EILEEN
LEEDS

Eileen Leeds  |  Senior Designer 

646-283-9053 | 3leeds@gmail.com | Fairfield, CT 06824 | LinkedIn | eileenleeds.com | portfolio

Summary

Senior Graphic Designer & Information Designer with 20+ years of experience creating compelling visual communications, editorial design, information graphics, and digital and print products for major media organizations. Seasoned hands-on designer with deep expertise in typography, layout, visual storytelling, illustration, data visualization, and complex information design, combined with extensive experience in art direction, UX, design systems, production workflows, and team leadership. Proven ability to translate complex content into clear, engaging visual experiences while collaborating with editorial, marketing, product, and production teams.

Core Competencies

• Design & Strategy: Visual Design Systems, Information Architecture, Art & Creative Direction, Content Strategy, Brand Guidelines & Governance, Accessibility Standards.

• Leadership & Execution: Cross-Functional Workflow Integration, Vendor & Partner Management, Editorial Staff Training, Production Optimization.

• Tools & Artifacts: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Captivate), Figma, Data Visualization, Generative AI Tools.

Professional Experience

DeSales Media — Brooklyn, NY & Remote

Media and marketing group serving 1.5M+ parishioners across 185 parishes.

Design & Production Manager (2019 – 2020)

• Publication Modernization & Strategy: Directed end-to-end design overhaul of 100+ year-old publication The Tablet; created high-readability layout templates and trained editorial staff on Adobe CS workflows to eliminate production bottlenecks.

• New Product Launch: Co-created and launched The Tablet Jr. within 2 months in collaboration with educational media directors, establishing an ongoing bonus asset for core news subscriptions.

• Revenue Handoff & Optimization: Standardized weekly ad placement workflows with sales teams across regular and seasonal sections targeting an audience reach of 1.5M parishioners.

• Digital & Print Vendor Governance: Partnered with online production teams for smooth digital transitions and evaluated print facility efficiencies with News Corp and Advance Publications.

Hearst Connecticut Media — Norwalk, CT & Remote

Multiplatform news enterprise publishing 8 daily and 13 weekly properties.

Senior Designer for Region (2014 – 2018)

• Design System & Template Governance: Onboarded newly acquired daily news properties using corporate and in-house template systems while unifying visual identity across 8 weekly publications.

• Data Visualization & Breaking News: Translated complex local/national datasets into accessible infographics; served as daily art director coordinating breaking news visual priorities with key editorial stakeholders.

• Asset Libraries & Accessibility: Produced daily libraries of styled graphic elements optimized for digital device accessibility and mobile readability.

New York Daily News — New York, NY

Top national news outlet reaching multi-million digital and print audiences.

Senior Information Designer (2000 – 2013)

• Enterprise News Experience: Designed visual layouts for major enterprise series (e.g., Child Obesity, War Overseas) to maximize cross-platform comprehension.

• Diagrammatic Storytelling: Created explanatory breaking news presentations under tight daily deadlines for local, national, and international audiences.

• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Partnered with sports, business, lifestyle, and advertising divisions as the newsroom expanded digital content streams.

Other Experience (Pre-2000)

Red Cross, Blood Services (Southeast Region) — Savannah, GA

Communications Manager (1997 – 1999)

• Managed tri-state public relations, promotional design, and press releases; upgraded regional communications management to Adobe workflows.

Education & Training

• BS in Illustration — Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY, New York, NY

• Instructional Design Graduate Coursework — Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT

• Certifications & Professional Development:

  • Adobe Captivate Certified (2019) Instructional Design software

  • General Assembly: UX Design Circuit, Data Analysis Circuit, Tableau

  • Ongoing Design & Tech Training: O'Reilly Media (Subscriber since 2012), Maven.com, School of Visual Arts

Awards & Recognition

• Catholic Press Awards — Third Place (2020): Illustration — Catholic Self-Care (The Tablet)

• Society of Professional Journalists (CTSPJ):

  • First Place (2014): Informational Graphics — Ruins Reborn Series

  • First Place (2014): Page One — Ruins Reborn Series

  • Second Place (2017): Page One — Trump's Supporters

• Associated Press Awards — Layout Winner (2003): D.C. Beltway Sniper Caught (NY Daily News)