Neil Staley
Art Director · Mad Engine Global, LLC
Irvine, CA
In My Own Words
Accomplished Art Director and Graphic Artist with 20+ years' experience and a versatile skill set.
- Fifteen years as a graphic artist and art director with two of the biggest apparel companies in the United States, helping to drive business through numerous private label brands, core licensed and non-licensed product.
- Adaptable and versatile, I thrive working with challenging deadlines, both individually and in a collaborative team environment.
- A dedicated and loyal team player, I welcome the opportunity to continue to grow and to pass on my knowledge to those around me.
- A published author, I have strong written communications skills and a visual writing style that enhances my overall creative skill set.
Work Experience
Art Director
Mad Engine Global, LLC2021 – 2024
Fifth Sun/Mad Engine - Men's: Core, Lounge, Swim, Private Label, Packaging. • Private Label Brands: Oversaw all creative, working closely with buyers, sales, and merchandising teams to hone brand guidelines and push newness while maintaining brand aesthetic integrity - all fast-moving and under tight deadlines. Helped to drive numerous private label brands to consistent and unrivaled success. • Lounge & Packaging: Art direction and artwork for all Walmart and Target lounge businesses, including the growth of the Walmart D5 entertainment space. • Led a creative team to own and grow multi-million dollar licensed and non-licensed programs at Walmart, Target, Kohls, Belk, Hot Topic, Ross, Box Lunch. • Holiday: Art direction and created art for all lounge, tees, sweaters and packaging for holiday business.
Art Director / Senior Graphic Artist
Hybrid Apparel2010 – 2019
Led a team responsible for creating sales-driven and market-hungry graphics packages encompassing several private label divisions, based on buyer team reference, market and trend research or a combination of sales reporting best-selling items and trend forecasting over various demographics. I oversaw programs from initial request through hand off to the sales and merchandising teams, including trend research/shopping, team art application and strategy meetings, art direction of various art styles and completion of packages within tight seasonal deadlines.
Art Director
Christian Audigier / Ed Hardy2009 – 2010
My primary role was to work in tandem with the brand creative directors to create, maintain, and build branded identities and graphics styles over several themes for men’s art within both the Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier men's brands, including the concept and creation of the Garage Parts line and direction/approval of art and tech packs within the strict parameters of a seasonal calendar.
