david angstead
Creative Director | Brand Designer | Packaging Specialist | Building bold, scalable identities for CPG, Beverage & Cannabis Brands · Angrycity Design Co.
Sacramento, CA
In My Own Words
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Multidisciplinary Creative Director & Brand Designer with 10+ years of experience leading brand and digital design across startups, tech, and CPG. Expert in building brand systems from the ground up — logos, typography, color, and guidelines — that translate strategy into cohesive identities.Committed to delivering well-organized, deadline-driven results with strong time management skills and attention to detail.</span></p>
Work Experience
Independent Business Owner
Angrycity Design Co.2010 – Present
Creative Professional with 15+ years of experience building cohesive brand identities and packaging solutions across food, beverage, cannabis, and CPG markets. I’ve led 100’s projects spanning brand identity, compliant packaging systems, marketing campaigns, and community-driven creative initiatives. I specialize in developing visual systems that ensure brand consistency from digital platforms to in-store experiences, leveraging deep expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and production workflows. With a proven track record of translating strategy into engaging, compliance-ready design, I help brands stand out authentically, connect with audiences, and drive measurable growth.
Creative Director / Brand,Visual and Graphic Designer
Plift2023 – 2025
At Plift, I led the creative direction of a women- and BIPOC-owned hemp beverage brand, managing everything from packaging and sub-brand development to retail displays and marketing campaigns. I spearheaded the redesign and expansion of the packaging system, adding new flavors, sub-brands, and multi-pack formats that helped drive growth from 2 states to 13 and lifted sales by more than 157%. I also created logos and advocacy materials for hemp legislation efforts, helping position Plift as a visible and credible leader in the category.
Partner & Brand Designer
Burly Beverages2016 – 2024
Continuous Management of all brand assets and outgoing marketing materials, packaging and advertising materials.
Graphic & Production Designer
Dynamic Packaging Solutions, LLC2021 – 2022
Designed packaging, labels, and branded assets for cannabis, beverage, and brewery clients, balancing compliance requirements with creative marketing goals. Collaborated with the production team to streamline prepress workflows, setting up multiple label jobs with shared tooling and substrates to reduce setup times by 15–30% and achieve 3–5 business day turnarounds on most runs. Expanded the company’s brand presence by creating marketing and sales materials for conventions, trade shows, and client outreach.
Sr. Graphic Designer
Brand king2020 – 2021
At Brand King, I focused primarily on cannabis clients while also supporting lifestyle and CPG brands, working across identity, packaging, digital media, and marketing. I collaborated closely with sales, marketing, and leadership to deliver cohesive visuals across websites, e-commerce, social media, and campaigns. • Designed and produced packaging systems, custom dielines, and marketing collateral that helped drive measurable growth for clients and the company. • Partnered with overseas manufacturers to develop and QC custom dielines and finishes for cannabis and lifestyle product lines. • Produced product photography, catalogs, pre-roll packaging, apparel, and environmental graphics, while contributing to a brand refresh and new strategy that expanded Brand King’s in-house design services (many of which are still in use today).
Creative Director/Graphic Designer/Printer
420 Stock2020 – 2020
As Art Director and Graphic Designer at 420 Stock, I balanced both creative leadership and hands-on production, managing the design department while operating large-format printers. I created packaging, labels, and marketing assets for cannabis brands, often under fast turnarounds, while ensuring compliance and consistency. Working closely with sales and print teams, I streamlined workflows and improved production accuracy, delivering impactful designs from concept through final output.
Graphic Designer II
Connected Cannabis Co.2019 – 2019
Designed strain-specific packaging and selected substrates for a refreshed premium look that remains in use today. Produced short-form video content for an ancillary product line, acting as creative director, producer, and writer while overseeing casting and execution with a small team. Designed promotional items and merchandise that increased event engagement and helped align multi-channel marketing across print, digital, and retail experiences.
Co-Founder
Casual Agency2018 – 2019
Worked on developing brands for cannabis from production development to positioning.
Senior Graphic Designer
Continuum2018 – 2019
At Continuum (later acquired by Origin House and Cresco Labs), I worked as a Senior Graphic Designer supporting product launches and promotional campaigns for cannabis brands. I collaborated with the Creative Director on branded sale sheets, buying guides, and digital assets that helped dozens of clients market their products effectively. I also prepared production files, coordinated with suppliers and sales teams, and ensured high-quality campaign materials were delivered on time. This role gave me valuable experience in cross-functional collaboration and in producing both print and digital collateral in a fast-moving, regulated industry.
Independent Contractor / Graphic Designer
Barking Frogs2014 – 2019
Responsible for the creation and design of Barking Frog's principal product known as the 'Barkie' an all-weather athletic bandana.
Graphic Designer
Vision Launchers LLC2018 – 2018
At Vision Launchers, I worked as a Senior Graphic Designer partnering with clients to build cohesive branding, packaging, and digital design solutions. I managed projects from concept to delivery, creating marketing collateral, packaging, and web assets while also contributing to early UI projects that gave me my first experience in user-focused design. I provided art direction for photography on select projects, collaborating with photographers to ensure visuals supported the brand’s identity and campaign objectives. This role broadened my skills across branding, digital design, and visual storytelling.
Sr. Graphic Designer
Ivie2015 – 2017
Designed packaging, custom dielines, and retail signage for Raley’s private-label products, ensuring compliance, consistency, and strong in-store presence. Contributed to the quarterly in-store magazine Something Extra, collaborating with creative directors and respected food photographers, assisting in food styling, and providing art direction support for shoots both in-house and on location. Partnered with the Creative Director and design team to develop branding and collateral for Raley’s company-wide leadership conference, producing event materials and on-site assets that delivered a cohesive experience.
Independent Contractor / Graphic Designer
Jivaldi, LLC2014 – 2016
Worked on various accounts as a independent contractor under Jivaldi. Including merchandise and apparel design and eCommerce.
Independent Contractor / Graphic Designer
William Berry Campaigns2012 – 2014
Compile, organize and design direct-mail and other communications media design for regional political campaign marketing.
Editorial Designer
Comstock's Magazine2014 – 2014
At Comstock’s Magazine, I worked as an Editorial Designer supporting both the monthly publication and major event initiatives. Alongside the Art Director, I designed editorial layouts, advertisements, and article spreads, while contributing to photo direction and concept development. I also led design efforts for Comstock’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, producing event branding and collateral that marked the milestone and strengthened the magazine’s role as a hub for Sacramento’s business community. This role gave me valuable experience in both editorial design and event branding.
Junior Graphic Designer
Belami, Inc.2013 – 2014
At Belami, Inc., I worked as a Junior Graphic Designer supporting multiple e-commerce websites. I created banner ads, holiday promotions, and email campaigns while also updating CSS and HTML templates to maintain consistent branding and site functionality. This role gave me my first professional experience blending design with web development, producing digital assets that supported seasonal campaigns and improved customer engagement.
Co-Founder
Sacramento Urban Dharma2011 – 2013
Responsible for the scheduling,operation and promotion of programs and including the management of it's website & social media presence.
Page Designer / Illustrator / Assistant Design Editor
Sac City Express2012 – 2013
Provide editorial page layout design and art direction for monthly campus newspaper. Manage collaboration by page design staff, and responsible for approval of completed pages. Illustrate various editorial themes for covers and spot placements.
Graphic Designer / Project Manager
Flagship studio2012 – 2013
Administered the organization and prioritization of client requests. Established appropriate benchmarks and milestones for deliverables. Collaborated with fellow designers to find effective design solutions within constraints
Independent Contractor / Graphic Designer
White Pine Press2012 – 2013
Worked with the Publisher & Author to design a cover for an upcoming book in spring 2013.
Student Graphic Designer Intern
Circle Design2012 – 2012
Responsible for conceptualizing, producing and designing identities and print material for a variety of clients under the direction of studio principal Missy Anapolsky.
Data Entry Clerk
ARK Company2010 – 2011
Organized, streamlined and maintained confidential information on 3 catalog websites. Worked with lead programmer
Education
Los Rios Colleges
2008 – 2013
I completed several years at Sacramento City College - including several semesters focusing on photography. Due to urgency to support myself financially I had taken a leave from school 1 semester prior to graduation.
Skills
Activity
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