Drake Newkirk

CAPABILITIES.

DIGITAL • CREATIVE • ILLUSTRATION • BRAND IDENTITY • BRANDED CONTENT • PACKAGING • WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT • UI

  • Advertising
  • Brand & Corporate Identity
  • Brand Strategy & Positioning
  • Digital Strategy & Implementation
  • Illustration
  • Packaging
  • Email Marketing
  • Direct Marketing
  • Graphic Design
  • Sales Presentation Materials
  • UI
  • SEO
  • Project Management
  • Team Management

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE.

With years of agency experience, I am constantly learning and reinventing myself with new offerings and exciting new skill-sets in all facets of both traditional and digital projects. I look to leverage my experience and know-how to assist companies across a broad spectrum of industries.

  • Behavioral Change
  • Construction
  • CPG and Food Service
  • Energy Environmental
  • Financial
  • Fitness
  • Franchise
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • Insurance
  • Non-Profit
  • Manufacturing
  • Merchandising
  • Municipal
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Sports and Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Transportation

Skills.

  • Extensive experience in strategic planning, user experience, and wireframing for online and offline projects with an applied understanding of ADA web compliance.
  • Extensive knowledge in designing digital experiences that are highly engaging and persona-driven
    Strong and effective creative skills in developing graphic and advertising design campaigns, including corporate id packages and merchandising materials.
  • Thrive on collaborating in a cross-functional team and understand the importance of the entire digital landscape, including search, digital media, and lead tracking.
  • Experienced managerial skills, project and team management, organization, budgeting, purchasing, and client interfacing.
  • Good understanding of agile development mythology and principles of scrum development.
  • Expansive knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Suite, program management platforms, and other various systems.
  • Expert knowledge of various mediums such as photography, pen, ink, watercolor, and airbrush.
    WORK EXPERIENCE.

Work Experience.

MANTIKI Creative
Philadelphia, PA
January 2020 – Present
Chief Creative Director

As Chief Creative Director, managed, designed, and developed traditional and digital, strategic branding, design, and development initiatives for clients in the medical, investment, social, and communication sectors.  I partnered with various advertising agencies, such as Ché Creative, The Kitchen Table, and Branding City. Manage a team of designers, developers, writers., and social media professionals.

Past and Present clients include Comcast, NBC XL, Campari, Santa Familia Tequila, DMGgo, Ardent Credit Union, and Intandem Capital Partners.

Brown Girl Gifts
Morrisville/Philadelphia, PA
May 2011 – December 2015
Owner, Creative Director

As Creative Director, I concepted and developed all aspects of the brand and created all products, tradeshow, and online shopping experiences for a custom product line.

Products included apparel, bedding, home décor, and accessories, all curated for a culturally diverse world.

LevLane Advertising
Philadelphia, PA
July 1998 – May 2021
Senior Vice President, Creative Director, Digital

Launched the agency’s digital department and was part of the primary new business team. As the digital department lead, with a staff complement of 5+—I supervised and produced projects from concept through production and delivery. The product list included web interface design/consulting, computer-based training, interactive trade show demos, games, screensavers, video animations, and more.

Clients included Clemens Food Group, Sunoco, KFC, Taco Bell, Twirla, Mylabology, Kennedy Health, Greater Philadelphia Select, Philadelphia Streets Department, MDVIP, Meridian Bank, Pivot Physical Therapy, Cano Health, PIDC, The Navy Yard, Center City District, and Regional GI

CoreStates Financial Corporation
Philadelphia, PA
December 1995 – est. July 1998
Assistant Vice President, Multimedia Team Leader, Creative Resources Department

Senior manager of graphics, video, multimedia, and photography departments. Staff complement of 15. Worked with various software developers to redesign and simplify the user experience of various offline applications, such as cash management and check imaging for web-based portals. Directly managed and delivered projects through concept, production, and delivery.

Notable projects included designing and developing the Philadelphia Phantoms and CoreStates Bike Race brand identity, uniforms, and merchandising.

Selected Freelance.

Ché Creative

New York, NY
Designed and developed various social media animated banners assets for Comcast and NBC

Kitchen Table

Brooklyn, NY
Designed and developed various for Madam CJ Walker brand

Intandem Capital Partners

New York, NY
Designed and developed various websites within the company’s portfolio

The Clearbridge Branding Agency

Philadelphia, South Jersey, Chicago
DMGgo, Big Brothers and Big Sisters , Eric Kris Electrical, and XpanseHR

Additional clients include

  • Campari
  • Santa Familia Tequila
  • RowZone Indoor Rowing & Fitness
  • Ardent Credit Union
  • Ketchum Communications
  • Medical Broadcasting Company
  • Smithkline Beecham
  • Rap Snacks, Inc.
  • Pepboys, Inc.
  • Million Man March Inc.­

Relevant Experience

PIDC Marketing Board Member
2015 – 2022

Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies (IAAS) Mentor
2012 – 2014

Education

University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA
May 1996
Continuing education program – GPA 4.0

Art Institute of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA 1992 – 1993
Major: Visual Communications
Specialization: Graphic Design GPA 3.98

Temple University/Tyler School of Arts
Elkins Park, PA 1987 – 1988
Major: Visual Communications

Philadelphia College of Art
Philadelphia, PA Summer 1986 – Fall 1986
Major: Visual Communications