Kevin Halstead, Senior Art Director and Designer
Senior Art Director & Designer
- Art Direction
- Retail & Shopper
- Brand Systems
- Print & Packaging
- Retouching & Color
- Generative AI · Image & Motion
Still curious.
Chicago-based art director creating campaigns, retail experiences, and brand systems—from first concept through final production.
See the portfolioPortfolio
Client work from agency, in-house and freelance roles. My original files survived only at low resolution, so most pieces are shown remastered: rebuilt at full size in 2026 with the original concepts and copy, and current devices. Every project is labeled.
- Client work — remastered
- Client work
- Speculative concept — not commissioned
- Fictional brand concept
Concepts
Self-initiated and speculative work. None of it was commissioned by the brands shown. It's where I test ideas in image-making, typography and tone, with generative tools directed and finished like any other source.
More work
Earlier client work and further concepts, kept for range. Click any piece to open it with its full project notes.
Experience
Twenty-five years across agency, in-house and freelance roles: retail and shopper marketing at TPN / Omnicom, educational publishing at Holt McDougal, and an in-house photo studio at Havas. The through line is owning the work from concept to press-ready files.
- 2001–PresentArt Director & DesignerIndependentIdentity, print, packaging, digital, environmental, and generative image/video for agencies and direct clients.
- 2010–2014Senior Art DirectorTPN / OmnicomRetail creative for Cricket Wireless across the complete path to purchase.
- 2004–2008Senior DesignerHolt McDougal / HMHDesign standards and art direction across a large educational marketing catalog.
- 2000Art Director, DigitalDouglas–DanielleWebsites and microsites from concept through preproduction.
- 1997–2000Studio Artist to Art DirectorHavasBuilt an in-house high-resolution photo studio and moved into art direction.
- 1990–1993Production & DesignMcKnight Kurland / Vision ProductionLayout, electronic publishing, packaging mechanicals, and typography.
Let's make the next one
Hiring for a senior creative role, planning a campaign, or short on hands before a deadline? Tell me what you're working on, even if it's only a rough idea. I'll come back with questions, a point of view, and a plan for getting it to print.
- Full-time rolesSenior art director and design lead positions, Chicago or remote.
- Projects & retainersCampaigns, retail programs, brand systems and production.
- Agency overflowAn experienced pair of hands that needs no hand-holding.
Chicago-based · Remote by default · References on request