Mike Dobson

About Mike Dobson

As the co-founder and COO of Pop Art Snacks, I bring 12+ years of hands-on experience building a successful CPG brand—from product innovation to brand strategy to national retail placement. I’m passionate about crafting bold, flavor-forward snacks and visually striking branding that resonates with modern consumers.I also lead as the Art Director and Graphic Designer at Optical Pop Designs, a creative studio specializing in CPG branding, packaging, and visual identity. As both a brand owner and designer, I bring a unique perspective on what it takes to create packaging that not only pops on shelf but drives conversion and customer loyalty.Over the years, I’ve helped launch dozens of CPG brands and product lines, supporting everything from logo and packaging design to pitch decks, ecommerce assets, and creative direction. I’m fluent in tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Midjourney, and Leonardo, and I regularly use AI in my workflow to improve speed, scale, and ideation.Prior to launching Pop Art Snacks, I worked as a professional photographer and designer for global clients including Hearst Magazine, JP Morgan, Sony, and Xbox, and authored The Door Book, a visual exploration of global architecture as a metaphor. Looking to collaborate with brands, agencies, or creative teams who need senior-level support with packaging, brand identity, or AI-integrated design systems.

Experience

1. Co-founder COO Brand & Creative Lead

   Pop Art Snacks

   Jul 2011 — Present · Salt Lake City, UT, US

   As co-founder, I led the creative direction and brand development for Pop Art Snacks, helping transform a bold idea into a nationally recognized snack brand. I oversaw all aspects of visual identity—from logo design and packaging to brand voice and shelf presence—ensuring every touchpoint reflected our playful yet premium personality.I directed or personally designed the marketing and social media campaigns, maintaining brand consistency across digital, retail, and promotional materials.I played an integral role in product innovation—contributing to new flavor concepts, brand positioning, packaging development, and launch strategy. This hands-on involvement in R&D allowed me to ensure that every product we launched was not only delicious but visually compelling and strategically aligned with our brand mission.

Education

• FAMU

  Photography, Photography

  1998 — 1999

• University of San Diego

  Bachlors, Humanities with English and Photography

  1993 — 1997

Skills

• Image Manipulation
• Packaging
• Indesign
• Marketing Strategy
• Creative Direction
• After Effects
• Photoshop
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Gourmet
• Sketching
• Typography
• Portrait Photography
• Portraits
• Management
• Interaction Design
• Image Editing
• Photography
• Brand Development
• Pop Culture
• Art
• Concept Design
• Illustration
• Popcorn
• Fashion
• Sales
• Commercial Photography
• Graphic Design
• Adobe Photoshop
• Food Industry
• Dreamweaver
• Illustrator
• Digital Photography
• Art Direction
• Visual Communication
• User Interface Design
• Logo Design
• Brochures
• Painting
• Social Media
• Web Design