/ greatest hits /
Aesthetics: As a creative director, I oversaw 6 years of IKEA USA’s commercial campaigns, the rebuilding of eBay’s arts & collectibles experience, Nike’s 2009 US Open and Wimbledon creative, 4 consecutive seasons for Nina/Delman Shoes, and institutional rebrands of Loyola University Maryland, Rochester Institute of Technology & the Woodmere Art Museum.
As a designer, I've made campaigns, catalogs & packaging for American Eagle Outfitters, advertising for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, book covers for Harper Collins, and catalogs for Boyd's Philadelphia. Browse some of this work here.
Strategy: Key engagements have included institutional advancement & strategy for Loyola University Maryland, Widener University, Drexel University & The Philadelphia Citizen; membership strategies for WHYY Public Radio, communications flow analysis for UnitedHealthcare, and executive vision & mission consultation for Dilworth Paxson.
Current clients: Because I work in close, usually ongoing, relationships with my clients I do not present our work, case studies, or a current client list publicly. However, if there is interest in working together, I will share any relevant past or current experience that I'm permitted to share. Just give a holler...
/ background /
Prior to starting Universal Exports of North America, I served for six years as the Executive Creative Director of Brownstein Group, Philadelphia’s oldest independent advertising agency. Along with creative direction, I was a strategic partner to many of our clients, and as a director helped run the overall business.
Before Brownstein, I helped establish another agency, 160over90, working to develop their now internationally recognized higher education practice, along with some ace fashion, sports & lifestyle work. I cut my teeth in advertising at what was then Gyro Worldwide (now Quaker City Mercantile) working on sin & sneakers.
In the 90s, I worked out in Los Angeles, as an art director in the music business. Along with 3 partners I formed The Telegraph Company, a label & distributor that hummed along quite nicely for the better part of a decade until the Napster asteroid hit.
I am also, by trade, a commercial artist. I have remained active as a designer and have been in continuous practice for over 24 years. I also paint, in a pulpy, photo-realist mode, in gouache & watercolor. Some collage work. Occasional photography.
In 2009 I tumbled into steady blogging for about 3 years or so, focusing on art, culture & sundry squirrelly obsessions. That led to a year-long relationship with the newly published, National Magazine Award-winning Uppercase Magazine, for which I was a contributing writer.
Again, more on me & my work can be found @ shepelavy.com