THE MOUNTAIN

Art Director, Graphic Designer, Apparel Graphics Designer

Contributed to product development and creative direction for The Mountain, a nationally recognized apparel brand known for bold, high-impact graphic tees.

My role spanned graphic design, art direction, apparel development, and external artist management, aligning creative vision with commercial performance.

  • Objective: Create commercially viable, visually striking designs that align with brand DNA.

    Designed and developed apparel graphics from concept to production, balancing artistic expression with retail performance. Worked with external artists to direct their deliverables.

    Responsibilities included:

    • Concept ideation

    • Graphic composition

    • Color story development

    • Print-ready file preparation

    • Production coordination

    Every design needed to stand out on shelf while remaining unmistakably “The Mountain.”

  • Objective: Maintain strong brand recognition while evolving creative output.

    As both Graphic Designer and Art Director, I ensured visual cohesion across product lines, seasonal releases, and promotional materials.

    This included:

    • Art direction for new collections

    • Graphic hierarchy standards

    • Design approvals and refinement

    • Balancing legacy aesthetic with fresh execution

    The strategy was evolution without dilution.

    Created apparel designs, print material, 300 pg product catalogues, email marketing campaigns.

  • Objective: Ensure designs resonated beyond concept and performed in market.

    Apparel graphics were developed with retail realities in mind — considering audience appeal, trend awareness, color impact, and scalability across sizes and SKUs.

    Design decisions were driven not only by creativity but by sell-through potential.

  • Objective: Align design, production, and merchandising teams.

    Worked closely with production, marketing, and sales teams to ensure graphics translated effectively from screen to garment to retail floor.

    This improved:

    • Production efficiency

    • Print quality consistency

    • Product launch coordination

    Creative leadership required operational awareness.

    • Objective: Build frameworks that support high-volume output.

      Apparel production demands repeatability. I developed internal processes and design workflows that allowed for:

      • Faster iteration

      • Semi automated catalogue workflow

      • Organized asset management

      • Consistent print preparation standards

      This strengthened output quality while reducing friction.

  • While at The Mountain, contributions supported:

    • Launch of multiple seasonal graphic collections

    • High-volume SKU production across national retail channels

    • Strengthened visual consistency across apparel lines

    • Efficient design-to-production pipeline

Strategy

Art Alignment

At The Mountain, creative direction was rooted in retail viability. Graphics were developed not only for visual impact but for shelf presence, audience demand, and scalability across product lines.

Artistic expression was balanced with production feasibility and sell-through awareness to ensure designs performed in market, not just on screen.

External Artist Collaboration

I managed and directed a roster of external artists, providing creative briefs, feedback, and final approvals to maintain brand cohesion across diverse artistic styles.

By establishing clear visual parameters and commercial expectations, I expanded creative output without diluting The Mountain’s identity.

Production Ready Systems

High-volume apparel production requires precision. I developed internal standards for file preparation, marketing collateral, and print-ready artwork to streamline collaboration between design and production teams.

Structured workflows ensured efficiency while protecting brand consistency at scale.

Preserve & Evolve Brand Identity

As Art Director, I guided visual cohesion across seasonal collections and product categories, ensuring new designs felt fresh while remaining unmistakably “The Mountain.”

The strategy focused on controlled evolution — strengthening the brand’s presence without fragmenting its core aesthetic.