July 23, 2026
Dear Wellmark Design Lead Team,
I am excited to apply for the Design Lead position at Wellmark. After reading the job description, I found myself nodding in agreement throughout. The role reflects the kind of work I enjoy most - creating exceptional design, solving complex communication challenges, mentoring other designers, and helping elevate the quality and consistency of a respected brand.
Over the past 30 years, I have built my career around transforming ideas into meaningful visual communications. My experience spans agency, corporate, and in-house leadership roles, where I've led branding initiatives, developed integrated marketing campaigns, created digital and print communications, directed photography and video production, and produced creative work for organizations ranging from regional businesses to nationally recognized brands. Throughout my career, one constant has remained: I enjoy being hands-on. Whether refining typography, developing a campaign concept, art directing a photo shoot, or building a brand system, I believe great leadership starts with doing great work alongside the team.
In my current role as Marketing Art Director at Mittera Creative and Tech, I lead and mentor a team of seven designers while directing creative development across packaging, magazines, catalogs, direct mail, social media, photography, and digital campaigns. Prior to that, as Brand Lead at Tractor Zoom, I guided a comprehensive rebrand across multiple platforms, strengthening brand consistency while leading website design, animation, marketing campaigns, and digital content creation. Earlier roles with Flynn Wright, Grey Dog Media, Flatout Branding, Essman Associates, and my own design studio provided opportunities to develop brand identities, environmental graphics, packaging, websites, illustration, and advertising campaigns across virtually every communication channel.
What particularly attracts me to Wellmark is the emphasis on maintaining and strengthening a trusted brand while encouraging innovation. I appreciate your focus on thoughtful design execution, collaboration across teams, and practical exploration of emerging technologies, including generative AI. Throughout my career, I've embraced new tools as they emerged - not because they're new, but because they help designers work more efficiently, iterate more effectively, and ultimately produce stronger creative solutions. I believe technology should support creativity, never replace thoughtful design thinking, sound judgment, or strong brand stewardship.
I'm equally energized by the opportunity to mentor fellow designers. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from helping others grow professionally, encouraging curiosity, improving creative workflows, and fostering an environment where designers feel empowered to produce their best work. I believe the strongest creative teams are built on trust, collaboration, shared accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Beyond my technical background, I bring exceptional attention to detail, a deep understanding of visual branding, extensive experience managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments, and a passion for creating communications that are clear, engaging, and purposeful. As someone who has spent decades balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution, I would welcome the opportunity to help Wellmark continue building a visual brand that inspires confidence and connects meaningfully with the people it serves.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself and have included a portfolio that highlights a range of branding, marketing, digital, and creative leadership projects. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and passion for thoughtful design could contribute to Wellmark's creative team.
Sincerely,
Clint Hansen
Urbandale, IA
515.380.4737
clint@clinthansen.com
wellmark.clinthansen.com