Sheri W
Multimedia & Creative Director | Creative Strategist | Project Management | Technical Director
Profile
Creative visionary with over 10 years of experience in multimedia, animation, branding, and digital marketing. As the Founder & Creative Director of Soothing Ways, I blend artistry with strategic business insights to create compelling visual narratives and immersive brand experiences. My background includes working with top studios like Walt Disney Animation, ESPN, and Cinesite, where I specialized in look development, creative direction, and workflow optimization. Passionate about innovation, I bring a unique mix of technical expertise and artistic vision to every project.
Key Skills & Competencies
Design & Graphics: Adobe Suite (Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere), UX Design
Business & Marketing: Branding, SEO, Social Media Strategy, Website Development
Programming & Development: Python, SQL, Agile/Scrum, Web Applications
3D & VFX Tools: Maya, Nuke, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter
Texturing & Surfacing: Look Development, Character & Environment Optimization
Career Highlights
• Founded and grew Soothing Ways, integrating branding, design, and digital marketing for a unique sensory experience.
• Supervised high-profile animation projects at Cinesite, optimizing production pipelines.
• Designed engaging broadcast graphics for ESPN, enhancing live TV experiences.
• Contributed to blockbuster animated films at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Professional Experience
Soothing Ways (soothingways.com), CT
Founder & Creative Director | 4 years
• Built a thriving artisan brand, overseeing product design, marketing, and e-commerce strategy.
• Developed successful SEO and social media campaigns, increasing brand visibility and engagement.
• Designed a high-performing e-commerce platform, driving sales and customer retention.
Cinesite, Montreal, Canada
Look Development Supervisor | 2 years
• Led a team in character and environment look development, improving pipeline efficiency.
• Managed budgets, asset bidding, and mentored junior artists to enhance project execution.
• Worked on high-profile animated feature films.
Notable Projects: Supercharged, Riverdance, Extinct, The Addams Family.
ToonBox Entertainment LTD, Toronto, Canada
Lead Look Development Artist/Technical Artist | 2 years
• Directed teams and managed the Mari texture/material library.
• Automated production workflows with Python, reducing turnaround times and boosting efficiency.
• Provided creative and technical support to artists during production.
Notable Projects: Nut Job 2, Pre-production of upcoming film.
ESPN, Bristol, CT
Project Designer II | 1 year
• Designed and conceptualized animated graphics for live television broadcasts.
• Developed After Effects templates and scripts to enhance pipeline workflow for live shows.
Shows: SportsCenter, His & Hers, MLB, Mike & Mike, MLS.
Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank, CA
Look Development Artist | 2 years
• Developed character and environment textures, including fur and hair grooms for animated features.
• Contributed to award-winning animated films.
Projects: Tangled Ever After, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen.
Absolute Post, New York, NY
CG Artist | 2 years
• Created high-end visual effects elements for commercials and worked closely with clients to meet creative goals.
Clients: Samsung, V8, Johnny Weir, Finish.
Community Experience
Chamber of Commerce
Education
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Computer Animation & Visual Effects, 2009
BrainStation, Toronto, Canada
Certificate in UX Design, 2016
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO
Master of Science (MS) in Software Development, 2019
Other Experience/Awards/Publications