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Vanessa Tutka (618) 917-0418 | hello@vanessatutka.com | www.vanessatutka.com | www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-tutka

Professional Summary

As the Theme Team Lead on the globally-supporting Element Design System team at Bayer, I spearheaded and collaborated on the creation of a comprehensive theme system supporting 60+ Bayer brands and 30+ products. With over 10 years of UX design experience, 6 years specializing in design systems, and 16 years in graphic design and art direction, I provide consistent, accessible, and WCAG-compliant design solutions that empower the Bayer design community. Skilled in roadmap development, design strategy formulation, and meticulous project planning, I excel in fostering cross-functional collaboration and delivering intuitive user experiences. Passionate about user research, atomic design principles, and community building, I drive innovation and inclusivity in every project. I want to explore design systems as infrastructure and culture. Excited to lead design teams in crafting innovative, scalable systems that drive brand and product excellence.

Key Skills

  • Design Systems Strategy & Implementation

  • Design System Governance & Contribution Models

  • Vibe Coding

  • AI Integration

  • Atomic Design Principles

  • Systems Thinking

  • UX/UI Design & Research

  • Art Direction & Visual Design

  • Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Procreate

  • User Journey Mapping & Persona Development

  • Roadmap Creation; high-level strategy to detailed project planning

  • Process Optimization

  • Leadership & Team Collaboration

  • Stakeholder Management

  • Public Speaking & Community Engagement

Professional Experience

Senior UX Designer / Theme Lead

Bayer | October 2018 – Present

  • Spearheaded the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive, multi-branded design system, streamlining workflows for multiple global teams.

  • Led cross-functional collaboration with designers, developers, product managers, and stakeholders to align on UX strategies and improve consistency across digital platforms.

  • Conducted user research and usability testing, translating insights into actionable design solutions, increasing productivity for users by more than 30%.

  • Mentored fellow designers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

  • Facilitated onboarding and training for new team members, accelerating their integration into design workflows.

  • Innovated multi-brand support for 60+ themes, enhancing brand recognition across platforms.

  • Improved accessibility scores for products by over 25%, ensuring inclusivity and compliance with WCAG accessibility standards at both AA and AAA levels.

Senior Art Director

FleishmanHillard | June 2018 – October 2018

  • Directed visual design for high-profile campaigns, ensuring brand alignment and delivering compelling user experiences.

  • Managed multidisciplinary teams in executing integrated marketing projects within tight deadlines.

  • Enhanced client satisfaction by presenting innovative design concepts tailored to diverse industry needs.

  • Led new business acquisition efforts, including crafting pitch decks with industry insights and metrics.

  • Redesigned the internal Intranet user experience, improving team efficiency and engagement.

Junior Art Director

Fusion / Endeavor | December 2014 – June 2018

  • Collaborated on advertising campaigns and experiential marketing projects for B2B and B2C clients.

  • Delivered innovative concepts that garnered industry recognition, contributing to team’s creative success.

  • Created experiential marketing campaigns for major events such as the Super Bowl and SXSW.

  • Executed on-site and off-site marketing initiatives for brands like Goose Island, Bud Light, Budweiser, Naked Juice, Valvoline, K Mart, Malibu Rum, Marvel, and T-Mobile.

Art Director

Boxing Clever | December 2012 – December 2014

  • Developed branding strategies and visual assets for clients, driving brand recognition and engagement.

  • Oversaw the design and production of print and digital materials, ensuring quality and timely delivery.

  • Built strong client relationships through effective communication and creative problem-solving.

Freelance Experience

Designed and delivered branding solutions for small businesses, non-profits, and startups, ensuring alignment with client goals and market trends.

Freelance Designer / UX Designer / Creative Director

Fortune Teller Bar | Local Business

  • Ran a 6-week marketing plan, including rebranding, website development, and social media marketing.

  • Achieved a 64% increase in social media engagement and boosted customer retention by 10%.

  • Organized events and programming that increased revenue by 18%.

Booster | Start-Up

  • Delivered comprehensive logo design, branding, website development, and copywriting.

Wilqo | Start-Up

  • Constructed and collaborated on a design system with 20+ components and 12 themes.

Elad Gross | Public Official, Missouri Attorney General Candidate

  • Created custom illustrations, billboard designs, and social media marketing materials to support campaign visibility.

Speaking Engagements & Presentations

  • Guest Speaker, ByDesign Podcast: Presented on design leadership and the creative industry in St. Louis.

  • Presenter, Adobe Create: Spoke on behalf of AIGA St. Louis, sharing insights on creative collaboration.

  • Guest Speaker, LaunchCode: Led a talk on atomic design system best practices and branding strategies.

Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

  • UX Design Certification | LaunchCode

Leadership & Community Involvement

  • Founder & Leader, Ladies Wine & Design STL: Organized workshops and events fostering creative growth among women in design.

  • Member, Collective 8: Designed and self-published zines, supporting local non-profits through creative collaborations.

  • Chapter Manager, AIGA St. Louis: Project Management, grant application, directed programming, sponsorship development, and community engagement initiatives.

  • Publicity Lead, Arch Rival Roller Derby: Lead a team of designers, wrote and edited PR releases, collaborated on rebrand

References

David Angerer
Platform Lead | Brand Expression Product Owner
Email: david.angerer@bayer.com
Phone: (314) 221-2115

Parker Gibson
Former Colleague | Collaborated on Design System
Email: helloparkergibson@gmail.com
Phone: (618) 267-4943

Natalie Johnson
Colleague | AIGA Membership Director
Email: nataliealandesign@gmail.com
Phone: (636) 697-4226