# Jaclyn Cotto > Brand + Packaging Designer | Art Director | Visual Strategist Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/jaclyncotto Hello hello! I’m an independent brand & packaging design strategist. That’s a mouthful, so let’s put it simply: I help guide people and bring their ideas to life with creative solutions. I like to answer problems with “what ifs,” backed by research, to create thoughtful and strategic design. I work closely with passionate founders and teams at startups, growing brands and established companies. Together, we shape identity systems, branding, packaging, and storytelling that connects with consumers and actually stands out in an overwhelming market. My background spans beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and CPG (method, FORMA, bareMinerals, bkr, Sephora). I thrive at the intersection of creative vision and practical thinking, whether it’s jumping in at the “I sketched this on a napkin” stage or helping polish things off with production-ready design and launch support. I'm all about the idea and creating that feeling that hooks your customer, so trust me...I will never judge your drawing skills. I especially love collaborating with purpose-driven brands, particularly those focused on sustainability, transparency, and innovation. While I’m still building out my experience in sustainable design, I bring a curious, informed mindset and a deep respect for teams digging in to make a difference. So, how can I help you? • Brand Identity (visual assets like logo, color, illustrations and type) • Branding (why your brand exists, it’s values and personality that shape the perception of your brand) • Packaging, Visual Storytelling & Art Direction • Concept Development & Trend Insight • Creative Collaboration • Campaign Assets, Decks & Launch Support • Flexible, Project-Based Freelance Partnerships If you’re launching something new, growing fast, or just looking to breathe new life into your brand, send me a message! ## Work Experience ### Brand & Packaging Designer/ Strategist @ Unknown Jan 2024 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area Ready to bring your idea to life, or want to but don't know where to start? Reach out for more info and current availability! ### Senior Brand Designer @ SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands Jan 2019 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area Currently in my role at SC Johnson, I focus on brand direction and development of method personal care product lines and extensions. •I actively participated in brainstorming sessions on the development of the new method brand visual identity as well as being a key member of designing the system to harmonize packaging design of home and body. • Recently I ensured preservation and integrity of design for the method best-selling body wash line, while aligning to globe sustainability initiatives to reduce plastic packaging. • Increased brand recognition by designing inaugural NFT award in collaboration with team and Livia Firth at Eco-Age. • Endorse collaboration and alignment to achieve business objectives while serving as creative spokesperson during weekly cross-functional project meetings. • Use strategic design thinking while developing assets for use in brand campaigns, digital experience, retail, DTC, events, and press kits. • Design icons and illustrations that ladder up to overall brand • New Product development: leading from concept to completion, which involves competitive research, providing materials for consumer testing, ideation, sketches, 360° design, art directing product + lifestyle photo shoots. • Design for other SC Johnson lifestyle brands (Ecover, Babyganics) as needed, including logos, presentation slides + assets to support house of brands. • Led a team to develop graphics + signage for the San Francisco office, showcasing house of brands ### Packaging Design Manager @ FORMA Brands Jan 2017 – Jan 2019 | San Francisco Bay Area During my tenure at Forma (formerly the startup Morphe), I maintained consistent brand message throughout marketing campaigns to drive design efforts in alignment with brand strategies and promotional activities. I pioneered development of press kits designed to captivate the online beauty community, resulting in substantial earned media coverage and the rapid sell-out of multiple collections. • Ensured captivating and cohesive visual identity by formulating and supervising creative direction of packaging campaigns. • Steered 2-member team responsible for packaging Morphe beauty products and influencer collaborations across both core and exclusive collections. • Provided guidance and support of two junior designers and a production artist, fostering their professional growth within the organization. • Partnered with beauty influencers to develop visual identities of core and specialty collections. • Collaborated with Creative Director and Art Directors to align on creative strategies that filtered through to photography, packaging and campaigns. • Directed vendors on print quality and product development, ensuring high end experience for consumers. • Initiate & attend meetings with cross functional teams to problem solve and align on execution or new direction when faced with changes. • Domestic travel to vendors to work through new development challenges. ### Packaging Designer & Lead Packaging Designer for Buxom Brand @ Bare Escentuals Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 BAREMINERALS - Global Packaging Designer Create design of components & packaging that elevates & drives the brand look & feel. Collaborate with Associate Director to conceptualize themes for key launches that will be utilized across all communication touch points. Partner with Global Marketing, Product Development, Visual Merchandising, Production & Sourcing teams to ensure consistency, quality & timeliness of projects. Present concepts to internal design and cross functional teams for feedback & final approval. Design mood-boards that reflect brand through design, photography, fashion, typography & trends. Rendering & image manipulation for presentations & decks. Interface with photographers & stylists for art direction of product photography. Coordinate with retouchers for color management and retouching. BUXOM- Lead Global Packaging Designer Sole designer for core, limited edition & seasonal packaging & components that execute the brand vision. Develop dielines for new components and work with 3D artist to translate them for production. Research trends in fashion & beauty to develop mood-boards for holiday campaign alongside Global Creative Manager. Own presentation of designs to CMO & Director of Global Marketing for feedback & final approval. Collaborate with GMPD & Sourcing team to ensure new product & packaging designs are accurate & fit within cost restrictions. Execute quick turnaround for initial designs and changes. ### Freelance Senior Packaging Designer @ Kendo Brands, Inc. Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | San Francisco Bay Area Designed for brands Marc Jacobs, Kat Von D, Formula X & Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary. Designed for packaging, inserts, email & Sephora gondola / end caps. Realistic mockups, photo manipulation & renderings of packaging, product and displays for presentations in fast-paced environment. ### Freelance Graphic Designer @ SEPHORA Jan 2013 – Jan 2013 Worked with Art Director on layouts of banners for Sephora windows & duratrans to be utilized across all US & EU storefronts. Designed layouts of towers to be used in store for Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and Hourglass. Retouched handwriting graphics for use in designs. Researched competitive holiday window designs. ### Creative Lead - Watches @ NES Group Inc. Jan 2011 – Jan 2013 | Greater New York City Area Worked with owner to build out new creative branch of licensed watches. Created moodboards, timepiece collections, packaging, presentations, mockups, displays and tradeshow booth design. Managed Junior Designer & Merchandiser. Showroom design & setup. Domestic & International travel to meet with vendors & licensors & go to trade shows as company representative. Submit designs to licensors, update based on feedback and follow through to production. Develop dielines. Collaborate with China vendors on product & packaging to ensure quality, low cost & adhering to product launch timelines. Wordpress website updates & trend product photography. Special presentations. Designed for Airwalk, Dickies, Charlotte Russe, Toys R Us, Adventure Time & Vision Streetwear as well as in-house brands, ranging from tween to adult male & female. ### Senior Graphic Designer/Package Designer @ MZ Berger Jan 2006 – Jan 2011 Created timepiece designs for licenses (Disney, nickelodeon, Hello Kitty, etc) for mass, mid-tier & specialty stores. Created die-lines & specs for packaging & displays. Mock ups Worked in a team environment as well as managed own time. Photographed & retouched product for brochures/presentations. Showroom set up and management for market week. Worked with vendors, sales team & licensors for quality production. ## Education ### Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Graphic Design Pratt Institute ### Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Graphic Design Raritan Valley Community College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jaclyncotto - Portfolio: https://jaclyncotto.com - Portfolio: http://www.instagram.com/jcottodesigns --- Source: https://flows.cv/jaclyncotto JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/jaclyncotto/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13