Michigan University School of Public Health
November 15, 2024INDEPENDENT WELDING DISTRIBUTORS COOPERATIVE
We’re a cooperative that was formed in 1994 to leverage the strengths of independent welding distributor members across North America. Actually, IWDC's roots go back even further to 1948, when an association of distributors (IWDA) was founded that decades later merged with another to become the cooperative from which we grew.
IWDC Member companies serve a wide range of industries. The common denominator is that these industries look to us for industrial, specialty, and medical gases as well as related equipment, hard goods, and consumables. End-use customers served by our Members benefit from having the unparalleled expertise of a local Member distributor who has access to national-scale purchasing and marketing programs.
„Independent. Cooperative.”
Job Posting
Key Objectives of Position
Creative Services Manager's role is to support all facets of marketing & sales communications by designing high quality and attractive print and on-line collateral and marketing messages.
Responsibilities
- Leading all creative projects from concept through completion
- Brainstorming concepts and building beyond the brief and thinking outside of the box wherever possible
- Projects could include, but aren't limited to: catalogs, a quarterly newsletter, product packaging, data visualization, sales collateral, event and meeting materials, presentations, point of purchase materials, web visuals (80-90% digital, remaining print)
- Prepping files for print
- Lead photography for marketing materials, products, packaging and other digital assets
- Help maintain image library
- Works alongside a lean team: event planner, digital marketing specialist, and marketing operations
Flyers
Warehouse Distribution flyers are something I am creating on a weekly basis. Whether it is to move stagnant stock or showcasing new products- these flyers serve their purpose. I had a bunch of older flyers to guide me but I chose to go for a more updated theme instead. Just because your industry leans towards boring tables and technical info does not mean you have to leave your creativity at the door!
Flyer item prices have been blurred out
Before and after of a Pelican Cooler ad
IWDC Chronicles
IWDC Chronicles is our quarterly magazine distributed to all members. It highlights the latest industry news, member updates, and vendor spotlights. Each year, I reimagine the design and visual direction to ensure the publication feels modern, engaging, and relevant.
Sales & Purchasing Convention 2025
A show we put on each year for all our members and vendors for them to network.
Show Theme
Every other year, we host the Sales and Purchasing Convention in Indianapolis. Since this was my first time designing for the Indianapolis location, I wanted to highlight the city itself through the visual theme. I leaned into a bold, 1980s-inspired color palette featuring neon yellow, magenta, green, and purple, set against a primarily powder blue background. Architectural elements were incorporated to visually reinforce that year’s tagline, “Building Value Together.” To fully immerse attendees in the concept, I also designed the event maps to resemble blueprints, tying the theme together from concept to execution.
Wayfinding, Posters, and Booth Design
I created large-format designs for a variety of wayfinding and event materials, including directional signage, tripod signs for breakout sessions and activities, as well as entrance and registration desk graphics. These pieces ensured clear navigation while maintaining a cohesive and immersive visual experience throughout the convention space.
Program Guide
This 60+ page program guide includes a hotel and booth map, itinerary, guest speakers, and contact information for every company that comes to the show. This is the most time-consuming part of the entire project, most everything spawns from this in including the posters and slideshows.
Show Special Book
Months before the show the Vendors share their sales for the show with our Members. The first year I followed the current way of doing things took notes and then changed how we create this 8.5" x 11" 400+ page spiral bound book. I rebuilt the templates so they are easier to use and understand and I put the full creation for the Venders own special in there hands. Before I would have to cobble together an ad, excel document, special icons, and company logo in InDesign for each of our 200 Vendors. and with all the other projects I have to get ready for the show it was overwhelming. Now I get a PDF that I just add to the book after being approved by the board.
S&P Guide Books
I led a full redesign of the Sales and Purchasing digital guide books, shifting them from a year specific, show themed layout to a timeless system that remains consistent year over year, changing only the printed date on the cover.
It is built around IWDC’s primary and secondary color palette, with inspiration drawn from early 2000s television advertising. Like the Reese’s commercials where logos intentionally bled off screen. I leaned into that imperfect crop aesthetic to create tension and energy, allowing elements to feel off frame while still intentional.
A reversed edge shadow of the ampersand floats behind the title resulting in a design that feels unexpected and deliberately artsy.
Slide Show Design
Built the power point slideshow templates so that everyone can easily make all their shows keep the theme of the show. That includes master slids for every layout and themed Examples of the background slates.
Sales & Purchasing Convention 2024
A show we put on each year for all our members and vendors for them to network.
Wayfinding, Posters, and Booth Design
Created large format designs for wayfinding like direction signs, tripod signs for room activities, and entrance and registration desk items.
Program Guide
This 60+ page program guide includes a hotel and booth map, itinerary, guest speakers, and contact information for every company that comes to the show. This is the most time-consuming part of the entire project, most everything spawns from this in including the posters and slideshows.
Slide Show Design
Built the power point slideshow templates so that everyone can easily make all their shows keep the theme of the show. That includes master slids for every layout and themed Examples of the background slates.
Owners Meeting 2025
A show we put on each year for all our members and vendors for them to network.
Show Theme
Each year I get to create the theme from our CEO's slogan. I usually start before the show slogan is picked so I am sort of working backwards. I usually come up with a color swatches and a style and do my best to incorporate the slogan once I get it. I have not had to start from scratch; I just pivot slightly once we know what we are calling the show.
Digital Assets
The first think is getting all the digialt assets ready
Program Guide
This 60+ page program guide includes a hotel and booth map, itinerary, guest speakers, and contact information for every company that comes to the show. This is the most time-consuming part of the entire project, most everything spawns from this in including the posters and slideshows.
Nametags
Theme designed nametags for all attendees. Built in InDesign using Date Merge. Below are the nametag variations depending on if you are an owner, staff, speaker, or new to the meeting and the back of the nametag with the Agenda QR code.
Optional Events
Optional Events Flyers for the meeting.
Owners Meeting 2024
Each year, we host a meeting for our members and vendors—an opportunity to connect, network, and build relationships.
Show Theme
Every year, I create the Owners Meeting theme based on our CEO’s slogan. I usually begin developing the look and feel before the final slogan is selected, which means I’m often working backward. I start by building a color palette and visual style, then adjust once the official slogan is announced. So far, I’ve never had to start from scratch—just make small pivots to align everything once the name of the show is confirmed.
This was my first year owning the process, and I kicked things off with a Save the Date for our Owners. Since the ad dimensions matched a postcard, I decided to design it as one. With the meeting taking place near Las Vegas, I leaned into a 1940s Vegas–inspired aesthetic. I created a mood board featuring classic Vegas imagery and desert-toned colors, which became the foundation for the Save the Date postcard and the visual direction moving forward. Listening to Rhino Records’ Ultra Lounge collection definitely helped set the tone.
Digital Assets
The first think is getting all the digialt assets ready
Program Guide
This 60+ page program guide includes a hotel and booth map, itinerary, guest speakers, and contact information for every company that comes to the show. This is the most time-consuming part of the entire project, most everything spawns from this in including the posters and slideshows.
Nametags
Theme designed nametags for all attendees. Built in InDesign using Date Merge.
Optional Events
Optional Events Flyers for the meeting.
Large Format Wall Graphics
Because our office is attached to a distribution warehouse, the space itself was fairly minimal. To inject some energy and personality into the environment, my Marketing Director and CEO challenged me to design custom office décor that would elevate the space.
Drawing on my experience with large-format printing and vinyl adhesives—skills I developed while designing and wrapping vehicles—I knew the medium would allow for bold, scalable visuals. After multiple rounds of exploration and refinement, we arrived at concepts that everyone connected with.
To bring the ideas to life before production, I created detailed Photoshop mockups showing the artwork installed on the walls. The final solution combined printed vinyl graphics with raised acrylic titles and panels, creating depth, texture, and a more immersive visual experience throughout the office.
