Eileen Leeds
Visual Designer
646-283-9053 | 3leeds@gmail.com | Fairfield, CT 06824 | LinkedIn | eileenleeds.com
Summary
Senior Visual & Information Design Leader with 20+ years driving visual design systems, content architecture, and cross-platform publishing strategies for major media organizations. Proven track record scaling digital and print products for audiences ranging from 5K to 1.5M+ users. Expert at bridging editorial workflows, CMS design governance, and accessibility standards to increase engagement and streamline production pipelines.
Core Competencies
Design & Strategy: Visual Design Systems, Information Architecture, Art & Creative Direction, Content Strategy, Brand Guidelines & Governance, Accessibility Standards.
Leadership & Execution: Cross-Functional Workflow Integration, Vendor & Partner Management, Editorial Staff Training, Production Optimization.
Tools & Artifacts: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Captivate), Figma, Data Visualization, Generative AI Tools.
Professional Experience
DeSales Media — Brooklyn, NY & Remote
Media and marketing group serving 1.5M+ parishioners across 185 parishes.
Design & Production Manager (2019 – 2020)
Publication Modernization & Strategy: Directed end-to-end design overhaul of 100+ year-old publication The Tablet; created high-readability layout templates and trained editorial staff on Adobe CS workflows to eliminate production bottlenecks.
New Product Launch: Co-created and launched The Tablet Jr. within 2 months in collaboration with educational media directors, establishing an ongoing bonus asset for core news subscriptions.
Revenue Handoff & Optimization: Standardized weekly ad placement workflows with sales teams across regular and seasonal sections targeting an audience reach of 1.5M parishioners.
Digital & Print Vendor Governance: Partnered with online production teams for smooth digital transitions and evaluated print facility efficiencies with News Corp and Advance Publications.
Hearst Connecticut Media — Norwalk, CT & Remote
Multiplatform news enterprise publishing 8 daily and 13 weekly properties.
Senior Designer for Region (2014 – 2018)
Design System & Template Governance: Onboarded newly acquired daily news properties using corporate and in-house template systems while unifying visual identity across 8 weekly publications.
Data Visualization & Breaking News: Translated complex local/national datasets into accessible infographics; served as daily art director coordinating breaking news visual priorities with key editorial stakeholders.
Asset Libraries & Accessibility: Produced daily libraries of styled graphic elements optimized for digital device accessibility and mobile readability.
New York Daily News — New York, NY
Top national news outlet reaching multi-million digital and print audiences.
Senior Information Designer (2000 – 2013)
Enterprise News Experience: Designed visual layouts for major enterprise series (e.g., Child Obesity, War Overseas) to maximize cross-platform comprehension.
Diagrammatic Storytelling: Created explanatory breaking news presentations under tight daily deadlines for local, national, and international audiences.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Partnered with sports, business, lifestyle, and advertising divisions as the newsroom expanded digital content streams.
Other Experience (Pre-2000)
Red Cross, Blood Services (Southeast Region) — Savannah, GA
Communications Manager (1997 – 1999)
Managed tri-state public relations, promotional design, and press releases; upgraded regional communications management to Adobe workflows.
Education & Training
BS in Illustration — Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY, New York, NY
Instructional Design Graduate Coursework — Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Certifications & Professional Development:
Adobe Captivate Certified (2019) Instructional Design software
General Assembly: UX Design Circuit, Data Analysis Circuit, Tableau
Ongoing Design & Tech Training: O'Reilly Media (Subscriber since 2012), Maven.com, School of Visual Arts
Awards & Recognition
Catholic Press Awards — Third Place (2020): Illustration — Catholic Self-Care (The Tablet)
Society of Professional Journalists (CTSPJ):
First Place (2014): Informational Graphics — Ruins Reborn Series
First Place (2014): Page One — Ruins Reborn Series
Second Place (2017): Page One — Trump's Supporters
Associated Press Awards — Layout Winner (2003): D.C. Beltway Sniper Caught (NY Daily News)