ACES Design has been in business since 2000. Our team offers decades of experience with turning strategies and plans into compelling work that endures and achieves results.We are small, reliable and resourceful. We are dedicated to making a difference in the work we do. No matter how large or small, we are attentive to your needs and provide the greatest consideration to all facets of client relationships. We are professional and approachable, ensuring that you feel comfortable and included throughout the Design with Strategy process. Erin Skehan Art Director, Partner Once Erin received her BFA from Maine College of Art, she was immediately hired by an elite New York design firm. During her career as a graphic designer for two of New York’s top firms, Lister Butler Inc. and Bessen, Tully and Lee, Erin created identity standards and marketing materials forclients such as Sprint and Mastercard. This intense exposure to the New York design scene afforded Erin an opportunity to meet many founders of design influences and to gain a high level of commercial-design insight. While this experience was invaluable, Erin wanted to push her boundaries by working for a design firm on the West Coast. In 1998, she joined Eller Media/Clear Channel in San Francisco as an art director and delved into, outdoor advertising. For Erin, the challenge of attracting consumer attention within a 5 to 8-second window of opportunity was an exciting new angle to understand and incorporate into her design skill-set. While at Eller, Erin was given the task to develop a public service outreach program to the non- profit, civic and charitable organizations that ordinarily do not have funds for advertising or media placement. Part of the program was to develop brochures and mailers for distribution to all qualifying organizations. Successful outdoor campaigns where created with the following organizations: Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, Camp Fire Boys andGirls and Kids to Kids campaign against tobacco. "At ACES I have direct designer-to-client relationships on all projects. This directness facilitates clear communication, total understanding of client needs, and, in the end, highly effective final products." —Erin Skehan To ACES Design, Erin brings a coast-to-coast corporate sensibility, diverse advertising and traditional design background, along with creative problem solving techniques that match design to strategy through the graphic design services of branding and marketing initiatives. Alan Claude Creative Director and Partner Alan Claude is an award winning graphic artist who has been producing materials, including illustrations for identity, advertising and the web, for over 12 years. As the Creative Director, Alan is responsible for the design of graphics, illustration and Photoshop manipulations. Alan created key graphics for Microsoft and beer logos for the historic Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco. His philosophy is based on a common sense approach to problem solving and his ability to simplify strategic objectives while creating the supporting graphics. He is an expert in software programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, GoLive and InDesign. "In my illustrations I focus on shape and form—exaggerated perspectives with a sense of motion. What inspires me is capturing a moment in time in a unique, dramatic and thoughtful way." —Alan Claude Kristin Chase Duffy Strategist Kristin is a 12-year marketing veteran known for the integrated skill set she employs in helping organizations maximize marketing opportunities by developing strategic solutions to business problems. As a strategist, Kristin leads client relationships and manages business and marketing strategies. Most recently, as founding partner and Director of Business Affairs of MainelyKids.com Online Magazine, Kristin set strategies, drove business and community development, and supervised advertising and marketing activities required to meet business and revenue objectives. Previously, Kristin served as Director of Marketing at KANA, a $150 million CRM software vendor, where she oversaw internal and external teams of marketing and creative professionals on a range of marketing projects. Kristin previously led marketing communication efforts for PTC, a Product Development and Lifecycle Management Software Company. While at The Cambridge Hospital and Cone Inc., she participated in a variety of brand and identity development and public and media awareness campaigns. Kristin holds an MBA and BA degree in Communications from Bentley College. A native Mainer, Kristin returned home in 2003 where she lives with her husband and two children. She hopes to make a difference in her community through her professional and volunteer work at organizations like the Kids First Center. " I really enjoy partnering with clients to learn more about their business so that we are able to create and deliver the best possible solution that helps them meet their goals.” —Kristin Chase Duffy 2007 ©ACES Design