Trader Joe's Visual Design

Creating handmade signs for all products and displays with various media to inform, inspire, and delight the customer.

Holiday Gingerbread House to display all the sweet seasonal items!

User Experience

As a Sign Artist at Trader Joe’s Neighborhood Grocery Store, you are first and foremost a crew member. Your first priority was the user and their needs.

Time Management

You might also be an order writer for a section. I was responsible for the large plants and flowers section. This section played the role of the "Director of First Impressions" at the store, setting the tone for customers' initial experience.

Prioritize and Strategize

Sign artists create all signage for the store. The ability to prioritize and systematize your work flow was essential.

Fun Fact: My first display board took 8 hours to create. The average is 4-6 hours.

So Fast! By creating a process, I soon was able to efficiently create display boards in as little as 30 minutes!!

Sign artists have to pivot quickly and create on demand. One aspect of the creativity was utilizing different types of supports.

Fun Fact: The famous Renaissance artist, Michelangelo, said works of art already existed in the stone. His job was just to chisel way to uncover it.

Resourcefulness: As an artist, I often channeled my inner Michelangelo and simply uncovered the work of art. That is why I loved taking recycled cardboard and breathing new life into it!

Spotlight Cheese Sign Hand Flashlight Arrow

My specialty was complex, large projects with many parts. I love a challenge!

Communicate and Collaborate

Collaborating with the Produce team, the arrival of pumpkins. became not a display but a fun, festive fall experience!

The sign artist serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for other leaders, advising them on optimal ways to present their respective sections. Effective communication and collaboration were vital components of this collaborative effort.