About Me

Donna Hobson

I am an award-winning, highly skilled graphic designer/
creative director with more than 25 years of corporate and government graphic design experience and 15 years of management experience in non-profit/higher education. As an enthusiastic partner to diverse clients,
I have honed a unique ability to understand my client’s vision that makes the creative process—from conception to finished product—a smooth one. I am a strong leader who is also able to work as part of a team and who is skilled at ensuring the final product remains on brand and meets the expectations of my client.

Having designed numerous award-winning projects,
I always seek the opportunity to continue a career in management and creative graphic design.

Proficient in:

Adobe CC 2023 Suite — Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom,
and Premiere Pro
Microsoft Office
QuarkXpress
Wix
Canva
MailChimp
Portfolio and Photoshelter
Digital photography
FileMaker Pro 12
Macintosh and Windows platforms

Awards:

Admissions Marketing Report Awards (2001–2003), IABC Awards (2002–2003), IABC Best of Show Award (2004), CASE Awards (2001, 2006 – 2009), Catholic Press Awards (2007–2009, 2010, 2013, and 2017).

Experience:

Creative Director/Graphic Designer

Donna Hobson Design, LLC

2017 – Present

Provided freelance graphic design/marketing support to a variety of organizations. Projects included annual reports, variable data direct mail marketing, and logo designs for clients which included USADF, World Neighbors, Voices Festival Productions, Mosaic Theater Company, The Catholic University of America, Academy of Hope, Save the Redwoods League, and others.

Creative Design Specialist

The U.S. African Development Foundation

2019 – 2022

Under a government contract, worked as the lead graphic designer and marketing specialist for the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). Projects included social media assets, electronic newsletters, website management, promotional fliers, fact sheets, slide decks, annual report design, and minor video editing as needed.

Director of Publications and
Digital Assets/Lead Graphic Designer

Mosaic Theater Company—Washington, D.C.

2017 – July 2018

Created publications (playbills and booklets), produced promotional items (large format posters, postcards, fliers), maintained and enhanced the company website (mosaictheaer.org), designed and distributed weekly electronic newsletters, and provided attractive digital assets for social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).

Acted as the main graphic designer for the company
Worked as a part of Mosaic Theater’s marketing and communications team to promote eight plays, four workshops, and a special event reading per season
Worked with the Mosaic team to ensure positive public presence and promoted community outreach.
Maintained the publications and digital assets budget

Director of Publications and Design Services/Creative Director/Graphic Designer

The Catholic University of America—Washington, D.C.

2005 – 2017

Managed and served as the creative director to two full-time designers, one freelance designer, a writer/editor, and the University photographer to fulfill the graphic needs of the University’s schools, departments, programs, and the president’s office, from conception to delivery. Also, served as the lead graphic designer. The office completed an average of 300 multi-piece digital and print projects each fiscal year.

Creative Director — Office of Marketing and Communications

Wayne State University—Detroit, Michigan

1999 – 2005

Art director promoted to creative director. Managed a staff of two graphic designers, two photographers, and a production coordinator. Worked with internal writers to produce publications and advertisements that reached an outside audience.

Senior Graphic Designer — Electronic Data Systems (EDS)

Southfield, Michigan

1993 – 1999

Head Genigraphics Artist

Jands, Incorporated—Silver Spring, Maryland

1989 – 1993

Senior Genigraphics Artist — Coca-Cola USA

Atlanta, Georgia

1986 – 1989

Education:

Bachelor of Arts

Spelman College—Atlanta, Georgia

Professional Affiliations:

AIGA Washington, D.C.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)