VIVIAN GAO
graphic designer & art director | chicago

advertising & marketing  print  web & digital  art direction  illustration  

let’s work together.
vgao.vivian@gmail.com

〰️

AKIRA
+ FW25 / Glamour Instinct
+ Store Marketing
+ Homecoming 2025
+ Brand Collateral

Kleinfeld

Birch

Wrangler
+ Holiday ‘21
+ Collab Social

excerpts of [ life ]

Poise
+ Print & Packaging
+ Organic Social

Ariel Investments 

Maybelline
+ World Mental Health Day

Kraft Heinz
+ Organic Social

Rom Club

+ INFO
+ ART
     

AKIRA FW25 GLAMOUR INSTINCT

campaign | website & app | social 
art direction  marketing  digital role: in-house graphic designer + art director
photographer: shaun harris
stylist: kyleigh simmons
vp of e-commerce:
sara kim
marketing manager
: hannah ware
model: gabriela varela

THE WORK

Developed the visual concept for the Fall/Winter 2025 campaign, pairing modern fur, animal print and leather silhouettes with a dark, moody palette. Velvet drapes were used as a textural backdrop to create a cinematic, elevated aesthetic.

Campaign generated strong results, selling 2.7k units with an average sell-through rate of 23.2% at a $69 average retail price. Over its two-week run, it delivered $226K in revenue, positioning it as one of the top-performing campaigns of the year.



the intial concept mood board i presented to the team 

AKIRA STORE MARKETING

store signage
art direction  marketing  print role: in-house graphic designer + art director
vp of e-commerce:
sara kim
senior operations manager: josh clark
marketing manager
: hannah ware

THE WORK

Responsible for all in-store marketing across 40 stores nationally, I led the creation and execution of signage for grand openings, omni initiatives, events, hiring, fixtures, and internal employee communications. I streamlined visual communications between HQ and store teams, improving clarity and consistency across markets. I also oversaw all print orders and vendor relationships to ensure signage was produced accurately and delivered on schedule.

hang tags for popular styles that are about to sell out
DIGITAL FLYERS
created assets for socials and emails
to promote hiring events, in-store
experiences, & sale promotions
RACK SIGNS
examples of signs that I designed, 
produced for print & distributed
across all store locations
SIGNAGE CONCEPTS
multiple versions were presented
& refined before narrowing down
to the final execution
    STORES IRL
photos of signage displays shared
by store managers

AKIRA HOMECOMING 2025

photoshoot | store signage
art direction  print  digital role: in-house graphic designer + art director
photographer: kate klipatska
stylist: kyleigh simmons
vp of e-commerce:
sara kim
marketing manager: hannah ware
model: xiaya miaquinn
 
THE WORK
As part of a larger store initiative, the store team planned to promote a homecoming dress collection. To support this, the marketing team conducted a photoshoot to produce assets for in-store signage. I participated in the art direction of the shoot, as I was responsible for creating the final signage materials.


store window posters & sidewalk signs
virtual flyers sent to customers in our email database

AKIRA BRAND COLLATERAL

brand video | hiring posters | pitch deck | warehouse posters
branding  marketing  video role: in-house graphic designer
vp of e-commerce: sara kim
marketing manager
: hannah ware
 
to watch with audio, please unmute!


KLEINFELD

organic social | paid ads |
email campaigns | web design
social  marketing  digital role: graphic designer
agency: the media socialites
creative lead: luisa lowrie
account manager: tori brierley
 


BIRCH

organic social | paid ads
social  marketing  digital role: graphic designer
agency: the media socialites
creative lead: luisa lowrie
account manager: caroline corr
 


WRANGLER HOLIDAY ‘21

direct mail for print | organic social
print  social  marketing   role: art director
agency: vmly&r chicago
group creative directors: nok sangdee & jeff beck
creative director (ad): paige miller
creative director (cw): morgan pippin
copywriter: anthony williams

WRANGLER COLLAB SOCIAL

social media campaigns for collaborations with yellowstone & roark
social  marketing   role: art director
agency: vmly&r chicago
group creative directors: nok sangdee & jeff beck
creative director (ad): paige miller
creative director (cw): morgan pippin
copywriter: anthony williams



EXCERPTS OF [ LIFE ]

film photography + poetry zine
editorial  art direction  photography role: creator

THE IDEA
As an avid enjoyer of film photography & poetry, this was a personal project I wanted to create as a lens into my life to provide some beauty & comfort of the shared human experience. This zine was a way to document my adventures, thoughts & feelings as I navigate through life as an average twenty-something.



POISE PRINT & PACKAGING

packaging concepts for australian market
& print advertising concepts
print  packaging  art direction   role: art direction intern
agency: fcb chicago
creative director: merrin mccormick
associate creative director (ad): emily walton
associate creative director (cw): sarah uchinson
copywriting intern: andrea lattanzio


POISE ORGANIC SOCIAL

social media posts for women history’s month & the 2021 olympics
social  marketing   role: art direction intern
agency: fcb chicago
creative director: merrin mccormick
associate creative director (ad): emily walton
associate creative director (cw): sarah uchinson
copywriting intern: andrea lattanzio


ARIEL INVESTMENTS

corporate rebrand
branding  marketing  print role: in-house creative associate

THE WORK
I was brought on as an in-house creative with the responsibility fo spearheading Rebrand Phase II – taking the new visual identity created by the agency 2x4 & applying it to all collateral for internal and external communications.

executions included:
annual reports | print materials for events & conferences | presentation decks | website drafts (UI design) | data visualization | email newsletters | social media posts | podcast + webinar graphics | employee & office merch | client materials (fact sheets / briefs / pitchbook)

*Due to NDAs, I am unable to showcase the full breadth of work & thus will only include conceptual and publicized assets.



MAYBELLINE WMHD

executions: social & ooh
social  marketing  art direction role: art director
agency: metier creative

THE WORK
We apply makeup through a mirror. Mirrors are how we see ourselves, including our imperfections, and that can cause insecurities to grow. Maybelline wants to change that. For World Mental Health Day, Maybelline wants to raise awareness of safe resources and invite consumers to raise their hand to positivity. By encouraging the community to be brave together, Maybelline wants to show that caring for ourselves is beyond just makeup – mental health is equally as important.



KRAFT HEINZ ORGANIC SOCIAL

social posts for:
Bagel Bites, Kraft Naturals, Claussen,
Ore Ida & Cracker Barrel
social  marketing  art direction role: art director
agency: vmly&r chicago
group creative directors: nok sangdee & jeff beck
creative director (ad): paige miller
creative director (cw): morgan pippin
copywriter: andrew corbett / anthony williams




Bagel Bites | VIDEO
Kraft Naturals
Claussen

ROM CLUB

app concept
branding  ui  art direction role: creator

THE PROBLEM
Modern dating is a clusterfuck
. We’ve seen and heard the horror stories. There’s just so much potential for things to go wrong, especially when meeting a stranger from online for the first time.

THE CHALLENGE
Although online dating is a popular choice, with over 37% of US adults having used an online dating app or site at one point in their lives, these dates can feel forced, awkward or unnatural.

THE APPROACH
Humans are social creatures – we thrive through connections. But how can we establish a more genuine connection without relying only on a phone screen?

THE IDEA
A dating app that’s not like a dating app. It’s a community meetup for those looking to meet people organically through an in-person setting. Find people to connect with through common interests – let’s bring back the au naturale way of dating again.