About Me + Contact

Hey, you. Thanks for being here.

 
 
 

I’m a Visual Designer & Lover of nature, color, form, food + beverage who thrives on solving creative challenges through strategic brand storytelling and engaging communications. I specialize in :

 

New branding + rebranding

packaging design systems

print + digital marketing

illustration + lettering

photography art direction

merchandise design systems

brand development + management

audits + strategy

creative problem solving

 

play songs in each category + vibe with me !

🎶 * 🎶

 
 
 

Quick BKGD Info.


based in california *

santa ynez valley —
buellton

If you are unfamiliar with the area, it is the gorgeous valley behind the Santa Barbara mountain range that’s studded with oak trees, vineyards and wide open space. I first visited ten years ago and fell in love with it. While I am still adjusting to non-city life I feel lucky to live amongst so much natural beauty.

previously san francisco —
sunset district

I spent twelve glorious, exhausting, mind-opening, foggy, enriching and exciting years in San Francisco. I had an apartment in the Sunset District, which was practically the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It did have beautiful sunsets though. I commuted downtown every week that I lived there to go to school or work, minus during the pandemic where I stayed in my frigid apartment instead. Being in the energy and motion of the city all of those years pushed me to grow in ways I would have never imagined. I will be forever grateful to that city for everything I learned there and if I start to think about it too much I’ll probably start crying.

agency experience *

STERLING BRANDS —
DESIGNER

My first job out of college was a complete eye opener to the massive world of CPG. During my time here I was constantly thinking about : design strategy, appetite appeal through photography / type / color, shelf impact, brand awareness and time management. I was on my toes at all times to whip out anything anyone was asking for within a moments notice. I’m so grateful to have learned as much as I did there and that I get to see my work on grocery store shelves and in people’s shopping carts.

STRANGER & STRANGER —
INTERN

I absolutely idolized their wine and liquor packaging when I was in school. It was the only place I really wanted to intern at after I graduated — so I did. They taught me the value in finding unique sources of inspiration to tell a brand story like no other. An intro into the world of wine and liquor. I will forever brag that I was able to work there.

trained in san francisco *

academy of art university —
BFA SCHOOL OF graphic design

I made a life changing decision for myself at the tender age of 17 to move to San Francisco and go to the Academy of Art University so I could learn what Graphic Design even was. To my surprise, I actually excelled at it and fell in love with every aspect of visual design. I started to see the world through a very different lens and learned how I could communicate information using emotional strategy. I really hustled during my time here — I was constantly being pushed mentally, physically and emotionally in an effort to keep improving and growing as a Designer and independent young adult. Living and working in San Francisco instilled a drive in me that has been there since the day I started design school and has never left. Which is mostly fueled by the accrued amount of student debt, but a drive nonetheless!

 

Categories I’ve Wrapped My Mind Around


let’s get some groceries *

  • MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE + YOGURT

  • canned FRUITs, VEGETABLEs + beans

  • FRUIT CUPS + baby food

  • FROZEN APPETIZERS + ENTRÉES

  • prepared MEAL KITS

  • deli MEATs + cheese

  • FRESH, FROZEN + fried CHICKEN

  • olives + pickled products

  • VINEGArs

  • POTATO CHIPS

  • ICE CREAM, CHOCOLATEs + desserts

  • morsels + cookie dough

  • WINE + spirits

  • coconut + sparkling water

  • COFFEE

I grew up in 1990’s Las Vegas, where pre-packaged food and beverages were heavily marketed and readily available in grocery stores everywhere. I had become so familiar with the power of brand perception + consumer behavior that it just made sense for me to get into the CPG industry. I’ve had the most fun designing within the food + beverage world and get kick out of seeing my work in the wild.


let’s get all up in your business *

  • logo design + brand guidelines

    Create new brands + rebrand existing

  • packaging design systems

    Design a packaging system for your product portfolio

  • business cards + stationery system

    A reflection of your business + team members

  • signage + in-store displays

    New representation of your brand

  • branded apparel + merchandise

    A strategic series of branded apparel + accessories

  • Print + digital communications

    Design + art direction for print + digital marketing

  • retail packaging + dtc shipping

    The final touch in the packaging process

  • menu + invitation design

    Staying on-brand + getting people excited

  • photography art direction

    Align photography + videography with brand goals

  • website art + content direction

    Design key pages + art direction for web developers

  • competitive audits + brand strategy

    Assess specific categories + develop a strategy

  • production mechanical files

    Set up art files for print + merchandise production

A brand rollout can extend to a number of marketing and merchandise items you would want to have to ensure a consistent visual language across your brand new brand. This is where the brand gets to grow beyond the product and into a more complete system to appeal to consumers and enhance brand perception in a variety of ways.

 

If you have 99 design problems I will have a solution for each one

If you have 99 design problems I will have a solution for each one

 
 

A Lil About Me


aspirations *

  • create beauty with purpose every day

  • learn something new every day

  • seek new experiences every year

past life *

  • born in Las vegas, baby

  • teen years in burbank + LA

  • twenties in san francisco

zodiac signs *

  • LIBRA SUN ☉

  • libra MOON ☾

  • LEO RISING ↑


favorite places to be *

  • marin headlands coast

  • monterey — carmel — big sur

  • beaches in hawaii

favorite scents *

  • lavender — rosemary — roses

  • really good bread

  • sautéed alliums in a fat

favorite food + drink *

  • blue cheese steak + cab sauv

  • lemony chicken milanese + rosé

  • hot dogs, potato salad + coors

 
 

What Co–Workers Have Said…


about working with me *

  • positive attitude + calm demeanor

  • good listener who applIes objectives thoroughly

  • very strong work ethic

  • resourceful + able to solve issues independently

  • has a willingness to learn

  • great capacity to retain project details

  • adapts well to change

  • solid technical skills, efficiency + organization

  • FILES ARE CLEAN + EASY TO USE

  • jumpS IN ON A PROJECT with a helpful attitude

about my work *

  • work is strategic, on–brief, beautiful + memorable

  • extremely talented with creative, insightful ideas

  • refined design sensibility

  • amazing sense of typography, proportion + color

  • dedicated to her work + teams

  • especially adept at crafting compelling typography

  • incredible eye for detail

  • striking color palettes exude personality + emotion

  • graspS direction quickly + hitS the ground running

  • very valued member of the creative team

 
 
 

Tell me your thoughts, dreams, plots & schemes

Tell me your thoughts, dreams, plots & schemes

*

megankearney.ca@gmail.com

 
 
 

 
 
 

lil me, writing my name in MS Paint circa 1997