About

Designer & creative

Marena Yaacoub is an Adobe-certified brand designer and creative in Portland, Oregon. Eight years of identity work, print, and campaigns, from first sketch to final delivery.

Background

Marena specializes in identity systems, marketing campaigns, and visual communication. Since 2017 she has run an end-to-end freelance practice serving 60+ clients across 10+ industries, owning every engagement from concept development and art direction through revisions and final delivery. 95 percent of that work arrives through repeat clients and referrals.

She currently manages multi-channel marketing for the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the U.S. and Egypt, where her campaigns tripled the Instagram audience from 4,000 to 12,000 followers, sustain a 42 percent average email open rate, and support more than $250,000 raised across annual giving campaigns.

Three years as a production designer at Wide Eyes Paper Co. built the operational side of her craft: 30 to 50 concurrent projects a month, direct client consultation, and print files a press can trust. She communicates in English, Arabic, and American Sign Language.

Experience

Where she has worked

  1. Sep 2017 to Present

    Freelance graphic designer

    Independent client practice

    End-to-end design spanning brand identity, logo design, print, and packaging for 60+ clients across 10+ industries. 150+ projects delivered since 2017 with a 95 percent repeat-and-referral rate, and repeatable workflows that cut average turnaround 25 percent.

  2. Jun 2023 to Present

    Nonprofit marketing & development coordinator

    Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the U.S. & Egypt

    Multi-channel marketing across email, social, and print. Tripled the Instagram audience from 4K to 12K followers, sustains a 42 percent average email open rate, and produced 200+ assets across 25+ campaigns supporting $250K+ raised in annual giving.

  3. Jan 2021 to Dec 2023

    Production graphic designer

    Wide Eyes Paper Co.

    Managed 30 to 50 concurrent client projects per month, 1,200+ in total, from concept through final print production. Earned 70 percent of business from repeat clients and referrals and cut average turnaround 30 percent.

  4. Jul 2017 to Jan 2020

    Marketing and sales associate

    Ulta Beauty

    Exceeded sales goals by 15 percent or more through consultations and promotional strategy, and drove 150+ loyalty program sign-ups per quarter through in-store marketing and visual merchandising.

Skills

Tools and disciplines

Design

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Canva
  • Brand identity & logo design
  • Print & packaging design
  • Layout & typography
  • Color theory & visual storytelling

Production & client services

  • Print production
  • Art direction
  • End-to-end project management
  • Client collaboration & consultation

Marketing

  • Multi-channel campaign strategy
  • Email marketing
  • Social media content
  • Nonprofit development & fundraising

Credentials & languages

  • Adobe Certified Professional, Illustrator (2022)
  • CS50, Harvard University (in progress)
  • BA Graphic Design, Portland State University
  • English, Arabic, ASL

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