About Me

I’m a freelance designer and creative director with over 20 years of experience working with consumer product brands.

I get it. You’re busy. You’re juggling a ton of projects. You have projects that need design attention, but you don’t have the in-house resources available or the time and budget to go through an agency. You need to get buy-in from a variety of stakeholders and want innovative solutions, all while staying true to your brand’s voice and mission. Sometimes you have thorough brief, other times just a rough idea. You want a responsive, experienced design partner who can execute quality work with easy communication.

Working with Me

I work with merchandising and marketing professionals who have a need for impactful design. I am highly experienced in both 2D and 3D design, and can provide design and creative direction for your graphic design, digital design and retail POP design projects. As your go-to design person, I get to know your brand so your presence stays consistent at retail, at trade shows, in print and online. I easily adapt to each brand’s unique guidelines and get to know your individual needs.

Chances are I have experience in your industry. I’ve worked with brands in a wide range of categories including consumer electronics, sporting goods, outdoor, hardware, household, food & beverage, eyewear, footwear, jewelry, accessories, beauty and toys.

I think both big and small. I can strategize the approach for an entire new program or tackle a single task. I’m a natural problem solver— I can ask a few questions, gather scattered bits of information then formulate ideas. I’m known to have an eye for the littlest details.

I’m based in Providence, Rhode Island, but I work remotely with clients anywhere.

Oh and my last name is pronounced “Shek-ter”.

My Background

I received my BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, where I studied both industrial design and graphic design. After graduating, I began my career working both as an industrial designer for a POP manufacturer and as a freelance graphic designer. This was a fantastic opportunity to hone both my 3D and 2D skills, while getting to provide design and creative direction for some of the world’s best consumer product brands. As my career progressed, I also became an experienced project manager— overseeing POP manufacturing projects, web development projects and print projects, while working with a variety of vendors and contractors. I now freelance exclusively, using my extensive knowledge and experience to help my clients reach their goals.

Throughout my career, I have designed and provided creative direction for brand identities, marketing graphics, web and mobile experiences, retail POP displays, store fixtures, environments, signage and more. I have done work for many national and international brands including Hasbro, Sonos, TomTom, Vera Bradley, Columbia Sportswear, Shimano, Timberland, Keds, Jacuzzi, Cabot Stain, Keurig, FGX, Clarks Footwear, Crabtree & Evelyn, Zippo, A. T. Cross, and Segway. My professional development has included training in web design, programming, UX/UI and brand strategy. I’ve also taught branding and design workshops, trained junior designers, mentored new entrepreneurs and was a co-organizer for Startup Weekend.

In addition to my design experience, I have helped to build Fire Works Catering with my husband, Chef Mark Garofalo. I’m also a professional fine artist, specializing in photorealistic oil painting.