Ted Kusio - Creative and Technology Leadership

Design

Direction

Hello, I'm Ted Kusio, a Creative and Technology Leader, and Manager of Digital Design at Lumen. Let's make beatitiful digital experiences that engage and inspire.

ABOUT

What I do.

I realize creative ideas using graphic design, technology, and innovation to connect companies with their customers.

With over 30 years in graphic design, web development and marketing, I specialize in creating value-driven digital solutions by crafting engaging stories and immersive experiences. Leading diverse teams with deep cross-disciplinary collaboration, I excel in pioneering innovative applications of technology, including AI integration in design. My blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and collaborative approach drives projects that consistently exceed expectations and push industry boundaries.

Creativity

Make stuff that's beautiful and engaging
Creative direction and strategy
Graphic design and art direction using Adobe Creative Suite
Responsive web site/app design
Interactive design implementation
Video editing and animation (Adobe After Effects, Premiere, Animate)
AI integration in design processes

Make sure stuff works
Front-end web development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
AI tools for automation and content creation
Code-driven animation
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) implementation
Agile methodology

Technology

Leadership

Get stuff done, on time and on budget
Building, recruiting, and retaining talented, diverse teams
Creating a positive and safe work environment
Communicating effectively with teams and upper management
Driving cross-team collaboration
Facilitating training and exploration

EXPERIENCE

What I've done.

Over my three-decade career, I've worn many hats and pushed many pixels.

Spearheaded the complete rebranding of Lumen Technologies, orchestrating a comprehensive overhaul of all assets
Pioneered the integration of AI in design processes, enhancing creative output and streamlining workflows
Developed innovative interactive elements for websites, boosting user engagement and conversions
Created a record-breaking digital presentation for Vogue
Launched a highly effective online ad campaign for The New York Times paid digital subscription
Guided a traditional Flash agency through the transition to HTML, ensuring relevance in an evolving digital landscape
Shared my expertise through university-level classes and corporate training sessions
Presented at numerous conferences and industry events, establishing myself as a thought leader in creative technology

My journey began with self-taught web development skills and a passion for digital design. Today, I continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in the digital realm, always learning, evolving and striving to create impactful digital experiences that resonate with audiences and drive results.

Design Samples

Selected design work for enterprise, retail, and media clients including Lumen Technologies, Vogue, Macy's, and The New York Times, featuring website designs and redesigns, digital ads, infographics, and interactive presentations.

Lumen - Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) ads and web pages

Lumen - Secure access service edge (SASE) ads and web pages

Lumen - Static and animated infographics

Macy's - Internal presentation for fixtures group

Video Samples

Samples of digital signage for John Ryan clients, featuring dynamic weather displays, customizable templates that integrate client imagery and location data, and creative. vertical welcome videos.

A video that greets you when you enter JohnRyan

Another video that greets you when you enter JohnRyan

Companies I Worked With

Airstream
Anthem
Atlantic Records
Barclays
Bayer
Best Buy
CBS
Chase
DDB New York
Discovery Channel
Disney
Estée Lauder
Infor (Hook & Loop)
Intermix
Lumen Technologies
Macy's
New York Lottery
New York Times
Nick at Nite
Nike
Pepperidge Farm
PNC Bank
Sprint
TBWA\Chiat\Day
Trico
Vogue
Warner Bros. Records

REFERENCES

What people say about me.

[Ted] excelled in implementing marketing and advertising campaigns from concepting designs to delivery. His reliability and organizational skills made him an indispensable asset to our entire Marketing team.

Marina Carpenter — Web Designer/Developer; Marina reported to me as an Art Director at Lumen
I was particularly impressed that he can distill complex technical concepts into their constituent parts, and recognize commonalities that could then be applied across a wide array of specialties.

Rod Boev — Front-end and full stack web development; I reported directly to Rod at Cosgrove Associates
Ted possesses a unique combination of technical skill, creativity, curiosity, and general pleasantness. These traits made him a great manager, developer, and coworker.

Lindsey Drake — Sr Director, Operations; was senior to me at Hook & Loop/Infor
One thing that consistently impressed me was Ted's ability to see possible future problems or roadblocks for a project that no one else could see, even very senior developers.

Raleigh Daniel Froeber — Senior Software Engineer; reported directly to me at Hook & Loop/Infor
You can tell that he really understands usability, design, and the related technical concepts. Having Ted on the team immediately reduced the burden on other developers.

Andrew Stephens — Consultant at Solution Design Group; worked with me at Connexions Loyalty
The rare quality that Ted has as a manager is he brings people of all departments and disciplines together.

Aliya Robinson — Front-End Developer; reported directly to me at Hook & Loop/Infor
Ted is an incredible resource in the creative & technology sector.

Keith Gulbro — Developer; reported directly to me at John Ryan

Contact me.

You can also reach me through LinkedIn.