About
Carmine Ragno
Freelance Art Director & Designer | Owner
Freelance Art Director & Designer | Owner
An accomplished creative and design professional who’s worked for leading agencies such as
Wunderman Marketing and BBDO Toronto as Head of Retail.
A 20yr industry veteran, specializing in promotions and design including retail, grocery, food, drink, and QSRs. Experiences include 360 campaigns, branding, P.O.S. package design, in-store display
design, digital and social media, Powerpoint Design, event marketing, direct mail and illustration.
Wunderman Marketing and BBDO Toronto as Head of Retail.
A 20yr industry veteran, specializing in promotions and design including retail, grocery, food, drink, and QSRs. Experiences include 360 campaigns, branding, P.O.S. package design, in-store display
design, digital and social media, Powerpoint Design, event marketing, direct mail and illustration.
EXPERIENCES:
Remote Freelance Art Director and Designer
June 2014 - Present
June 2014 - Present
Develop creative concepts and visual designs for print and digital aligned with client briefs and brand objectives. Provide guidance and leadership to ensure the artistic integrity and cohesive visual identity of projects. Work closely with clients to understand their vision, requirements, and feedback throughout the project. Coordinate with remote teams, including graphic designers, illustrators, and other creatives, to execute projects collaboratively. Stay updated with industry trends, technologies, and best practices to bring innovative solutions to clients. Maintain clear and professional communication with clients and team members via email, and video calls.
BBDO Worldwide (Toronto)
Head of Design
March 2007 - April 2014
BBDO Worldwide (Toronto)
Head of Design
March 2007 - April 2014
Design Director. Lead a group of designers and a writer in a quick turnaround Design group. Responsibilities included: Hands on Designing, Team management. Oversee designers. Work collaboratively with account teams, clients, photographers, illustrators, re-touchers and production to achieve efficient and effective results. Creative and design of various Retail POP elements including menu design, logo design, package design, displays, banners, posters, t-shirts, window clings, direct mail, flyers & brochures. Other responsibilities included, sketches, internal and client presentations, photo shoots, developing pre-production documents, working closely with account teams, production teams and clients to deliver effective results on time and on budget. Clients included: Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Montana’s, Kelsey’s, Mercedes, Frito Lay
and Starbucks.
and Starbucks.
Wunderman Marketing
Senior Art Director
Promotions • Retail POS • Direct Mail
August 1998 - March 2007
Senior Art Director
Promotions • Retail POS • Direct Mail
August 1998 - March 2007
• Report to the Creative Director Creating, managing and overseeing projects from initial concept to final artwork
• Work closely with writers, Jr. Designers and production to insure accurate deliverables Work closely with photographers and illustrators to achieve maximum appeal
• Art Direct photo shoots in Toronto and Los Angeles
• RSVP 2004 Gold Award for Kinder Surprise International Program
• Art Director for the CMA 2000 RSVP Awards campaign
Clients: ARCO (ampm convenience stores), Ford of Canada, Ferrero Rocher,
Kinder Surprise, Rogers Communications, Canadian Marketing Association,
Kraft Canada
• Work closely with writers, Jr. Designers and production to insure accurate deliverables Work closely with photographers and illustrators to achieve maximum appeal
• Art Direct photo shoots in Toronto and Los Angeles
• RSVP 2004 Gold Award for Kinder Surprise International Program
• Art Director for the CMA 2000 RSVP Awards campaign
Clients: ARCO (ampm convenience stores), Ford of Canada, Ferrero Rocher,
Kinder Surprise, Rogers Communications, Canadian Marketing Association,
Kraft Canada
Firstcom Marketing
Art Director/Studio Designer
Promotions • Retail POS
Art Director/Studio Designer
Promotions • Retail POS
April 1996 - August 1998
• Report to the Creative Director and ACD’s
• Create and manage projects
• Computer illustration and layout designs
• Prepared creative files for final output
Clients: Arco, Burger King, Irving Oil, Ford, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Surprise
• Report to the Creative Director and ACD’s
• Create and manage projects
• Computer illustration and layout designs
• Prepared creative files for final output
Clients: Arco, Burger King, Irving Oil, Ford, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Surprise
Design Partners
Studio Designer
September 1993 - May 1995
Studio Designer
September 1993 - May 1995
• Report to the Studio Manager
• Prepared Package Design files for final output
TESTIMONIALS:
"Carm is fabulously talented, an amazing collaborator and partner. His design ideas and art direction have been a real asset to his collaboration with us at Collective IQ. We love working with Carm"
– Natalie Serkin
Leading the way in Marketing collaboration @ Collective IQ
• Prepared Package Design files for final output
TESTIMONIALS:
"Carm is fabulously talented, an amazing collaborator and partner. His design ideas and art direction have been a real asset to his collaboration with us at Collective IQ. We love working with Carm"
– Natalie Serkin
Leading the way in Marketing collaboration @ Collective IQ
"I’ve worked with Carmine for many years, he’s a true collaborator and a great guy to work with. A skilled designer with a keen eye, he has been in the business long enough to become a guru in the Food sector and an expert in Retail and Promotion. Carm loves what he does and this shows in his graphic design. A highly considered leader, he gets clients and designers and he’s always respectful of other designer stiles. He’s your man if you are looking for creative that stands out."
– Fabio Nagarano
Creative Director @ Publicis Hawkeye.
"Carmine is one of the rare breed of AD that can actually draw!! Very fluid from concept to design and a delight to work with. Many happy days spent on demanding projects working together and always with humour and wit!"
– Douglas Bradshaw
President @ Bradshaw Photography Inc.
– Fabio Nagarano
Creative Director @ Publicis Hawkeye.
"Carmine is one of the rare breed of AD that can actually draw!! Very fluid from concept to design and a delight to work with. Many happy days spent on demanding projects working together and always with humour and wit!"
– Douglas Bradshaw
President @ Bradshaw Photography Inc.
"Carmine Ragno is a driven Creative Professional and his positive work ethic is truly contagious in the workplace. He understands the client, their business and gets to the core of the communication initiative to deliver work that is powerful in order to achieve the necessary response. He continues to raise the bar on the quality of his work with consistency. Carm is just fun to be around and it was a priviledge to work with him at Wunderman."
– Nik Prietus
Screenwriter | Story Development | Media Arts
– Nik Prietus
Screenwriter | Story Development | Media Arts