About Jamie

    I build brands by understanding people.

    Creative director, hands-on craftsman, and a leader who believes the best work comes from teams that feel trusted.

    52+
    Awards
    $6.6M+
    Program Results
    614%
    Program ROI
    15+
    Years
    Jamie Ahlstedt, smiling in a black-and-white portrait with subtle purple lighting

    For 15+ years I've led creative teams and built the brand systems behind work that moves people to act. I started in graphic design, and craft is still where I'm happiest. But great work doesn't just look good. It starts with why people decide what they do, and designs an experience that helps them act.

    That philosophy took shape while leading an in-house creative team, where behavioral economics became the foundation of our marketing. Every campaign began with one question: What behavior are we trying to change? From customer loyalty and product adoption to workforce engagement and nonprofit growth, creative was the vehicle, and craft made it land.

    I lead with trust. I study the people I work with, build teams where designers are heard and credited, and teach other departments what the creative process really takes. I've earned 52+ creative industry awards and serve as a juror for the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts.

    I'm a hands-on leader. Most of the programs in my portfolio are sub-brands built inside bigger brands, and for each one I built the logo, the design system, the brand guide, and the templates our team used to produce the work day to day. I love finding the gaps in communication, customer experience, or process, and bringing people together to solve them.

    Strengths

    What I bring to a team.

    • Creative Leadership

      Team development & mentorship

    • Brand & Campaign Strategy

      Multi-channel, end to end

    • Cross-Functional Collaboration

      Sales, product & program teams

    • Workflow Optimization

      Sprints, intake & review systems

    • Photo & Video Production

      Oversight from brief to final cut

    • Data-Driven Creative

      Performance-informed decisions

    • Identity, Story & UX/UI

      Systems that scale across touchpoints

    • Culture & Psychological Safety

      Teams where designers are heard

    Career Journey

    From designer to creative director.

    1. 2024 – 2025

      Creative Director

      Performance incentives & loyalty agency

      Led the creative department, with designers, copywriters, and production specialists, across client loyalty and incentive programs. In mid-2024 I moved into corporate marketing, where I brought growth-driven design to our ABM and demand generation teams, introduced automated workflows for campaign production, and directed creative for events and activations.

    2. 2019 – 2024

      Creative Services Manager

      Performance incentives & loyalty agency

      Built and led our team across corporate and client marketing. I introduced sprint-based creative processes that improved turnaround and collaboration by 30%, refreshed our visual systems and content frameworks, and directed award-winning campaigns including the Pure Rewards VIP Program for Pure Storage.

    3. 2018 – 2019

      Graphic Designer

      Performance incentives & loyalty agency

      Designed logos, templates, and campaigns across digital, print, and email, and began giving creative direction in design reviews. Designed award-winning campaigns including Trane Supply TechRewards.

    4. 2017 – 2018

      Graphic Designer

      Global investment firm

      Designed print and digital marketing within strict brand standards, partnering with copywriters and production to refine templates as the business evolved.

    5. Ongoing

      Founder

      Ahlstedt Design

      My own studio for brand work end to end, from the Reflections Bridal Artistry rebrand to nonprofit identity work like the Weymouth Food Pantry.

    6. Education

      BFA, Graphic Design

      University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

      Where the craft started, and still where I’m happiest.

    Recognition

    Awards & jury work

    • AIVA

      Jury · 2022 – Present

      Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts

      Jury Member · Communicator, Davey & W³ Awards

    • Hermes Creative Awards logo

      2020 – 2023

      Hermes Creative Awards

      Platinum & Gold

    • Communicator Award of Distinction silver statuette

      2021 – 2023

      Communicator Awards

      Award of Distinction

    • Communicator Award of Excellence gold statuette

      2022

      Communicator Awards

      Award of Excellence

    • MarCom Awards logo

      2022 – 2023

      MarCom Awards

      Platinum & Gold

    Community

    Design that gives back.

    Weymouth Food Pantry

    Brand & identity rebuild

    Operation Day’s Work USA

    Web design & mentorship

    The Yellow Roses Era

    Civil rights advocacy website & mentorship

    Pan-Mass Challenge

    Raised $6,000 for cancer research

    “You will not find a better Creative Director.”

    Jamie brings a rare blend of creative brilliance, steady leadership, and an unwavering work ethic to every project. Whether spearheading brainstorming sessions, building scalable internal processes, or jumping in to get things done, Jamie consistently inspires those around them to elevate their work and think bigger.

    — John Geysen

    Director of Product Marketing, my direct supervisor

    Download Resume

    Contact

    Let's Connect

    I'm always open to discussing new opportunities, creative collaborations, or just connecting with fellow storytellers and leaders.

    © 2026 Jamie Ahlstedt. All rights reserved.