Michael Lee
About
Michael Lee is from Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Michael works in the following industries: "Fine Art", "Consumer Goods", and "Design". Michael is currently Senior Art Director at Open Road Brands, LLC., located in Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Michael also works as Artist/Designer/Business owner at Michael Lee Illustration and Design, a job Michael has held since Jan 2000. In Michael's previous role as a Innovation Leader at Hallmark Cards, Michael worked in until Mar 2020. Prior to joining Hallmark Cards, Michael was a Creative Director at Hallmark Cards and held the position of Creative Director at Kansas City, Missouri Area. Prior to that, Michael was a Senior Art Director at Hallmark Cards from Mar 2015 to Feb 2016. Michael started working as Innovation Leader - Creative Strategist at Hallmark Cards in Sep 2014. From Oct 2011 to Sep 2014, Michael was Product Development Manager at Hallmark Cards. Prior to that, Michael was a Retail Product Development Manager - Keepsakes at Hallmark Cards from Jun 2008 to Oct 2011. Michael started working as Art Director of Party Innovation at Hallmark Cards in Apr 2007.
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Michael Lee's current jobs
Illustration, Graphic design, and freelance creative for various clients.
Michael Lee's past jobs
Responsible for developing a pipeline of innovative programs and consumer centric solutions to grow the greetings business. Lead the stimulus creation for research activities (qualitative and quantitative) and storyboarding of consumer experiences for new products. Regularly lead successful brainstorming and ideation sessions with multi-disciplinary teams.
Led creative strategy and product ideation for new product development of Hallmark branded gift solutions to be sold in Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. Oversaw Art Directors as they executed seasonal gift programs making sure all products were on schedule and on budget. Driving a big white minivan to Bentonville to pitch new concepts to Walmart buyers was a regular part of the role. Jealous much?
I spent most of each day in this role trying to think up and develop new products that were so unique that Mass Retailers couldn't find them off-shelf at an Asian vendor. Along with my editorial partner and creative team I brainstormed new ideas for some part of almost every day. It was a blast! I also led a team of designers, editorial, electrical engineers, industrial designers and PAs to get programs executed. I addition, I lead the development of trade show booth design and collateral marketing materials.
Leading creative strategy and product ideation for new product development of Hallmark branded gift solutions to be sold in the mass channel. Consumer insight based product development was a must. The key focus of this role was innovative seasonal key items that often used sound, interactivity and technology across a wide range of product formats including plush, molded plastic, ceramics and other hardlines.
Creative product development for seasonal and everyday gifts, plush, ornaments and kids collections. Experience selling in programs and products to Walmart, CVS and Walgreens. Commercializing innovative products and new product development for mass retailers were a key focus of the role.
Led the development of Hallmark's Keepsakes Ornaments from concept to retail shelf. Extensive experience working with in-house and freelance sculptors using both traditional and digital sculpting. Partnered with multiple vendors in Asia on all aspects of product development but primarily focusing on molded plastics and ceramics.
Responsible for developing a pipeline of innovative programs and consumer centric solutions to grow the kids party business. Lead the stimulus creation for research activities (qualitative and quantitative). Developed road maps of future products and experiences through migration mapping and consumer insight development work.
Lead a team of creatives in the development of designed party product from concept through production in Asia. Product examples included 3d sculpted favors, shaped piñatas, shaped balloons, paper engineered centerpieces and core party formats. This position included extensive involvement with key licensors including Disney, Marvel, WB, Lucas and others.