Leslie McDOUGALL

CREATIVE DIRECTOR + EDUCATOR

STIR CREATIVE

Stir Creative is a boutique design consultancy in Minneapolis. It began in 2008 at a kitchen table in Golden Valley, Minnesota. We are now located in Minneapolis along the beautiful Theodore Wirth Parkway.  I am a passionate creative who loves helping businesses, strengthening brands, and uplifting people through memorable, luscious, and stirring design. Caring deeply about human connection, experiences, and storytelling compels me to dream of big possibilities. Yet, I know the smallest of kindnesses can make a lasting impression. 

I provide branding, packaging, and communication expertise to the education, architecture, food, and creative industries.

  • Brand Strategy — Brand and Logo Development + Brand Style Guidelines + Naming

  • Product Packaging and Product Brand Strategy

  • Digital and Print Publication Design — Books, Brochures, Reports, Newsletters

  • Marketing Campaigns and Materials — Digital + Print

  • Event Design

  • Product Design — Games, Puzzles, Coloring Books

Capabilities

  • Brand Strategy

  • Brand Guidelines

  • Marketing Concept Strategy & Design

  • Environmental Graphics

  • Experience Design

  • Exhibit Design

  • Event Branding

  • Event Design

  • Website Design

  • Collateral Design

  • Iconography

  • Photo Direction

  • Videography Direction

  • Storytelling 

  • Copywriting

  • Production

  • Prototyping

  • Image Retouching

BIO

I grew up in California within a very creative family.  My mother (former department store window display designer) has a special place in my early creative development—she taught me the skills, joy and satisfaction of making all things sewn, baked, grown, or constructed.  My father, an architect and urban designer in San Francisco. He was lead architect and planner of Foster City, CA and the La Costa Resort, then became a founding faculty member of  the City and Regional Planning Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  My three siblings are highly creative too—Corporate Culture Planner; Vice President, Experience & Engagement at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University; and another Graphic Designer.   Our house, designed by my father, was (and still is) swirling with interesting people, projects, music, and amazing aromas from the kitchen. We all thrive on creativity.

I received a bachelor of science in Graphic Design from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  My design career bloomed in California, and continues in Minneapolis.

CREATIVE ROLES

NORTH HENNEPIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Graphic Design Program. Adjunct Faculty
Courses: Graphic Design Tools 1 & II, Illustration, Typography, Advanced Graphic Design 1, Illustration

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, COLLEGE OF DESIGN
Graphic Design Program. Adjunct Faculty
Courses: Portfolio, Foundations: Graphic Studio

AIGA
Design Camp, Co-chair 2019 to 2024
AIGA Portfolio 1-0n-1 annual reviewer
Member since 2002

ART BUDDIES
Volunteer Buddy
Advisory Board