Vanessa A. Colon

15+ years building brands that mean something — now at the intersection of creative direction and AI-powered execution.

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I don't just make things look good. I build brand systems that hold — across product, packaging, campaign, and culture.

Location New Jersey, USA

Currently Creative Director, Aduro Products

Education BFA Graphic Design, Rutgers University

Seeking CD / Head of Brand role where AI fluency is an asse

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & BRAND STRATEGIST

E X P E R I E N C E

Creative Lead Designer

Hospital for Special Surgery — Health Care

MAY 2018 - MARCH 2025

  • Partnered with the CEO, business executives, and vendors to align creative strategy with revenue and growth objectives

  • Grew yearly ROI $150K through re-brand, web development, and product launch.

  • Built comprehensive visual identity systems spanning packaging, digital, social, and marketing collateral

  • Expanded the company’s creative capabilities by launching a new B2B content service offering—including food, establishment, and event photography—creating new marketing incentives for clients and generating a 25% increase in new revenue

Senior Creative

Unity Hospice — In-home Care Grief

MAY 2026 - PRESENT

Creative Director & Founder

Beat Bombshell Boutique — Lifestyle Brand

JANUARY 2018 - AUGUST 2020

  • Partnered with executive leadership, marketing, and product teams to align creative strategy with revenue and growth objectives

  • Directed the end-to-end production and delivery of 1,600+ annual marketing, event, and internal communication projects while maintaining brand standards and project timelines.

  • Designed published hospital-wide patient education and healthcare communication materials, including surgical manuals, rehabilitation guides, and rheumatoid arthritis resource publications.

  • Improved team efficiency by 30% through streamlined creative and approval workflows through SaaS products & Adobe Annotation training.

  • Managed and mentored internal designers, improving team productivity by 40%

  • Streamlined creative workflows and layout systems, contributing to a 30% reduction in production costs.

Creative Director & Consultant

Passport Media Works — B2B Marketing, Ads

JANUARY 2014 - AUGUST 2018

  • Founded and led a lifestyle brand from concept to market — brand strategy, product development, packaging, and launch execution

  • Built comprehensive visual identity systems spanning packaging, digital, social, and marketing collateral

  • Directed creative across all brand touchpoints including photoshoots, content, and eCommerce assets

Career Milestones

Executive Design Positions

Leadership across international agency networks and independent studio practice, guiding complex identity redesigns.

Creative Director

Design Lead

Senior Designer

Led multidisciplinary teams, overseeing brand strategy and visual execution for global clients across digital and print.

Directed design initiatives from concept to launch, ensuring consistency and brand integrity across all touchpoints.

Crafted high-impact visual identities and editorial layouts, contributing to award-winning projects.

Career Milestones

Core Competencies

Strategy

Creative

Leadership

Brand Strategy & Vision Original Brand Concepting & Launch Brand Revival & Repositioning Multi-Brand Portfolio Management Go-To-Market Execution Consumer Insight & Positioning

Creative Direction & Leadership Visual Identity Systems Packaging Systems & Structural Design Retail & Shelf Impact Design Omni-Channel Campaigns DTC & eCommerce Creative

Team Building & Mentorship

Cross-Functional Leadership

Budget & Timeline Management

Vendor & Manufacturer Relations

Pre-Press & Print Production AI Tools Integration

Industry Acknowledgment

Awards & Features

20+

Design Awards

50+

Publication Features

10+

Speaking Engagements

Contact Director

Strategic Creative Direction

Available for select engagements and design advisory roles.