who me?/

My ideal collaborations include strong leadership, enticing branding, creative free flow, and financial and sustainable responsibility… It’s the culmination of all these aspects that really gets me excited.

Need to know more? I’m a designer and creative strategist offering 10+ years of experience leading key growth initiatives in the apparel and textile industry. Known as an expert in delivering innovative, high quality, cost-effective solutions and design strategies that improve brand awareness and market share in a fast-paced environment. Empathetic, energetic, and hands-on with a proven progressive career reflecting strong leadership experience that builds and collaborates with highly motivated teams. Highly praised for work ethic, problem-solving and communication skills, and successful delivery of work.

call me maybe/

262.325.5034
kandler.l@gmail.com

magic tricks/

  • Product Design

  • Installation Design

  • Trend Research & Analysis

  • Brand Management

  • Art & Creative Direction

  • Customer Service & Satisfaction

  • Graphic Design & Photo Editing

  • Licensing & Compliance

  • Marketing Strategy

  • Social Marketing

  • Cost and Environmental Footprint Reduction

  • Event Management

  • Cater Staff Management

  • Customer Service

  • Sales

  • Problem Solving

  • Food Prep, Platting & EXPO

  • Photoshoot design and management

let’s get technical/

  • Adobe Creative Cloud (Ill, Pho, Ind)

  • HubSpot

  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

  • Flat and Draping Pattern Drafting

  • POS (Square)

  • Digital Print/Surface Design + Recolor

  • Website and E-commerce

    (Big Commerce, Wix, Squarespace)

  • Social Media Marketing

    (Facebook, Instagram, HubSpot)

  • Google Ads

  • Online Instruction Tools

    (Voice Thread, Zoom, Canvas,

    LinkedIn Learning)

we are the champions/

  • Mentorship Award for 2020 Apparel Design Graduates

  • Sustainability award, International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), 2009

  • Selected for Metro Magazine’s Top 100 People, Places, and Things in the Twin Cities, 2009

  • Award for best piece in IKEA apparel design competition, April 2009

  • Audience choice award for Calpurnia Peach, at Voltage Fashion Amplified, April 2008

  • Fibiger Award for Body Scanning for Fashion Illustration Undergraduate Research, 2006

CV

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Clothing Design | University Of Minnesota, College of Design | Summa Cum Laude | 2009

WORK EXPERIENCE/ PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of Minnesota | JANUARY 2020 - Present

/ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

Taught 4 credit Fashion Illustration and Portfolio Development required curriculum class.

Received a 5.75 / 6 on student evaluations

Served as Project Manager for N95 Replacement Mask project

Girl Friday | August 2019 - Present

/PROJECT MANAGER

Lead teams to create original art installations using a variety of materials

Work with Creative Director on ideation, mock-ups, installs and renderings

Lead installations, create renderings for, or work with clients at Target, Salesforce, University of MN, Kendra Scott, American Swedish Institute, etc.

/INTERM CLIENT MANAGER promoted Feburary 2020

Freelance | October 2010 - Present

/INDEPENDENT CREATIVE CONSULTANT

Created crafts for 3M Studio EXP used in in-store marketing at Target

Manage sewing and screen-printing projects for private clients with largest client worth $3.5K.

Negotiate material costs and maximized fabric yield through pattern, reducing handbag costs by 30%.

Create performance outfits for Haley Bonar and Caroline Smith, earning features in YouTube videos with 227K+ views.

Lead classes on digital surface design, maker spaces, and screen-printing with largest including 100+ turnout.

Served as Visiting Artist in Residence at University of Wisconsin Marathon Fall 2017 - including a solo exhibition, 2 two-session lessons developed and taught (20 students per class), a community workshop, and 2 lectures.

Designed and lead workshops for the Cooper Hewitt Museum, Walker Art Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Minnesota History Center

Mentor for Museums Connect class in Minnesota and Palestine.

Creative Apparel Concepts | May 2014- January 2019

/DESIGNER & CREATIVE STRATEGIST

Led art direction for programs including Will Call, managing all aspects from concept and sales pitch to first test order and expansion with 6 impressions throughout Target stores.

Designed garments for illustration and novelty-based brands including Munki Munki and Nite Nite worth $64M+ in total.

Worked with licensors including Disney, Star Wars, Nickelodeon, Coca-Cola, and Major League Soccer

Prepared and present product lines to buyers, successfully winning $47K proposal.

Directed new website development and manage content, increasing sales by 40%+ year over year.

www.munkimunki.com and http://retrospectiveco.com/

/ASSOCIATE APPAREL DESIGNER, promoted September 2016

Coordinated trade-shows including Magic in Las Vegas with 85K attendees.

Designed sleepwear line apparel with 200 garments annually.

Developed and sketched novelty prints with 75% resulting in buyer purchases.

Directed catalogs, marketing materials, and photo shoots, successfully reducing photo shoot costs by 50%. 

The Loring Pasta Bar & Varsity Theater | Minneapolis, MN | May 2007 – January 2017

/CATERING & EVENT MANAGER

Planned Corporate, Weddings and University events (up to 700 guests for cocktail service, 300 for plated dinner).

Drafted proposals based on client’s vision and budget.

Managed staff calendar and created task plans for catering staff (2-30)

Developed personalized event menus through on site tastings and one-on-one collaboration with Head Chef.

On-site management of staff, POS, food service, bar, valet.

Trouble shot time sensitive technical and aesthetic issues.

Venue opener and closer - key holder.

Decor layout planning and setup.

http://varsitytheater.org

 

Faux Poco | St. Paul, MN | January 2011 - August 2012

/MANAGING DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Led all aspects of operations for 4K square foot arts production studio focused on accessibility.

Managed $24K annual budget and memberships

Created flexible leases and attended networking events to increase membership across 6 small private studios.

http://fauxpoco.blogspot.com/

 

Calpurnia Peach | Minneapolis, MN | October 2007 – October 2010

/CO-OWNER & FOUNDER

Co-designed and manufactured clothing and prints for sale in 3 boutiques, earning Best Piece Award in Ikea product competition.

Prepared and presented speech to internationally attended conferences including Mao to Now symposium.

Led community screen-printing workshop for Walker Art Center with 300+ attendees.

Calpurnia Peach garment purchased by the Minnesota History Museum for their permanent collection 2008

 

Split Rock Arts Program | Minneapolis, MN | June – August 2009, 2010, 2011

 /PROGRAM ASSISTANT