Hi, I’m Mike Marich! ✌🏻
I’m a Senior Graphic Designer and Art Director based in Southeast Wisconsin. As a left and right-brained individual, I have a passion for connecting the dots between design and strategy. In addition to my 19 years of experience as a designer and a leader, I offer a dogged work ethic, excellent project management skills, and a holistic design approach that combines critical thinking with the right amount of humor. I sweat the details, but I make sure to have fun while doing it.
I emphasize presence over perfection, simplicity over noise, and outcomes in place of accolades.
I have a soft spot for the underdog.
A bit more about myself:
Director and Designer. I'm comfortable operating at 50,000 feet or 5 feet.
I have eight years of managerial experience.
Well-versed in the fundamentals. I’ve got a solid foundation of design, typography, layout composition, conceptual, and art direction experience.
Structured yet flexible. A well-executed plan should be as agile as it is thorough.
Maintain altitude. The most effective campaign requires a consistent perspective that records where you've been and gets buy-in for where you need to go.
Invest in your teammates. Empathize, support, and celebrate those around you.
I'm a team sports guy. Forces come in pairs; instead of cancelling, they influence the motion of each other. To become a force with a destination, I love being a part of a collaborative team that pushes me and regularly challenges the status quo. I'm good, but there's always better.
Can I improve on the silence? Listen first, speak last.
Never stop learning. Read voraciously, demand meaning, and avoid mediocrity.
A designer is a gatekeeper. I'm responsible for the work I put into the world. Advocate first for the person who will buy, use, or experience what I am designing before anything else.
contact
Expertise
Education
Valparaiso University
BSFA – Graphic Design
December 2005
Certifications
Level C
Certified Brand Specialist
June 2023
Certified Brand Strategist
September 2023
Services
Creative + Art Direction
Brand Strategy
Brand Design
Identity Design
Copywriting
Design Team Leadership
Cross-Functional Teamwork
Proactive Communication
Software
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Figma
Adobe Firefly
Autodesk 3ds Max
Squarespace
Miro
Google Suite
Microsoft Office
Likes
Switchfoot
Red Sox
Cavaliers
Spy Novels
Cooking
Gaming
Baseball, Golfing, Cycling
Coaching
Challenging the Status Quo
Supporting the Underdog
The Journey
the underdog district
owner / creative director
Jan 2011 – present / 14 yrs / Freelance
Waukesha, WI
The Snow League
Designer
Dec 2024 – Mar 2025 / 4 mos / Contract / Remote
New York, NY
Wilson Sporting Goods, Co.
Global Graphic Designer, Golf
Mar 2022 – Nov 2024 / 2 yrs 9 mos / Full-time / Remote
Chicago, IL
Eras Senior Network
Design Consultant / Project Manager
Sep 2020 – Dec 2020 / 4 mos / Contract / Remote
Waukesha, WI
The Prestwick Companies
Art Director
May 2012 – Jun 2020 / 8 yrs 2 mos / Full-time / On-Site
Sussex, WI
Brand Designer
May 2007 – May 2012 / 5 yrs 1 mo / Full-time / On-Site
Sussex, WI
Production Artist
Feb 2007 – May 2007 / 4 mos / Full-time / On-Site
Sussex, WI
Murdoch Marketing
Graphic Designer
Jan 2006 – Sep 2006 / 9 mos / Full-time / On-Site
Holland, MI
Kind Words
To put it simply, Mike is exceptional. Over the past 25 years of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with many coworkers and partners, but Mike stands out as one of the most capable, loyal, attentive, understanding, and eager individuals I’ve ever worked with. No matter what challenge you throw his way (and he’s faced plenty), Mike delivers—and he delivers with excellence. His reliability and work ethic are unmatched; you can set your watch by his commitment and availability.
Beyond his flexible abilities and broad knowledge, Mike is more than just a talented designer. He’s a thoughtful ideator and a collaborative problem-solver. Mike has the technical expertise to bring visions to life and the seasoned experience to ensure those visions succeed in the real world. Whether leading a project, executing with precision, or balancing both roles seamlessly, Mike excels.
He’s an invaluable talent, a bright teammate and leader, and a trusted friend. Working with Mike isn’t just a pleasure; it’s been an honor. Any team lucky enough to have him will instantly elevate their game.
russell baltes, sr. graphic designer
I had the privilege of working closely with Mike for a year at Wilson, and during that time, he consistently proved himself to be a strategic, dedicated, and thoughtful teammate. What sets Mike apart is his exceptional ability to merge design expertise with a strategic vision. He seamlessly transitions between big-picture concepts and the finer details of execution, ensuring both creativity and precision are woven into every aspect of his work.
While his technical skills are exceptional, it’s Mike’s collaborative, team-first attitude and relentless growth mindset that truly differentiate him. Mike never takes the easy route—he pushes himself and his team to constantly raise the bar and deliver their best.
jen braier, art director
I was Mike's Project Manager on the Golf division at Wilson Sporting Goods. He was a very detail-oriented, great team-member and all his work had a strategy behind it that really elevated the golf brand.
As a PM, when I kicked-off a project with Mike, I knew that he would be aligned on expectations and hit the appropriate deadlines. His communication style allowed for me to trust that he was getting things done and if he needed support, he wouldn't hesitate to raise a flag. Mike was very intuitive on his workload, letting me know way ahead of time if he was running into conflicting deadlines. He was very easy to work with and he always looked out for his colleagues, jumping in on anything he could with no hesitation to help the greater team.
With Mike you won't only get a talented team member, you'll get someone who designs with purpose and has the strategic ability to push the envelope for the better of the business.
jake kamenick, project manager
Mike is among that rare breed who have the vision to understand the big picture, and the eye to execute the smallest details. Mike was responsible for evolving and executing creative projects for the Golf division as Wilson underwent a huge cultural and brand shift, no easy task! But he delivered on every ask, always on time and always with a positive, friendly and professional attitude. This is not only a testament to both to his vision and skill as an Art Director and Designer, but also as a teammate. Mike is an incredible person, personally and professionally, and would make a great addition to any creative endeavor or high-functioning team.
drew meredith, sr. photographer
We were very fortunate to hire Mike at Wilson when we did to help us on our Golf business creative team and he was an immediate contributor to helping us manage the tremendous design workloads across the board. He delivered in being a fantastic fit and a true Swiss Army Knife type of contributor in a Senior Designer/Art Director role who could handle any projects across platforms and channels.
Great people with great talent help you build outstanding design teams and if you need someone who can come in and hit the ground running and mesh with your existing team effortlessly, Mike is the right fit for any organization lucky enough to land him.
jeff kortenkamp, director of operations
Having worked with Mike for the better part of 8 years, I can say with confidence that he is one of the most capable and knowledgeable art directors and creative managers I've worked with. His passion for design is unmatched and his eye for detail is impeccable.
We coordinated on numerous large scale projects including website redesigns which would likely have never come to fruition without his guidance and vision. His management style and personality make him a valued member of every team I have had the chance to be a part of with him.