⋆ kristina carden ⋆
DIRECTOR
artist PHOTOGRAPHER
curator
designer CREATOR
With over two decades of professional agency experience, Kristina has collaborated with a diverse array of businesses, from well-established fortune 100 companies to emerging startups across various sectors. She has refined her skillset, seamlessly blending strategic acumen, sharp aesthetic instincts, a relentless curiosity for culture, and a big picture approach to creatively engineer solutions that flourish across platforms. Her primary goal is to craft work that resonates deeply, captivates the audience, and is fueled by a unique perspective.
Nestled in the arid landscape of Phoenix, Arizona, Kristina shares her home with her three children. When she's not engrossed in front of a screen, she relishes in her love for exploration, hiking adventures, and fitness.
Professional Experience
-
FOUNDER → THE SOCIALLY AWKWARD AGENCY + THE SOCIALIGHT STUDIO
-
CREATIVE DIRECTOR → MINDSPACE AGENCY
— Provide creative direction + management with specific regards to time, budget + quality
— Develop + lead creative strategies for custom interactive experiences + large scale projects
— Champion creative efforts to support business development for the agency
— Craft client brand story + our overall concept vision
— Management, mentorship + recruitment of creative team
— Lead internal brand and social media -
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR → MINDSPACE AGENCY
— Developed + lead creative strategies for custom interactive experiences + large scale projects
— Championed creative efforts to support business development for the agency
— Crafted client brand stories + our overall concept vision
— Mentored + recruited creative team
— Developed and participated in pitch presentations -
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR → MINDSPACE AGENCY
— Provided art direction ensuring the team was producing quality creative
— Collaborated in brainstorms + ideation sessions
— Participated in creative efforts to support business development for the agency
— Provided design/production for both print -
SENIOR DESIGNER (Marketing) → THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
— Provided design/production for sales collateral + publications
— Art directed photo shoots
— Conducted pre-press production + attended press checks
— Developed advertising + marketing campaign concepts -
JUNIOR DESIGNER → E-MARKETING
— Designed complex intranet websites
— Managed product photo shoots
— Assisted with digital production design
Education
BFA in Visual Communications
Northern Arizona University
1997 - 2001 Summa Cum Laude
Awarded the Most Outstanding Visual Communications Graduate
Skills
PRACTICAL
Digital Visual Design
Print & Layout Design
UX Design + Wireframing
Lifestyle Photography
Photo & Video Shoot Production
Photo & Video Shoot Direction
Storyboarding
Talent Recruitment
Presentation Design
Photography & Set Styling
Social Media Design & Planning
Mood Board & Concept Development
Creative Direction
Packaging
Digital Advertising
Environmental
Mentoring + Leading
TECHNICAL
Figma
Adobe Suite
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Lightroom
Articulate Rise + Storyline
Sketch
Google Apps
Slack
SquareSpace
Shopify
Canva
Facebook Social Scheduler + Tools
Addy Awards
2015
4 Gold
5 Silver
Nominee: Creative Director of the Year
4 Gold
5 Silver
Nominee: Creative Director of the Year
2013
1 Gold
1 Silver
1 Bronze
2010
Best in Show
1 Gold
2007
1 Silver
3 Bronze
2006
2 Gold
2 Silver
4 Bronze
2005
1 Silver
What happened between 2015 and 2024, you ask?! Mindspace pivoted our focus from more traditional digital experiences to the learning and development world. Unfortunately the Addy Award categories no longer aligned with our work. We also decided seeking awards was no longer a priority and that our work and client success was fulfillment enough :)
1 Silver
2024
The Socially Awkward Agency
A boutique branding and design studio where I lead end-to-end brand development for small businesses, including positioning, visual identity systems, and digital presence. This work has strengthened my ability to translate business goals into cohesive, differentiated brand experiences across touchpoints.
Ventures
The Socialight Studio
A creative studio and community space I built from the ground up, where I’m responsible for brand strategy, audience growth, programming, and partnerships. It’s been a real-time lab for testing messaging, building community-driven brand engagement, and creating content that resonates.
BE/tter Lifestyle Faith Based Clothing
In collaboration with my 3 kids, this movement, the Be/tter Lifestyle, aims to empower youth to make better choices, to embrace their identity in Christ, and to walk confidently in their faith journey.
