karen
Castens.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER + ART DIRECTOR
I judge restaurants by their menus and books by their covers. I believe that great graphic design is not about making something "pretty"... it is about getting to the root of a problem and solving it in a visual way. I'm a Southern-Illinoisan turned Chicagoan, a recipe-follower and Instagram photo-taker.
When not knee-deep in design, you'll either find me in the kitchen paging
through a cookbook or tending to my little urban garden.
Take a look at my portfolio and do not hesitate to reach out
so we can collaborate on your next project together.
01 portfolio
InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop
Acrobat
After Effects
Office
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Identity + Branding
Logo and brand identity creation for businesses, small and large. Your identity should be uniquely yours.
Art Direction
Infographics, event materials, advertisements, signage, packaging and more. A cohesive look will enhance your brand.
Interactive PDFs
Easy-to-use communications with simple, ADA-compliant forms make for a great customer experience.
Print Production
Not everything should be digital. Choosing the right paper and ink can elevate your brand and project to the next level.
02 SKILLS
03 Experience
Present
Byline Bank
Senior Graphic Designer
2016-2019
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Creative Team Lead – Commercial Banking
2013-2016
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Graphic Designer – Commercial Banking
2010-2013
@properties
Senior Graphic Designer
2006-2010
Rotary International
Graphic Designer
2004-2006
Chicago Producers
Graphic Designer
2001-2004
Northern Illinios University
Bachelor of Fine Arts
04 WHAT PEOPLE SAY
FREELANCE CLIENT
Karen has consistently proven herself to be a joy to work with. She is creative, producing a variety of distinct and appealing options for consideration.
She is professional, always patient with clients who want frequent changes; and she is always on-time and on-budget.
I recommend her highly.
FORMER MANAGER
Karen is a talented, well-rounded designer who can manage several projects with
excellent results.
She works well with editors, project managers and her
design colleagues.
COLLEAGUE
Karen is one of my best creative partners. She is quick to communicate if there is a concern, and is open to talking through it to find mutually beneficial solutions.
She is friendly, positive and is open to the crazy ideas I throw at her. She consistently works to find a middle ground and I appreciate her honesty.
