Welcome to NathanBarilka.com
creative portfolio site
Creative Director | Generative AI Design Lead
Creative Director & Generative Design Lead at Aquent Studios with over 15 years of experience leading creative teams and driving impactful design solutions. I have helped expand Aquent Studios’ capabilities in generative AI, integrating emerging technologies into our creative workflows to push the boundaries of design innovation.
Previously, I served as Sr. Creative Manager at Bass Pro Shops, overseeing creative for all internal hunting brands and Tracker Off-Road. My career spans in-house and agency roles, with expertise in digital, print, and photography.
I have partnered with global retail and technology brands, including Sony PlayStation, GoPro, Pottery Barn Kids & Teen, TOMS, DODOcase, Obeo, MTV Networks (Viacom), Lightning Media, and Garmark Advisors, bringing a strategic and creative perspective to every project.
Bachelor’s Degree
Drexel University, Pennsylvania PA
Proficiencies
Generative AI Software
- Stable Diffusion
- Midjourney
- ComfyUI
- ChatGPT
- Claude
Adobe Creative Suite
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Indesign
- Premiere
- After Effects
- Dreamweaver
- Lightroom
Microsoft Suite
Cinema 4D
Figma/Sketch
WordPress
Keynote
Area of Study
Graphic Design & Digital Media
Photography
Specialties
Generative AI
Creative Direction
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Digital Design
Packaging
Print Production
Corporate Branding
Retail
POP Design
Trade Show Design
Typography
Photography
- Sort Portfolio:
- All
- DODOcase
- GoPro
- PlayStation
Bass Pro Shops
Senior Manager, Creative (Hunting)
• Lead a team of designers on creative initiatives from concept to completion
with a large focus on internal brands in the hunting space.
• Establish purposeful brand growth while protecting integrity of existing
brand messaging, visual language and identity via brand guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with marketing teams, product developers, merchants
and leadership teams on prioritizing creative initiatives.
• Ideate, plan and direct photo shoots for internal hunting brands/pursuits
and Tracker Off-Road for all marketing needs, both print and digital.
Associate Creative Director
July 2020 – February 2021 (Contract)
• Provide creative direction including typography, layout, brand guideline and color principle to creative designers and production designers.
• Lead creative brand growth on digital and app based brand initiatives.
•Ideate and refine brand identity across digital platforms including website, email, social and mobile.
• Cross functional liaison for the creative department for development, product design, UX and leadership teams.
• Support for Packaging and Channel teams on partner retail outlets.
• Work closely with designers and projects managers to manage schedules and balance work load with priorities.
Digital Creative Manager
July 2019 – July 2020
• Digital Creative Manager for potterybarnkids.com & potterybarnteen.com overseeing a team of digital designers responsible for website creative.
• Supervise promotional and seasonal campaign projects across the two websites, including landing pages and microsites, while aligning with the email creative team for a unified brand look and feel.
• Work closely with editorial counterparts to make PBK&PBT websites, emails and digital assets reflect an accurate brand voice.
• Collaborate with cross-brand (Pottery Barn, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, etc.) partners for larger company-wide initiatives across digital platforms.
Senior Concept Designer
September 2017 – July 2019
• Primary focus on POP, packaging, events, creative campaign exploration and art direction on first and third party I.P.’s (Lead designer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Monster Hunter: World, Death Stranding and Ghosts of Tsushima). Supporting designer for God of War & Marvel Spider-Man.
• Lead photographer for hardware development, prototypes and product explorations. Built out photo department to bring all photography needs in-house.
Senior Digital Designer
May 2014 – September 2017
• Maintain look and feel of TOMS website, digital assets and email campaigns in accordance with brand guidelines. Partner with Creative and E-Commerce Marketing teams, while developing and refining design assets that address E-Commerce’s goals
• Develop digital web designs that effectively communicate messages and goals requested by e-commerce and marketing teams.
• Seasonal planning of digital assets in collaboration with art director and project lead to for layout and organization of TOMS website and digital assets.
Digital Designer
August 2013 – March 2014
• Maintain look and feel of TOMS website, digital assets and email campaigns in accordance with brand guidelines. Partner with Creative and E-Commerce Marketing teams, while developing and refining design assets that address E-Commerce’s goals.
• Develop digital web designs that effectively communicate messages and goals requested by e-commerce and marketing teams.
• Seasonal planning of digital assets in collaboration with art director and project lead to for layout and organization of TOMS website and digital assets.
Design Director
March 2010 – July 2013
• Leading company wide creative initiatives for print and digital content, creative advertising and email campaigns, video and photography production, product photography, package design, print material and product design.
• Design and supervise print projects for internal initiatives and external facing promotional materials.
• Photograph, edit and produce all product and lifestyle photography + video for seasonal product launches and promotional campaigns (e-commerce and trade show)
