexiest Advertising Executives - #24
CLIO 2010 Silver Highway to Hell EA Dante’s Inferno Integrated Campaign
Cannes Lions 2010 Bronze Lion - Highway to Hell - EA Dante’s Inferno Integrated Campaign
Cannes Lions 2009 - Silver Integrated Lions & Silver Cyber Lion - Laika - Coraline
2008 Graphis Design Gold - Holiday Promotion for Webster Design
AIGA 365 - Tilly and the Wall poster accepted into 2006 AIGA 365 Show/Archive
Published in Print Magazine - Regional Design Annual Nov/Dec 2006 twice for poster design
AIGA Nebraska Professional Design Show Awards: 
1 Best of Show - 2006, 2 Golds - 2006, 2 Silver - 2006, 3 Bronze - 2006, 3 Golds - 2005, 5 Bronze - 2005
Omaha Ad Federation Professional Addys Awards:
Make-A-Wish Annual Report and ConAgra Foods FMI Trade Show - 2005

EDUCATION
University of Nebraska at Kearney 1998-2003 Visual Communications and Design BFA 
Richmond, The American International University in London Aug 2000-Dec 2000
Studied oil painting at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago - Summer 1998