A Little More About Me

I've been telling stories visually for as long as I could hold mark-making tools or arrange objects (my early attempts at assemblage). My design journey began during my teenage years when I discovered my love for graphic design while creating t-shirts and flyers for local bands and skate shops. Design consumed my life—I even slept under the screenprinting equipment at the shops where we lived and worked. I thrived on the scrappiness of the DIY scene and even at that level I learned the undeniable truth of McLuhan's treatise, that the medium is the message. Source and context are always integral, and matter deeply. As a visual communicator, it is essential to consider what you really want to convey and the channels and platforms through which you express it.

Along the way, it became clear that in order to evolve and grow, I needed to transition from the skate shop and fliers world into a formal art school education. To formalize my skills. I attended Otis in Los Angeles for a foundation year before completing my studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, with impactful detours into various design agencies and publishing.

My DIY background proved invaluable when I arrived in Silicon Valley, where I encountered a similar ethos and punk rock spirit reminiscent of my days (and nights) screening shirts on homemade equipment and engaging in poster raids at 3 am. However, this time, the brands and products I worked on quickly blew up from small garage operations into becoming global powerhouse brands. While the equipment was definitely superior (and the coffee was now free) but the hours remained the same.

After refining my skills and gaining valuable industry knowledge, I bootstrapped into the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of Silicon Valley. It was literally the wild west, and it was awesome! As the web took shape, so did my career. I eagerly joined in. My ascent was rapid, and I attained the role of Senior Art Director at a renowned tech company and later stepped up into CD roles with other players. Throughout this time, I had the privilege of working with amazing designers and rule-breakers as we contributed to the visual identities of these organizations, playing a pivotal role in shaping their brand stories and design systems.

As my career progressed, I embraced the world of freelance and contract work, which gave me the bandwidth and freedom to collaborate with a diverse range of clients across a wide spectrum. From food startups and restaurants to shelter manufacturers and agencies, I seized the opportunity to craft design assets and develop comprehensive design ecosystems that resonate with each client's unique identity, reaching and engaging a wide audience and user base.

Fast forward to today, and I'm thrilled to embark on new creative endeavors and take on impactful branding and design projects. Even as AI begins to 'flip the script' for creatives on every front, and we rapidly approach AGI, there's still an important role for we humans to play in visual and brand design—especially in ideation and the 'blue sky' parts of the equation. Clients will continue to get value from experienced design professionals that large-language models and chatbots cannot deliver (at least in the near term). My goal is to assist businesses and organizations in realizing their full potential by delivering visually compelling and strategically aligned designs and narratives. If you're seeking a passionate and highly skilled Art Director who can bring your vision to life, I would be delighted to connect with you. Let's join forces and create something truly extraordinary together!