Lauren Kisich

Work History

• Character Designer, Storyboard Artist, & Illustrator

  Abbey Roadie Productions

  September 2011 - Present

  Los Angeles, California, United States

  Works in collaboration with a variety of voice actors including Doug Erholtz, Michelle Ruff, and Jamieson Price, as well as popular animation content creators such as Eddsworld, Saberspark, DA Games, JaxBlade, and Chi-Chi.
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  DreamWorks Animation

  May 2022 - November 2023

  
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  Mentee

  Women In Animation

  September 2021 - December 2021

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  Selected to participate as a mentee in the Fall 2021 WIA Mentor Circle program with mentor Ellen Su (Artistic Recruiter at Titmouse Animation).
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  Production / Design Team Manager, Character Designer, Storyboard Artis

  ZOX

  January 2019 - May 2021

  Los Angeles, California, United States

  Built an extensive children’s entertainment brand from the ground up in collaboration with company leadership. Built and led the Design Team through all phases within production pipeline. Created original children’s episodic book series with the Design Team and company leadership, as well as worked on story development alongside award-winning Nickelodeon showrunner Butch Hartman.
  Developed merchandise content and promotional material for brand launch, including toys and paperback books. Also collaborated with licensed educators in the creation and implementation of supplemental elementary educational activities revolving around the new cast of characters – designed with kids always in mind.
  * Collaborated with Design Team to create original characters and environments
  * Delivered daily feedback on Design Team content and led group feedback discussions
  * Communicated daily with company leadership on goals, deadlines, and works in progress
  * Worked alongside task manager to ensure files on company server were well organized and easily accessible to Design Team members
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  Graphic Artist/Production Coordinator, Consumer Products Design

  Jerry Leigh of California

  January 2018 - January 2019

  Los Angeles, California, United States

  Led the creation of numerous licensed designs and full licensed apparel collections for major international consumer retail brands, including Macy’s, Target, Walmart, Ross, Burlington, Kohl’s, and Disney Store. Established key relationships with major entertainment studios and theme parks, including Disney/Disney Parks, Warner Brothers, NBC Universal/Universal Studios, DC Comics, Sanrio, and more. Worked with globally renowned characters and properties: Mickey Mouse & Friends, Disney Villains, Lilo & Stitch, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones, Wonder Woman, Justice League, DC Superhero Girls (2019), Aquaman (2018), Friends (TV), Hello Kitty, DreamWorks’ Trolls, How To Train Your Dragon, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Despicable Me/Minions, Lennon & McCartney, etc. Utilized Illustrator and Photoshop to develop graphics and design collections.
  * Highly proficient in generating artwork in accordance with style guides and licensed property guidelines
  * Developed successful and appealing graphics in alignment with entertainment brand identity
  * Organized and created successful design collections tailored to each major consumer retailer
  * Built a solid foundation of high quality designs, workflow consistency, and strong client trust

• Creative Development/Public Relations/Merchandise

  Britain's Finest, Beatles Tribute Band

  February 2011 - June 2018

  Los Angeles, CA

  Established a foundation for creative collaboration with the globally popular Beatles tribute act, which has toured across the world and on international waters. Directed the organization of a large community event celebrating the rock and roll British Invasion of the 1960s, where the band held a headlining concert. Also created original cartoons based on the band, which were sold on official merchandise. Additionally integrated visual projection content into the band’s live stage shows as part of the immersive Beatles experience.
  
  * Inducted and organized a “’60s British Invasion” local concert with the band, and generated a marketing strategy to publicize and promote the event on campus and in local/digital media
  * Created and designed official band merchandise that was sold at shows and online, generating revenue and driving awareness for the band
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  Graphic Artist, Illustrator, Consumer Products Design

  Juvo+

  April 2017 - December 2017

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  Directed the creation of a widespread variety of consumer products verticals for Amazon’s international marketplace, including children/youth accessories and apparel and event/holiday materials. Oversaw production process from concept to completion.
  
  * Spearheaded conceptualization and final design of artwork translated onto a multitude of consumer goods, ranging from greeting cards to toys to holiday materials and clothing/accessories
  * Developed a intensive vector/graphics library to further advance production for the Design team
  * Pitched successful new product concepts and ideas to the Sales team that were approved for Amazon

• Founder, Instructor

  Inspire Art Program

  2010 - May 2017

  Los Angeles, CA

  Spearheaded an art-based school program for low-income students grades K through 6th, as a means to support the arts in a public academic setting, encouraging creativity where funding for the arts has been cut.
  
  * Led students in drawing lessons to help them understand the fundamentals of shapes and figures in art and character design
  * Brought in guest instructors to assist students in further developing their drawing skills
  

• Animator/Public Relations/Video Content Creator

  King Washington, independent rock group

  January 2012 - March 2017

  Los Angeles, CA

  Developed a strong partnership with the up and coming independent rock group that has garnered national and international attention with their new age blend of rock and folk music. The band recently signed a record deal with The End Records label from New York City, which secured collaboration deals for a number of intensive music video projects, as well as the creation of promotional art.
  
  * Leveraged relationships with key local talent and organized a well-attended concert on the campus of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; developed marketing plan to promote the event on campus
  * Directed and created an ambitious, fully animated music video for the hit song “Animal”
  * Collaborated on an animated/live action hybrid music video for 2017 single “My Reflection”
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  Illustrator/Consumer Products Design - Restaurants / Retail / Casinos

  Lifestyle Brands, LLC

  December 2015 - January 2017

  Greater Los Angeles Area

  * Lead creator of the animated graphics line for apparel and other merchandise for numerous accounts within the Margaritaville franchise, including restaurants, retail stores, casinos, and resorts
  * Collaborated with Sales/Buying teams for multiple major retail accounts such as Sam’s Club and Costco, and steered the teams into new innovative design directions
  * Headed the creation of a wide range of all-new animated graphics, surf and swim designs, children’s designs, and repeat patterns for Jimmy Buffett’s global Margaritaville entertainment brand, along with their exclusive LandShark Lager brand.
  * Created an extensive element library to expedite graphics production for the Design Team
  * Gained proficiency in operating the EDI/PLM system Full Circle in order to assist with creating tech packs and other information to communicate with international and domestic suppliers
  * Started as a freelance artist for the Margaritaville brand in 2015, and then was quickly recruited as a full-time Illustrator in January 2016

• Member of Publicity Team and Management Staff

  DejaView Movie Lounge, School of Film and Television

  August 2014 - April 2015

  Loyola Marymount University

  Utilized passion for film and entertainment in promoting special screenings and events that featured both new and classic films at the school’s premier movie lounge, catering to the collegiate crowd in search of an exclusive theater experience.
  
  * Oversaw all screenings and assisted in organizing special events at the theater
  * Generated daily social advertising content for the DejaView Facebook page
  * Responsible for technical operations of the projection and sound systems
  * Supervised small team that assisted in concessions
  * Monitored guest attendance for each screening
  * Managed all item and finance inventory in concessions before and after each screening

• Animation Intern

  Animax Entertainment

  May 2014 - August 2014

  Los Angeles, CA

  Selected to be the Summer Animation Intern at the Flash-based game and animation studio—founded by renowned comedian Dave Thomas, and home to the Disney Channel/Disney.com web series Where’s My Water?: Swampy’s Underground Adventures as well as a number of animated shorts for NBC’s Community. Also worked on animated projects destined for television and online audiences.
  
  * Assisted in character animation, along with prop design, for a live action/animated hybrid television pilot slated as a new comedy segment for MTV
  
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  Cartoonist

  Los Angeles Loyolan

  December 2013 - May 2014

  Loyola Marymount University - Los Angeles, CA

  Created original comedic cartoon series “Kingdom Animania” that satirized pop culture and college campus life, starring anthropomorphic animals.
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  Camp Counselor

  Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

  June 2009 - July 2012