Josh McLeod

joshmcleod@me.com

Education

B.F.A., Graphic Design
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
12/2005

A.A., Graphic Design / Fine Art
El Camino Community College, Torrance, CA
11/2001

Experience

Senior Art Director - Innovation
TACO BELL, Irvine, CA / 2025-Current

- Led creative direction for Innovation initiatives, driving concept-to-launch execution for new product drops, Tuesday Drops (in-app), and national campaigns.
- Translated product and culinary innovation into high-impact visual systems across all touch points.
- Partnered cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, and Strategy to align creative with business and launch objectives.
- Developed campaign toolkits, brand assets, and scalable visual frameworks for rapid rollout and testing.
- Directed campaign photoshoots.
- Managed fast-turn, high-volume workflows in a high-visibility innovation environment.
- Presented creative concepts, developed decks, and performance rationale to senior leadership and key stakeholders.

Global Creative Director / Pelican Leadership team
Pelican Products, Torrance, CA / 2023-2025

Responsible for leading the creative vision and strategy for Pelican Products. Oversee all creative operations globally, ensuring brand consistency and elevating Pelican's visual and strategic presence in the market.

- Developed and articulated the creative vision for Pelican Products across all markets and platforms.
- Led and inspired a global team of creative professionals.
- Fostered a collaborative and innovative creative environment.
- Defined and maintain the global brand identity and ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
- Collaborated with marketing, product development, and sales teams to align creative strategies with business objectives.
- Oversaw the creation and implementation of comprehensive brand guidelines which I developed.
- Conceptualized and executed integrated marketing campaigns that drove brand awareness and engagement.
- Ensured all creative work aligned with Pelican's brand values and resonated with target audiences.
- Managed the development of digital, print, and multimedia content.
- Oversaw the planning, scheduling, and execution of all creative projects.
- Ensured timely delivery of high-quality creative assets within budget constraints.
- Implemented processes to improve efficiency and productivity in the creative workflow.
- Stayed abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in creative design and marketing.
- Integrated innovative ideas and approaches to keep Pelican at the forefront of the market.
- Conducted regular competitive analysis to identify opportunities for differentiation.
- Built strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, marketing, product management, and external partners.
- Communicated creative concepts and strategies effectively to diverse audiences.
- Provided regular updates and reports on creative projects and initiatives.

Senior Global Creative - Action Sports
VANS Shoes, Costa Mesa, CA / 2017-2023

- Ideated and worked with a team of creatives on digital-first global campaigns.
- Led and inspired a team of mid-level and Junior designers.
- Designed UX and UI for landing pages and websites.
- Embodied and continued elevating a high level of creative excellence for design and digital thinking within the department.
- Art Directed external vendors for all of VANS holiday campaigns.
- Created UI with the understanding of how they would be developed in front-end code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Sound design / Jingle composition for VANS commercials.
- Art Directed elevated product photography.

Creative Director - Digital Marketing
Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, CA / 2011-2017

- Developed creative strategies from concept to execution
- Worked directly with world class film makers, production companies, and talent such as JJ Abrams, Michael Bay, Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, & Christopher Nolan.
- Led in house design team to create world class marketing materials.
- Partnered with creative agencies to reinforce campaign brand.
- Conceptualized and executed full 360 marketing campaigns.
- ‘Soup to Nuts’ trailer launch ideas, materials and theatrical website creation and strategy.
- Assisted VP and SVP in reviewing vendor proposals.
- Worked with Social Team to develop all in house creative across several platforms.
- Created long lead strategies for marketing films up to 6 months prior to trailer launch.
- Built weekly market research on marketing trends both on and offline.

Art Director / Design Director
MySpace Music, Beverly Hills, CA / 2008-2011

- Developed look and feel of the MySpace Music brand.
- Conceptualized and solidified brand identity across the entire site.
- Created templates for all marketing ads and media both print and web.
- Directed creative department on design strategy.
- Several profile designs for large name artists / community pages.
- Homepage redesigns, and all associated programs.
- Design of all printed material for the MySpace Music brand.
- Redesign / rebrand the entire MySpace Music Secret Shows identity (from logo, to flyers).
- Continually reinvent new templates for online promotions that hit millions of views per day.

Skills

Team leader and team builder alike. A strong love working both hands on and managing a team. Obsession with current trends. Self-directed, and capable of working in fast paced, high stress environments. Extremely detail oriented. Team friendly. Adobe expert.

Interests

Song Composing, World Traveling, Tiki Bars, Vintage Synthesizers, Subcultures, Honda Minitrails & Vintage Mopars, Urban Exploring, Off-Grid Camping, Typography Obsessed. Always Learning. Never Bored.