Jennifer Hoffman Essen

Experience - Professional

Jennifer Essen Design, Designer 2017 - present
Assist clients in designing print and web communications that both reflect their brand and bring visibility to their product or service. Work has included maintaining the website for a retail store, logo re-design, extensive directory of services for homeless youth and adults in LA County, and other promotional materials.

Braille Institute, Associate Director, Annual Giving & Communications 2013 - 2017
Managed annual giving program to raise funds for non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of people with blindness or visual impairment:

  • Managed nationwide direct mail program with over 1 million pieces of mail and over 11,000 new donors acquired each year

  • Developed donor communications, both print and digital

  • Edited and produced multiple newsletters and surveys each year

  • Managed monthly giving program

  • Designed and produced promotional material for donor acknowledgment, capital campaign, and major gift campaigns

Jennifer Essen Design, Designer 2011 - 2013
Assist clients in designing print and web communications that both reflect their mission and goals and bring visibility to their product or service. Design and produced annual reports, websites, email campaigns, promotional material for products, catalogues. Clients included educational non-profits, retail stores and more.

Library Foundation of Los Angeles, Associate Director, Communications & Marketing 2005 - 2011
Responsible for creating and producing all communications for the Foundation which supports the Los Angeles Public Library including:

  • Project Manager of new brand identity, website and promotional material

  • Collaborated with Library staff and outside designers developing promotional and collateral materials for the Foundation-supported Library programs: summer reading clubs and other youth programs

  • Designed all promotional material and an e-mail marketing system

  • Implemented the new brand identity for promotional materials for the ALOUD cultural series

  • Managed a redesign of Foundation website, collaborating with staff, outside designers and developers.

  • Designed and produced signage, collateral and graphics for select exhibitions at the Library

J.Hayes Clothes, Designer 2003 - 2005
J.Hayes Clothes was inspired by a bicycle trip through Vietnam. I saw women wearing their traditional, wide leg pants—reflecting the graceful movement of the waving rice paddy stalks we cycled past. I appreciated the elegance, comfort and practicality of their pants and skirts. I imported fabric from Hoi An and worked with a Vietnamese seamstress here in LA to create wrap around pants, skits and tops. I sold them online.

Sheppard Associates, Senior Communications Consultant 1982 - 1985
Managed the development and production of in-house communications about benefits and compensation for clients such as Crocker Bank, Intel and Union Bank

Experience - Volunteer

Friends In Deed, Board Member focusing on communications and fundraising 2012 - 2014

  • Managed the re-branding of the organization following a name change including a re-designed website

  • Managed, designed and produced promotional and collateral materials for events

Union Station Homeless Services 1999 - 2007
Chair and Assistant Chair for annual event: Evening for the Station

Education

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Bachelor of Science with Honors in Environmental Design

Principia College, Elsah, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Art History

Marlborough School, Los Angeles, CA