ABOUT
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Setting the Standard
Hi there! I'm Ilona Kovacs (like
e-low-nuh ko-vatch) a creator and strategist who believes the best work happens where curiosity meets intention.
INTRO
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With a Master of Arts in Emergent Digital Practices and a background in marketing and leadership, I thrive at the intersection of storytelling , design , and strategic thinking —helping brands communicate visually with clarity and heart.
I've played in a variety of spaces, from Social Media to Brand Books, Trade Show Booths to Product Packaging, Album Covers to Animation. What ties it all together? A love for thoughtful branding and a knack for turning ideas into impact.
When I’m not nose deep in my screens, you’ll find me exploring the Rocky Mountains, hunting for the coziest fabrics, or adding to my (objectively excellent) chicken statue collection. Oh, and I’ll never say no to chocolate sprinkles.
Let’s create something together —or just chat about favorite desserts and the perfect color palette.
RESUME
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Education
2023
Master of Arts in Emergent Digital Practices
University of Denver | Denver, Colorado
2022
Bachelor of Arts in Emergent Digital Practices, Marketing
University of Denver | Denver, Colorado
Summa Cum Laude
2018
High School Diploma
Presentation Academy | Louisville, Kentucky
Weighted GPA: 4.35 & Community Service Hours: 257
Awards & Exhibitions
February 8-April 8, 2023
#WomanLifeFreedom: Iran Today
Community Commons Gallery at DU
January 17, 2023
Woman, Life, Freedom: GenZ
RedLine Contemporary Art Center
Woman, Life, Freedom
Digital animations, research, and gallery set-up
Microdosing echo park butcher, brunch schlitz deep v taxidermy tousled readymade pitchfork iPhone pok pok. Hell of mukbang selvage crucifix lomo, fashion axe mumblecore wayfarers ascot pop-up. Cliche wolf distillery pop-up. Post-ironic banjo prism helvetica aesthetic, hashtag pitchfork stumptown cupping activated charcoal cliche distillery.
June 2022
Crimson & Gold Awards
University of Denver
Individual Summit Award
Recipient of the University of Denver’s Summit Award, the highest honor given to an undergraduate student, recognizing sustained commitment to the University’s mission and transformative impact on the DU and Denver communities. Awarded to 10 graduating seniors.
June 2022
Crimson & Gold Awards
University of Denver
Student Organization of the Year
Led DU Programming Board to receive the University of Denver’s Summit Award, recognizing the organization’s enduring contributions, innovative initiatives, and embodiment of DU’s mission within both the campus and Denver communities. Awarded to one organization.
May 26, 2022
EDP Spring Showcase
Vicki Myhren Gallery at DU
April 27-May 8, 2022
future fossils: the art and anthropology of the anthropocene
University of Denver
Converged Artifacts
Digitally rendered environment, slideshow, and designed alter with source materials
Converged Artifacts examines the interaction between undesirable, spiritual materials, and profane objects by the individual and reactionary groups within our society.
May 2018
Honors Day
Presentation Academy
Yearbook Editor of the Year
Recognized as Yearbook Editor of the Year for exceptional leadership, creativity, and editorial excellence in producing Presentation Academy's annual publication.
Professional & Leadership
March 2023-Present
Chief Strategy & Design Officer
Professional Storytelling
Led brand strategy and design for 20+ clients across property, arts, and nonprofits delivering logos, guidelines with templates, and omnichannel collateral (Hacienda La Rinconada, Mountain View Window & Door, John Cote Music, Mamabird Property Management) with integrated IT and design support.
Produced high-profile event materials including award presentations, programs, and digital signage (PRSA Colorado) and ad campaigns (McDonald’s, GoPro) aligned with client objectives.
Designed animated assets (i2 Construction) and accessible websites (The Hygienist Bar, Traillionaires Foundation) to enhance digital engagement.
Directed luxury wedding experiences, overseeing stationary design, print production, and guest or bridal party coordination for high-budget events (Aspen, Denver, Kentucky).
Oct. 2024-July 2025
Creative Marketing & Brand Specialist
Ayéya (and Alaffia, post-acquisition)
Formerly Graphic Designer (Contract)
Led WCAG/ADA compliance for websites, emails, and visual assets post-acquisition, implementing company-wide alt-text systems to mitigate legal risk.
Designed omnichannel campaigns for Whole Foods, Sprouts, and B2B wholesalers including POS materials, limited-edition packaging, in-store displays, digital ads, and coupons as well as production-ready dielines.
Art-directed trade shows for 70K+ attendees (Natural Products Expo West) and 20K+ (America’s Beauty Show), creating booth layouts, graphics, and promo kits that elevated brand storytelling.
Streamlined sales enablement with broker training decks, sell sheets, and retail-ready pitch assets for high-profile buyers.
Drove 50%+ engagement and order value growth through social strategy, while supporting mission-aligned product redesigns.
June 2023-Oct. 2024
Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
University of Denver, Kennedy Mountain Campus, Wellness, & Recreation | Denver, Colorado
Elected Staff Senator
Led digital transformation for DU’s only revenue-generating facilities: Launched and redesigned 2 websites (Drupal, SIDEARM) with stakeholder-specific UX flows, scaled university rebrand (Figma, Canva, DAM), and managed 15-screen signage network (Poppulo) in both design and IT support.
Generated multi-million-dollar revenue through donor proposals, corporate bookings, and membership campaigns by crafting C-suite decks, designing targeted email campaigns across 15,000+ subscribers in segmented audiences, and planning experiential programs.
Built high-performing teams, streamlining workflows (Wrike), onboarding staff to support digital channels and operational efficiency, and developing end-to-end membership sales processes from cold lead through retention.
Elevated social engagement, launching @du_kmc and revitalizing @du_ritchiecenter, driving organic growth.
Championed cross-departmental collaboration, advising campus partners on digital strategy and leading rebrand implementation for 20+ departments and Club Sport teams.
June 2022-July 2023
President
Graduate Student Government | University of Denver
Successfully passed bill enacting Graduate Student Fee capped at $5/quarter to support engagement opportunities on and off campus for interdisciplinary dialogue among all graduate students bridging the gaps across divisions.
Managed Executive Board functioning in weekly meetings by supporting board members’ initiatives, communicating initiatives to university stakeholders, and advocating for university support. Cultivated a network of relationships with the Vice-Chancellors, Vice-Provosts, the Chancellor’s Office, and Trustees.
Sept. 2018-June 2022
Co-President
DU Programming Board | University of Denver
Formerly Music Committee Co-Chair, Marketing Liaison, Traditions Committee Member, and Music (MainStage) Committee Member
Delegated to and supported 15 executive board officers and 78 members to successfully engage students 10,807 times across 68 events in a single academic year. Managed and understood a budget of $260,000 to utilize 99.17% guaranteeing reallocation for future years.
Adapted new processing and procedural systems to integrate into the Programming Board to lead the organization in the most productive way while overcoming environmental health barriers.
Created marketing, drafted contracts, and communicated with agents (Babco Entertainment) for musicians (Mick Jenkins, Electric Guest, Louis the Child, King Princess) and show production (PSI Staging, Impulse Creative) to coordinate off and on campus or virtual concerts for 6,000+ undergraduate students.
May 2019-Jan. 2020
Director of Apparel
Delta Gamma, Beta Chi Chapter | University of Denver
Created concepts and designs for cohesive themed events, communicated with outside vendors and organized orders of 150 shirts, and advertised shirts for events to sorority members.
June 2019-Dec. 2019
Customer Service
Gio's Sicilian Chicken at Truist Park | Atlanta, Georgia
Served and ensured excellent experience, premium quality, and overall satisfaction for over 400 customer transactions daily, and over 700 during professional MLB games.
Assumed managerial duties in the absence of onsite manager and optimized equipment to open, serve, and close a working bar and restaurant front while presenting self as approachable and driving for loyal customers.
Sept. 2017-Dec. 2018
Administrative Intern
C&R Graphics | Louisville, Kentucky
Developed and organized a new filing system of over 10 years of client orders, allowing 20 employees to find previous physical print orders more simply and efficiently.
Billed 100’s of clients monthly for their orders, ranging from $50-$20,000 per bill and directed 30 phone calls daily from clients to appropriate sales associates.
Supported high impact projects (Buffalo Trace, Camp Hi-Ho, Texas Roadhouse, Heaven’s Door) by quality checking orders, ensuring printer functionality, identifying correct Pantone codes, and hand spiraling booklets.
Certifications
Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint Associate
November 2019
Microsoft Office Specialist
Word Associate
October 2019
Microsoft Office Specialist
Excel
May 2019
User Experience in Web Design
April 2020
Advertising on Facebook
April 2020
Graphic Design Foundations: Layout and Composition
May 2020
Tools
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Premiere Pro
Affinity Designer
Affinity Photo
Affinity Publisher
Canva
DaVinci Resolve
Final Cut Pro
Procreate
Sketch 3D
Sketchbook
Audacity
Canon Camera
GoPro
Lumen
Max8
Midjourney
Nikon Camera
Resolume
Sony Camera
Touch Designer
Unreal Engine
Zoom Audio Recorder
Drupal
Figma
GitHub
HTML
JavaScript
Neocities
NetLogo
Open Processing
P5js
Proto.io
Shopify
SIDEARM Sports
Squarespace
Wix Editor & Studio
Constant Contact
Creative Commons
Google Slides
Google Analytics
Klaviyo
Meta Business Suite
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Notion
Populo