Griffin Claes
My name is Griffin Claes, I am a multidisciplinary creative, currently a Senior Designer in Adidas Football Licensed Apparel. I studied Textile and Fashion Design, Entrepreneurship and Material Cultures Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I value creativity, travel, a quality sandwich, problem solving, visibility, clear vision, the first two Godfather films, taste and work ethic above all else. I spend most of my time thinking about bootleg merch, culture and whatever Matty Matheson is cooking up. I strive to be a Swiss army knife with a chainsaw; the chainsaw being graphic design and the ability to tell stories that span across mediums, relevant on a local level as well as on a global scale.
I am passionate about the intersection of sport and culture. The goal is to blend these two in an organic, unexpected, and timeless way day in and day out.
PRESENT
SENIOR DESIGNER LICENSED APPAREL ADIDAS FOOTBALL
-Managing and mentoring a team of designers
-Selling ideas and pitching design solutions to external partners
-Hosting a weekly graphics workshop in order to upskill the team as well as offer opportunities for growth
-Handling overarching topics and processes across multiple functions
-Branding top tier athletes through logo design and signature products
-Collaborating with local markets to create regionally relevant product on a global scale
-Crafting stories for each kit, spanning product, comms and retail
-Creating the future of Adidas football apparel through innovative design
December 2019 - Now
-M4 Manager Level Graphic Designer
-Focused on Footwear for Running/Core/Kids/Neo
-Managing both Inline and Collaboration Graphics from Concept to Tech Pack
-Actively collaborating across the Business and the Globe via Factories, Marketing, Collaboration Partners, Design, Creative Direction
-Work Closely with Color and Materials to achieve the highest possible value
-Contributes to the Creative Direction of not only Running/Core/Kids/Neo but also the overall brand
June 2019- November 2019
-Menswear Graphic Designer
-Focused on Print and Pattern, I created All Over Patterns and placed graphic prints for Apparel and Accessories.
-Providing graphic solutions that fulfill market needs for 4 teams including Knitwear, Wovens, Pants, and Accessories.
January 2019-June 2019
As a Creative Services Intern, I generated designs, trend guides and art direction for clothing, multimedia, branding, packaging and retail needs for both Marvel and major licensing partners like Target and Walmart. I also created lines of merchandise for 2019 San Diego Comic Con, the release of Cloak and Dagger, and various other large-scale creative projects.
October 2018-January 2019
As a creative services freelancer, I worked on branding solutions for the New York brand which included a wide range of projects. I created Theory’s Women’s Spring 2019 lookbook as well as designed graphics for window displays, emails, and social media for the brand’s Spring 2019 campaign.
I also developed a design for the company’s new garment bag as well as tote bag.
May 2018 - September 2018
As the Product Graphics Intern at Nike in the art department of the NBA and Basketball, I designed graphics for 12 projects that are all going to market. The projects I worked on ranged from the Olympics, international collaborations, brand-wide initiatives, the NBA All-Star Weekend, shoes, tees, jerseys, special projects and major player rebrands.
July 2017-August 2017
I worked on a collaboration with Nike, Game Seven Marketing and Max Sansing to create Rise Chicago. I designed two basketball courts, a series of banners, six backboards as a part of the project. Rise Chicago is about giving kids of all ages and skill levels access to the game of basketball. The campaign culminated with the Chi League Finals, played on the courts I helped bring to life on the south side of Chicago.
May 2017- August 2017
I worked closely with world renowned artist, Hebru Brantley as a Creative Intern. I contributed to a number of projects. I contributed to the curation of the artist's latest solo exhibition, Forced Fields using an exact model I made of Elmhurst Art Museum. I designed a capsule collection of t-shirts and sweatshirts that were sold both online and at Elmhurst Art Museum. I worked on Hebru Brand Studios' collaborations with A Bathing Ape, Medicom, and Billionaire Boys Club. I reconfigured the artist's entire website and ecommerce platform to form one succinct site with a digital archive of the artist's work spanning seven years and a newsletter updating 1800 fans and collectors. I developed concept art for an upcoming Universal Studios movie partnered with Jordan Peele.
May 2015-September 2016
During these two summers, I worked for Nike as a Nike Athlete and Sales Associate on the men's and women's floors at one of Nike's largest flagship retail spaces located on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. I created a memorable consumer experience through outstanding customer service, which translated into increased sales. I used my communication and language skills on a daily basis to solve problems with regulars and foreign tourists alike. I was expected to remain poised and professional with celebrities and Nike athletes. I led by example on the sales floor by being knowledgable about all products and always staying busy.
May-September 2016
I worked as a Creative Summer Intern at Virgil Abloh and Don C's RSVP Gallery. As an intern I designed social media campaigns and graphics for the shop. I photographed concerts and cultural events featuring Future, Drake, Danny Brown, and Desiigner. I photographed and edited product shots as well as edited editorial shoots. I contributed to the creative process, scouted locations for shoots, contributed to the styling of editorials and aided in concept development. I managed the company's website and ecommerce platform.
Info
Current: Nuremberg, DE
Origin: Chicago, IL
griffinclaes37@gmail.com
+491704863324