branding / copywriting / design / illustration / marketing
cathy colson
designer / illustrator / writer
I'm a creative problem-solver. I love the challenge of making something beautiful, cohesive, and purposeful out of whatever is thrown my way.
My professional career in creativity spans more than 20 years. But, you could say it started when I was in first grade and I won a draw-an-ad contest put on by my local newspaper. Or when, as a high-schooler, I earned my spending money by designing t-shirts, lettering signs, and painting windows for businesses around my home town. Though, my career truly launched when I designed my first website in 1996, while still in college, and quickly started doing so professionally.
Although my degree is in fine art, I’ve always been drawn to the practical side of creativity. My professional experience runs the gamut of marketing-focused creative work: graphic design, web design, illustration, branding, and writing. Most recently, I've held the positions of creative director or marketing director, and had formerly run my own small graphic design business, Spiral Creative.
On the personal side, I am a (nearly) life-long Michigander, and a happy transplant to Ann Arbor after briefly living in Flagstaff, Arizona. I am grateful for the amazing community around me and my walk-everywhere lifestyle. My husband, Steve, and I are raising two enthusiastic Bach Bengals and budding Wolverine football fans. I'm also really bad at taking selfies.
past experience
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Marketing director, Pure Visibility
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Marketing/creative director, Switchback
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Creative director, Clarity Quest
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Marketing specialist/creative lead, Northern Arizona University
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Self-employed graphic designer, Spiral Creative
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Web designer, Carlson Marketing
education
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Certificate in Professional Writing, Northern Arizona University, 2008
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B.A. Art, Aquinas College, 1997
“
Cathy is fantastic to work with. She is both creative and practical, so we can implement her ideas easily. In addition, she "gets us." Because she has worked to know us so well, Cathy can take a vague statement about our goals for a project and quickly create a brilliant result. She has definitely helped us up our marketing game!
Michael Dergis
Founder & Partner
Cathy is intuitive and produces beautiful work beyond expectations. She’s truly a master at her craft.
“
Melissa Veliz
Pastry Chef & Owner
Working with Cathy is just simple. She is a rare creative who understands the impact her work has on the strategy. Cathy is a brand expert and understands what truly makes up a company. A great collaborator who will work tirelessly to make sure the final product is right for the brand.
“
Ben Cohen
Head of Sales Excellence & Marketing
Hella
“
Cathy has helped put Golden Record light years ahead of where we would have been. She has pushed conversations about who our customer really is and how to best appeal to that customer. Her graphics work has been beautiful but that broader perspective has been just as valuable.