Summary

Senior creative leader with 25+ years of experience driving brand strategy, integrated campaigns, and design systems for B2B, healthcare, financial services, retail, and nonprofit organizations. Proven partner to executives and marketing teams, translating business objectives into cohesive visual platforms across print, digital, environmental, and experiential channels. Known for building scalable brand languages, leading cross‑functional teams, and delivering work that supports growth and long‑term brand equity.

Core Strengths

Brand Strategy & Visual Identity Systems

Creative Direction

Concept Development

Integrated Campaigns (Print, Digital, Social, Environmental)

Client & Stakeholder Leadership

Design Systems & Toolkits

Team Leadership & Mentoring

Vendor & Production Management

Art Direction (Photo/Video)

B2B, Utilities, Financial & Healthcare Marketing

Presentation & Storytelling

Experience

Owner + Creative Director

HEATHER BERARDI DESIGN LLC
Jun 2025 – Present

Founded a full‑service design studio delivering branding, websites, and marketing communications for small businesses and organizations.

  • Partner directly with business owners and leadership teams to define brand positioning and translate goals into visual identity systems and marketing assets.

  • Lead all creative direction, concepting, and execution across print, web, and digital deliverables.

  • Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, and external collaborators to ensure consistent quality and on‑time delivery.

Senior Art Director

LOUIS + PARTNERS DESIGN
Feb 2008 – Present

Senior creative lead for agency clients ranging from regional organizations to national brands in healthcare, utilities, retail security, and technology.

Selected impact and leadership highlights:

  • Established and evolved the complete visual brand language for InVue Security, a global leader in retail security solutions—creating a scalable system used across product launches, trade shows, sales tools, digital platforms, and corporate communications.

  • Led creative strategy and design for a nuclear safety initiative for FirstEnergy that was adopted system‑wide and rolled out across all U.S. utilities, supporting enterprise‑level culture and compliance communication.

  • Directed integrated branding and marketing programs for clients including Akron Children’s Hospital, Berlin Gardens, iVerify, TruMotion Therapy, and FirstEnergy.

  • Translated complex technical and healthcare concepts into clear, compelling visual narratives for executive, sales, and customer audiences.

  • Served as senior creative partner to account teams and clients from discovery through launch—shaping concepts, defining visual platforms, and ensuring consistency across channels.

  • Led and mentored design interns; managed writers, developers, photographers, videographers, and other contractors to scale project teams as needed.

  • Art‑directed photo and video shoots, including talent selection, styling guidelines, and on‑site creative direction.


Scope of Work: 

Branding Systems • Corporate Collateral • Websites • Environmental & Wayfinding Graphics • Trade Show Experiences • Product Launches • Sales Enablement Tools • Internal Communications

Communications Director

AIGA CLEVELAND
Sept 2010 – Dec 2012

  • Defined and executed chapter‑wide communications strategy and creative direction to support programming, membership growth, and community engagement.

  • Established a consistent voice and visual presence aligned with national AIGA brand and ethics guidelines.

  • Acted as ambassador and mentor to emerging designers through events and portfolio reviews.

Art Director / Graphic Design Specialist

OHIO SAVINGS BANK
Mar 2006 – Feb 2008  (Art Director)
Jan 2001 – Mar 2006  (Graphic Design Specialist)

  • Led print and interactive design for a national financial institution.

  • Developed campaign concepts and oversaw full production lifecycle from design through press checks and vendor coordination.

  • Directed photo shoots and managed multiple concurrent projects in a deadline‑driven environment.

Graphic Designer

JO-ANN STORES, INC.
Aug 2000 – Jan 2001

Designed weekly circulars, direct mail, in‑store signage, and promotional advertising for a national retail brand.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design

YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Minor: Studio Art

  • Summa Cum Laude

  • University Scholar Program

  • Phi Beta Kappa

Technical Skills

Adobe Creative Cloud

InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop
Acrobat
XD

Microsoft Office

Word
PowerPoint
Excel

Apple iWork

Figma

Wordpress

Awards & Recognition (selected)

  • W3 Web Design Award

  • Cleveland Advertising Association – Addy Awards (Bronze & Citation)

  • GD USA In‑House Design Award

  • International Midas Award

  • Hermann Zapf Award in Typography