Hello! My name is Shanna.
I am a Washington based illustrator & art director, currently working as a Senior Design Lead for Big Fish Games. Clients include, but are not limited to, Hasbro | Wizards of the Coast, Marvel Comics, Funko, Disney, & Netflix.
Like most artists, my career has been anything but linear. I started with the usual logo or two & pleasantly found myself working in the snowboarding industry after an athlete spotted one of my murals in a restaurant. Everything just "snowballed" from there. Pun intended. I soon found myself working for companies like Lib-Tech, Gnu, and Volcom. As I worked for them, I taught myself how to expertly use programs including the Adobe Creative Suite, Z-Brush, and other platforms. Taking that knowledge and combining it with my BFA studies, I built a solid career in art while continuously learning how to network through various industries. I poured everything I knew into product design, following the breadcrumbs until I landed in art direction & outsource management. To this day, I appreciate every hurdle encountered & what those hurdles taught me. I work in toys & game design, product development, with emphasis on growth, brand & marketing. I have a passion for what I do & continue to strive towards positive impacts to our industries by leading through example. This includes devotion to my own work as painter. I spend a lot of time showing work at galleries, events, and comic-cons. It is also found in my commitment to my family.
​
As for me as a "person", I'm an animal lover and a bit of an extroverted introvert. I'm committed to my health, running anywhere from 3-5 miles a day. I live in the mountains so hike regularly & run around causing mischief with my family. I also drink copious amounts of coffee, swear like a sailor and buy over-priced action figures in my spare time.
​
I'm also obsessed with Godzilla.
Works with product and marketing teams developing visual styles and world settings that maximize the commercial success of our original IP games. Creatively defines and upholds the aesthetic qualities of each campaign through visual targets, style guides, reviews, etc. Collaboratively works with team members building better communication lines that drive creative visions, processes, goals, and rationales while appealing to cross-functional stakeholders in a way that inspires and motivates.
Contract Art Director,
Hasbro: Transformers TCG
Renton, WA
Championed the successful development of the Transformers TCG, in addition to the Transformers: "Brothers' War" Secret Lair release, while enhancing the Wizards’ gaming experience
while expanding the IP by attracting both evergreen Transformers fans & new players to the Magic the Gathering experience. This included using innovative printing techniques in the development of a special edition set of MTG cards, the Energon Cube.
Work History
Jan 2022 - Present
Senior Design Lead, Big Fish Games
Greater Seattle Area
Dec 2018 - Jan 2022
Jun 2020 - Sep 2021
Contract Outsourcing Art Director,
Ravensburger NA, Inc
​Greater Seattle Area
​Cultivated strong external partnerships with outside vendors and artists, working with concept artists & game designers on initial ideas for world building, vis-devs & concept art for the first chapter of Disney's Lorcana TCG. Also streamlined & built communication networks between artists and development teams for Disney's Gargoyles: Awakening board game, tracking concepts, edits, art reviews, & feedback for submitted work.
Nov 2014 - Dec 2018
Senior Concept Artist, Funko
​Greater Seattle Area
Led product development for Funko's licensed products, with emphasis on gaming and horror franchises. This included product concepts, design, prototyping, & factory approvals in addition to custom package design and layouts. Concepted the Funko Store's first IP, Wetmore Forest. Served as a consultant, leading the final art direction for Funko's first mobile app, GearsPop!, in association with Microsoft's AAA console game, Gears of War.