Melissa R. Holmes

About Melissa R. Holmes

Hello,I’m Melissa R. Holmes, from HelloMRHolmes.com. A seasoned Strategic Creative Leader currently spearheading the creative vision at Melissa & Doug. With a robust background in Consumer Packaged Goods spanning various industries—Kitchen, Laundry, Candles, Toys, Video Games, and Food & Beverage—I bring over 18 years of expertise to the forefront.My current role involves steering the global creative strategy for Melissa & Doug, ensuring a cohesive brand aesthetic across diverse touchpoints. I own the end-to-end creative process, from conceptualization to production, managing project flow to ensure timely delivery. As a Creative Team leader, I foster collaboration, guide talent growth, and lead impactful brainstorm sessions.My proficiency extends to diverse channels, from sales and marketing assets to trade show booth designs. I excel in crafting and evolving brand style guides, coordinating seamlessly with agency partners for global brand communications. Additionally, I drive digital campaign asset development, manage creative testing initiatives, and integrate digital asset management systems for efficiency.Beyond my corporate endeavors, I’m passionate about dimensional creativity. When not crafting captivating designs, you’ll find me building wood furniture or other things in my workshop or assisting home contractors with 3D visuals. My portfolio at provides a glimpse into my multifaceted projects.

Experience

1. Director - Creative Marketing

   Melissa & Doug

   May 2018 — Present

   Strategic Creative Leader at Melissa & Doug with expertise in:Creative Strategy:Overseeing global creative strategy and advancing the visual aesthetic for the Melissa & Doug brand. Ensuring a consistent brand aesthetic across all touchpoints.Design Mastery Across Channels:Owning the creation of sales, marketing, and E-commerce assets, from site design to trade show booth designs.End-to-End Creative Process:Guiding the entire creative process, from brief to production, and managing project flow for timely delivery.Style Guide Creation & Agency Coordination:Leading the evolution of the brand style guide and coordinating seamlessly with agency partners for global brand communications.Digital Marketing & Creative Testing:Steering digital campaign asset development and managing creative testing initiatives for optimal results.Concepting and Communication Excellence:Leading creative brainstorm sessions and presenting ideas visually and verbally.Creative Team Collaboration & Impact:Effectively managing in-house and freelance talent to foster collaboration and deliver impactful results.Talent Leadership & Growth:Evaluating, recruiting, and setting performance goals for the creative team. Proactively contributing to team growth and learning.Digital Assets Management System (DAM):Deploying and leading the DAM system for efficient creation, metadata upload, and streamlined asset distribution.E-commerce Integration Specialist:Driving Salsify system development, managing cross-platform syncing, and spearheading international expansion.Areas of Focus: • Content syndication to Consumer & Retail E-commerce • Photo & Video Studio Management • Brick and Mortar Retail Design for Signage and Merchandising • Trade-show • Internal and External Events • Digital Asset Management System • Product Information Management

Education

• California State University, Northridge

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Graphic Design

  2007 — 2010

Skills

• Indesign
• Illustrator
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Sketching
• Typography
• Showroom Design
• Art Direction
• Concept Development
• Graphics
• Creative Direction
• Retail Packaging
• Adobe Indesign
• Image Editing
• Packaging
• Blister Designs
• Photography
• Brand Development
• Image Manipulation
• Adobe Photoshop
• Layout
• Toys
• Adobe Illustrator
• Dielines
• Graphic Design
• Photoshop
• Logo Design
• Mac
• Package Design
• Art
• Concept Design