work experience

LINDSEY TURNER

Nashville, Tenn. | E-mail | LinkedIn

CURRENTLY

COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT
(October 2021-present)

As a communications and graphic design professional with more than 17 years of experience spanning journalism, publishing, art direction, communications strategy, social media strategy, content creation, editing, marketing, and e-commerce.

Lindsey spent more than 13 years in newsrooms and news-design hubs, leading teams of designers and editors who produced hundreds of newspaper pages and digital assets each day for more than 18 daily newspapers across the Southeast. In 2018, Lindsey joined the nonprofit world as a communications director, where she used her design and writing skills to create highly effective communications and marketing collateral, email campaigns, and social media content that grew audiences and, crucially, audience engagement.

In 2021, Lindsey took her communications and graphic design consulting services full time, helping nonprofits and other small businesses improve their communications team processes and output across channels — website, email marketing, social media, and more. Her versatility — offering director-level strategic direction, graphic design, content creation, and workflow management as part of one package — makes her a uniquely strong asset to any team looking to make a stronger impact with their communications channels.

Lindsey is also the founder and artist behind Eyedot Creative — an online shop that specializes in darkly funny, irreverent paper goods and giftables.

FOUNDER, DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR
Eyedot Creative (2007-present)

Eyedot Creative is a paper goods, sticker, and giftables brand based in Nashville, Tenn. With an irreverent, sometimes dark aesthetic that features themes of burnout, existential angst, and anxiety, founder and illustrator Lindsey Turner creates bold designs meant to get a laugh out of even the most jaded recipient.

Through Eyedot Creative, Lindsey also offers freelance graphic design and content creation services and consulting.

PREVIOUSLY

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
National Health Care for the Homeless Council (February 2023-July 2023)

Lindsey joined NHCHC on a part-time, temporary basis to lead the communications team of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council — the nation’s premier organization working at the intersection of health care and homelessness.

As Communication Manager, Lindsey:

  • curated multiple unique newsletters and e-blasts each month for targeted audiences to advertise the Council’s events and workshops, generate advocacy actions, and drive awareness of the Council’s initiatives. Through targeted messaging strategies and improved audience list hygiene, Lindsey helped improve the Council’s open rates, click-to-open rates, and click rates, all while continuing to grow the subscriber base.
  • created, designed, and optimized engaging, shareable social media content across several platforms for NHCHC and the National Institute for Medical Respite Care. During the five months she managed the Council’s social channels, the organization’s Instagram following tripled and its LinkedIn following more than doubled.
  • created copy and graphics for NHCHC’s and NIMRC’s websites, and helped reorganize and reimagine the structure and organization of the Council’s online resources to be more user friendly for the Council’s audience and staff.
  • collected, analyzed, and reported out on social media and email newsletter analytics, and adjusted strategies based on the data.
  • wrote press releases and interfaced with local and national media to publicize the great work being done by the Council.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Hands On Nashville (August 2018-October 2021)

  • Created and implemented marketing and communications plans for HON, its programs, events, and partnerships
  • Developed content for HON’s website, social media, blog, e-newsletters, and other platforms
  • Drafted talking points for CEO and staff, crafted media advisories and press releases, and served as primary contact for members of news media
  • Acted as a brand ambassador to ensure all communications platforms and presentations cohesively represented HON’s vision, mission, and stories of service
  • Designed digital and print graphics and collateral for marketing efforts and HON events
  • Created and administered presentations and training sessions about HON and general nonprofit communications practices
  • Served as part of HON’s senior leadership team and set departmental budget in collaboration with HON’s CEO
  • Managed multiple direct reports, including AmeriCorps service members

ART DIRECTOR
Jostens, Clarksville, Tenn. (October 2017-August 2018)

  • Supervised a team of 30 designers, production artists and art clerks responsible for producing thousands of yearbook covers and their associated graphic assets
  • Coached and mentored staffers on design, customer service, workflow and best practices, and conducted annual performance appraisals
  • Collaborated with top-level executives across departments (HR, IT, etc.) to ensure smooth operation across the organization, and implemented solutions when issues arose
  • Worked with third-party printing vendors to secure quotes, proofs and final products to incorporate into yearbook cover production
  • Recruited, vetted and hired candidates for full-time and seasonal positions

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR
The Art Institute of Tennessee—Nashville (July 2017-October 2017)

  • Taught fundamentals of design via lectures, discussion, demonstrations, critiques and project assignments
  • Coached aspiring designers to develop, analyze and refine creative concepts from initial idea to execution
  • Helped students navigate questions and concerns facing real-world designers in the workplace

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Gannett Design Studio, Nashville (October 2014-October 2017)

  • Led staff seven team leaders and more than 90 designers and editors who produced 18 daily newspapers, more than two dozen nondaily publications, multiple magazines and digital graphic assets for partner papers’ websites and social media accounts
  • Oversaw branding implementations, overhauls and redesigns
  • Created and hosted training sessions for staff on design standards and company SOPs
  • Recruited, vetted and hired candidates for full-time positions and internships
  • Collaborated with high-level editors on daily design as well as issues of overall production efficiency
  • Created and managed Design Studio Nashville social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr), which aimed to broadcast the great work done by the studio team and its collaborators, and served as a recruiting tool, a source of information and a point of pride for employees
  • Coached and mentored middle managers and hourly staffers on design, workflow and best practices
  • Designed special projects and enterprise packages, including projects shared across the USA TODAY NETWORK, which produces more than 100 newspapers
  • Organized on- and off-site staff gatherings to help foster unity and growth among employees

DESIGN TEAM LEADER
Gannett Design Studio, Nashville (July 2012-October 2014)

  • Oversaw a combination of news, sports, features and special product design for four newspapers
  • Supervised 10 designers who worked with Nashville; Hattiesburg, Miss.; Jackson, Miss.; and Staunton, Va.
  • Collaborated and communicated with editors to plan for daily production and enterprise projects
  • Mentored and trained designers on CCI NewsGate as well as the news design production process
  • Brainstormed ideas, offered feedback and suggestions for improved pages to designers
  • Performed annual evaluations, set goals for designers and address personnel issues
  • Developed and maintained production schedules for the team’s products, and scheduled staff accordingly
  • Created conceptual illustrations and designs as needed for the papers on the team
  • Worked with editors to develop new products, features and styles
  • As NewsGate expert user, created and tweaked templates and library shapes to improve efficiency
  • Troubleshot production problems and developed workflow solutions
  • Launched The Clarion-Ledger and Hattiesburg American into the studio in September/October 2012
  • Redesigned the Montgomery Advertiser for their Butterfly launch in February 2014

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis (June 2008-July 2011)

  • Conceptualized, art directed and created illustrations primarily for news, opinion and online
  • Art directed and designed Sunday A1 and Sunday Viewpoint, as well as enterprise special sections
  • Helped manage and schedule staff of eight designers and a graphic artist
  • Edited stories and wrote headlines, promos, cutlines and other compelling display type for A1

BLOGGER, DIGITAL TASK FORCE MEMBER
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis (April 2009-July 2012)

  • Curated local web content and contributed original content for thememphisblog.com
  • Wrote book news, reviews and author interviews for theshelflifeblog.com and Sunday books page
  • Covered Beale Street Music Festival on the Memphis in May blog and the Go Memphis Twitter account
  • Worked with team to conceptualize digital products and designed wire frames based on ideas

PAGE DESIGNER, COPY EDITOR
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis (January 2005-July 2012)

  • Designed live and advance broadsheet and tabloid pages, primarily for news sections and A1
  • Copy edited stories and wrote headlines and cutlines; posted stories to The CA’s website

DESIGN, COPY EDITING INTERN
The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Ala. (summer 2004)

  • Designed broadsheet news, business and feature pages
  • Copy edited stories and wrote headlines and cutlines using AP and in-house style

EDUCATION

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

  • Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with emphasis on print media design
  • Graduated cum laude
  • Minors in English and Women’s Studies

SKILLS

Graphic design: More than 17 years in publishing and graphic design, with love for creating for print and screen. Skilled at information organization in both editorial and commercial design.

Writing/editing: Comfortable researching and writing pieces in a variety of
formats for multiple platforms. Knack for capturing detail and tone. Fluent in AP style.

Photography: Good eye for composition, contrast and color. Can compose and edit images based on individual project’s need, be it artistic or photojournalistic.

Web/social media: Longtime internetter who’s been publishing online since 1999. Fluent in many social and blogging platforms. Creates actionable campaigns.

Collaboration/teamwork: Comfortable being part of a team or flying solo. Builds trust through being responsive and responsible. Seeks feedback and buy-in for best possible outcome.

Project management: Has art directed hundreds of design projects. Juggles deadlines, schedules, resources and late changes. Ensures benchmarks and deadlines are hit.

Software: Comfortable in Mac and PC environments. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud (particularly Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat and Illustrator) and Adobe Digital Publishing, Smartsheet, Emma, Salesforce, Blogger, WordPress, Squarespace, Medium, CCI NewsGate.

AWARDS AND HONORS

» Best of the West Journalism Awards judge for news design category (February 2017)
» Great Plains Journalism Awards judge for Designer of the Year category (February 2017)
» Best Makeup and Appearance for The Tennessean (Tennessee Press Association, July 2016)
» First place in Video Storytelling for The Tennessean’s “Project Reset” (The Society for Features Journalism, June 2016)
» Society for News Design judge, 37th edition (features and magazine category, February 2016)
» Southeast Journalism Conference design judge and speaker (Austin Peay, February 2016)
» Best Graphics and Illustrations for The Tennessean (Tennessee Press Association, July 2014)
» 20 Under 30 (The Memphis Flyer, February 2011)
» Scripps third quarter 2010 design award
» Society for News Design Award of Excellence 2009
» Scripps third quarter 2009 design award
» Memphis’ Best Twitterer (voted by readers of The Memphis Flyer, 2009)
» Scripps first quarter 2008 design award