Jan 2020 – Mar 2020 · 2 mos · Chicago, Illinois, United States

• ⭐️ Lead brand strategy workshops and co-creation workshops for clients, designers, strategists, and product owners
• ⭐️ Naming and product research for socially conscious strategic design
• ⭐️ Interviewed staff and recommended process changes for strategic alignment
• ⭐️ Lead remote team workshops
• ⭐️ Offer honest advice and best practices based on 15+ years in the industry
• 💻 Website: firebellydesign.com
• 🔥 Company summary: Firebelly creates positive human experiences through beautiful, useful design.

Jan 2019 – Dec 2019 · 11 mos · Greater Chicago Area

• 🧑 Testimonials:
• "I wanted to say how grateful I am for throwing yourself into our company and culture. I also think you've brought a lot to the company too and have really enjoyed our conversations, your empathetic leadership style, and your positivity and candor; that in particular has been a great example for me for how to be clear and direct whilst also being positive and kind and it's something I feel I'm better at having worked with you."
• Tom Willmot
• CEO, Human Made
• "I'm very grateful to have gotten to know you this year and for having the opportunity to share time together. Most of all, I want to express how much I appreciate you for sharing your light with us. You bring a playfulness to your work and are quick to encourage and celebrate others when you see them doing well or even if they just need a pick-me-up. I've seen and been inspired by the many times where you have taken the lead in getting people together on hangouts or to celebrate team accomplishments."
• Joe McGill
• Engineering Manager, Human Made
• "Lonnie is a really fun and creative colleague always looking for new initiatives and ways to cross collaborate. I learned a lot from him about photography, art & design."
• Nevena Tomovic
• Regional Sales Manager EMEA, Human Made
• "Lonnie excels at many things, but to me, his team spirit really stands out. His ability to drill down to the core of an issue, while remaining fully cognisant and considerate of the humans involved, makes him a natural role model. His professional experience and expertise shine in the light of his clarity of mind, his eloquence, and his down-to-earth leading by example. If success in a team means to lift each other up, you can count on Lonnie’s hand reaching out."
• Caspar Hübinger
• Digital Marketer, Human Made
• 🔥 Company summary: Human Made is an award-winning, global WordPress agency and leading provider of digital experience platforms for enterprise.
• 💻 Websites:
• humanmade.com
• altis-dxp.com

Sep 2018 – Present · 7 yrs 8 mos · Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Latinx artist living and working in Chicago creating artwork of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC for agencies, brands, and galleries. Purchase prints and original artwork or contact for all custom illustrations.
• 💻 Website: lonniedraws.com
• 📥 Email: lonnie@lonniedraws.com
• 🧑Client Testimonials:
• "I love your work. Wow it looks amazing!!!"
• Conchita WURST, Winner of Eurovision, Austria
• "From one artist to another — THANK YOU for being flexible and taking on this adventure with me and the Folsom Street Events Staff. We are super excited to share this labor of love with the world, and super thankful that you were a part of this unprecedented event. Thanks so much for being a part of this."
• Greg Traverso, Art Direction
• Folsom Street Events
• "Such a juggernaut of talent. I appreciate you vastly and can't wait to show your artwork."
• David L., North Carolina
• "I really really love your art and would love to have this painted in my shop."
• Reckless by Ron (commercial client), Los Angeles
• "You are brilliant."
• S. Knox, Montreal
• "Your lineart is newness and originality."
• Katsu Goyard, Toko
• "Your work is amazing. Some of the best artwork I've seen hands down. Honestly, you're a super talented guy."
• Pete H., Scottland
• "Thank you. I love them. It's the first art of myself that I have ever done. I will definitely be coming back for more in the future."
• Jerel S., Germany
• "I got the artwork. It's beautiful I was so happy."
• Markus B.

Sep 2018 – Present · 7 yrs 8 mos · Greater Chicago Area

• ⭐️ Lead brand strategy workshops and co-creation workshops with clients
• ⭐️ Create purpose-driven messaging, crystal-clear brand experiences, and visual systems that convert prospects into clients
• ⭐️ Offer honest advice based on 15+ years in the industry
• 🔥Company summary: We solve business problems with strategic design.
• 💻 Website: harnessworldwide.com
• 📥 Email: lonnie@harnessworldwide.com
• 🧑Testimonials:
• "You have been amazing - the partners and I are so impressed with your organization, communication, your understanding of our platform, your presentations, and the design deliverables. I’ve never been through a process like this and it has been incredible to experience. I will definitely be engaging you for my other company if you’re available of course!"
• Jade Green
• Alta Financial Group
• "Lonnie is an amazing designer with a great personality! He is easy to work with and extremely good at what he does. Lonnie is a rarity in the industry and I absolutely recommend him for any web project!"
• George Skleres
• Riot Games
• "Lonnie is a pleasure to work with. He made sure to research the brand and image of our company so he can better provide us with the direction he wanted. He is professional, punctual, and explains in clear terms every step of the design process. I highly recommend Lonnie for any design needs you may have!"
• Kat C. Bollozos, General Manager
• Clement & Co.
• "Lonnie Tapia is a pleasure to work with. He has a great sense of style and personality that I believe will allow him to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. I not only recommend him and his abilities, but also to those looking to find opportunities with a person of such quality."
• Brian Shire
• Facebook

Mar 2015 – Oct 2018 · 3 yrs 7 mos

• 🧑 Testimonials:
• "Lonnie is the person you want to lead your team to success. From start to finish his dedication to motivate action and strive for excellence is unwavering and contagious. His ability to face any task without intimidation or hesitation inspires calculated risk and facilitates greatness. What seems daunting or unachievable becomes thrilling and challenging with Lonnie at the helm."
• Joshua Blaylock
• Creative Director, Grip
• "Thank you for the hard and thoughtful work you presented. As I said—absolutely spectacular. I am also blown away by the coordination and thoughtfulness on the multitude of details and foresight on layout, planning, messaging, marketing and branding—the whole enchilada."
• John C. Schoser
• Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
• "We really appreciated your formal presentation and look forward to seeing the final product. Special thanks to Lonnie for helping us nail down each and every deliverable for this project. We are very excited!"
• Ashley Heaton, Marketing Director
• Whole Foods Market, Mid-west Division
• "It is not often that an individual embodies this degree of depth, perception, wisdom and proficiency. Lonnie’s contributions to the graphic design world and the digital space are significant and have created value and measurable impact to these focuses and processes."
• Nick Canelake, Global Marketing Director
• Orielle/Milk & Sass Beauty
• 🔥 Company summary: Grip is a design agency. We create brands, campaigns, products and experiences for companies we believe in. Everything we create is built with strategic intention, surprising details, and a whole lot of emotional resonance.
• 💻 Website: hellogrip.com

Nov 2011 – Mar 2015 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Jun 2010 – Sep 2010 · 3 mos

• 🔥 Company summary: Every year, Phoenix Design Week brings together hundreds of creative professionals from across the Southwest for a week-­long celebration of design—a series of presentations, workshops, and social events, all curated to inspire, strengthen, and showcase the Arizona design community.
• 🧑 Testimonials:
• "When I found out I would be working with Lonnie I was super excited! I really respect the fact that my “newbie-just-out-of-school” status didn’t jade him from working with me or treat me differently. He showed a great desire to help, he was always flexible, and worked around the clock to ensure quality. He helped me realize my potential."
• Robert Repta, Contributing Writer
• The Dieline

Feb 2006 – Oct 2011 · 5 yrs 8 mos

• 🧑 Testimonials:
• "Lonnie is an amazing designer. He takes the time to understand the product and corporate goals for which he is designing, he asks excellent questions and follows through. Lonnie has produced unique solutions for the most challenging and technical sites."
• Naomi Garnice
• TP Orthodontics Worldwide
• "Training with Lonnie today really helped bring things full circle. He was prepared, provided us great training guides and was able to answer all our questions. I am pleased to have Lonnie be so helpful during this challenging stage."
• Julie Jabro, Marketing Director
• Compushare
• "Lonnie, I hope you know how much we appreciate your help. We would have been up the creek if it weren’t for these last few weeks. Thank you for always being open to taking more on. It is greatly appreciated!"
• Jami Pomponi Alire, Studio Owner
• Fervor Creative
• 🔥 Company summary: Founded by creative professionals who believe that there is a better way to manage design. You speak directly with decision makers, which means your branding represents you (no matter what the medium), ideas are clearly framed by strategic goals and relationships are built on trust.
• 💻 Website: fervorcreative.com

Aug 2004 – Feb 2006 · 1 yr 6 mos

• ⭐️ Design and code digital experiences and microsites for student recruitment and university revenue.
• ⭐️ Design and branding for student recruitment campaigns and artist events.
• ⭐️ Collaborate with PR team to increase theatre, dance and art museum ticket sales.
• 🔥 Company summary: To position designers, artists, scholars and educators at the center of public life and prepare them to use their creative capacities to advance culture, build community and imaginatively address today’s most pressing challenges. With 4,700+ students, nearly 400 faculty members, 125 program options and a tradition of top-ranked programs, we are committed to redefining the 21st-century design and arts school.

Oct 2003 – Jun 2005 · 1 yr 8 mos

• AIGA brings design to the world, and the world to designers.
• As the profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization for design—with more than 70 chapters and more than 25,000 members—we advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. From content that defines the global practice to events that connect and catalyze, we work to enhance the value and deepen the impact of design across all disciplines on business, society, and our collective future.
• Organize events for Phoenix metro area creatives. Advocate for design in local communities. Contribute to national social media initiatives.

Apr 2001 – Aug 2009 · 8 yrs 4 mos

• Phoenix Comicon is a convention & expo that celebrates Fandom and pop culture.

Apr 2001 – Aug 2004 · 3 yrs 4 mos

• 🧑 Testimonial:
• "Lonnie Tapia is a splendid designer—open-minded and able to interpret and re-interpret visual schemas to suit a project’s requirements. On the personal side, his enthusiasm and sense of humor make him very easy to work with."
• Liz Massey
• Thomson Reuters
• ⭐️ Design and branding for GLBT community publication
• ⭐️ Photoshoot art direction
• ⭐️ Ad creative
• ⭐️ Pitch story ideas to editorial team
• ⭐️ Event design