Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com

Hi, I’m Kelsey. Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com

I am an award-winning creative director and graphic designer with nearly 20 years of experience in work that connects visual excellence with clear communication. I’m drawn to work that lives at the intersection of useful and beautiful, approaching every project with a strong combination of big-picture thinking and attention to detail. I have taken on leadership roles and responsibilities for over five years, guiding creative work and the teams producing it with empathy and proactivity.

I’m based in Los Angeles, CA, but love experiencing new cities — especially ones with great public transit! — and revisiting favorites like Berlin, Cannes, and New York.

Please get in touch if you’d like to work together!

Professional Profile

Kelsey currently serves as Design Director at the internationally renowned entertainment publication The Hollywood Reporter, where she provides top-level design direction and hands-on creative work for all of the publication’s digital editorial products, special awards-season content (print and digital), and international film festival daily magazines. Her portfolio also includes budget projection and adherence, workflow guidance, and project management.

Kelsey has been promoted frequently over the last decade-plus at THR, ambitiously requesting and owning new responsibilities. Her current role is the result of dedicated advocacy for a stronger focus on digital design at the publication. Since shifting much (but not all) of her focus to digital at The Hollywood Reporter, Kelsey has designed and managed the visual direction of a relaunched THR.com, which engages over 15 million readers monthly, as well as overhauling the design of THR’s social media channels with over 10 million followers.

Kelsey’s work has been awarded and recognized by multiple organizations including the Society of Publication Designers, ASME, and the Los Angeles Press Club.

Outside of THR, Kelsey has designed material for brands including Reebok, Focus Features, Women in Film (WIF), ConvertKit, and more. She expands her creative skills and expertise by initiating projects that integrate design with data collection and research, web development, and political advocacy.

Kelsey began her career in entertainment advertising, serving as an art director on pitches and final art for film, TV, and music clients. She designed pieces for Warner Bros. Records, HBO, Magnolia Pictures, IFC, Fox, A&E, KCET, TBS, and more. Kelsey earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Connect

📨 Email
🔗 LinkedIn
📷 Instagram
🐦 Twitter

📌 Pinterest
📚 Goodreads 
🎵 Apple Music    
🎬 Letterboxd

Are you an illustrator who would like to share your work? Add your info here!

Professional Experience + Accomplishments

Design Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
June 2022 – present

Creative Director/Graphic Designer

FREELANCE Los Angeles, CA
February 2012 – present

Deputy Design Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
July 2019 – June 2022

Senior Managing Art Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
April 2018 – July 2019

Art Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
September 2015 – April 2018

Associate Art Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
July 2014 – September 2015

Assistant Art Director

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
January 2013 – July 2014

Freelance Designer

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Los Angeles, CA
August 2012 – January 2013

Designer

GRAVILLIS, INC. Los Angeles, CA
February 2011 – February 2012

Art Director

BPG Los Angeles, CA
August 2009 – February 2011

Graphic Designer

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC. Cal Poly State University
September 2008 – June 2009

Graphic Designer

CAL POLY CONTINUING EDUCATION San Luis Obispo, CA
January 2007 – April 2008

Awards + Press

SPD Merit Honor
 
 
Los Angeles Press Club awards and nominations for best page layout, best magazine issue design, best illustration
 

Technical Skills + Software

Adobe InDesign, PhotoShop, Illustrator, XD, and Bridge; K4, WordPress, Ceros, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides; Airtable, basic HTML and CSS, PageSuite

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art & Design

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY San Luis Obispo, CA
June 2009, Magna Cum Laude, concentration in graphic design

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Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com
Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com
Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com
Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com
Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com
Info — kelsey stefanson — creative direction + graphic design — yeskelsey.com