I am a designer and illustrator based in Colorado, U.S.A. My fascination and curiosity with art and design started as a kid. Unfortunately, I never gave myself permission to fully delve into that curiosity until I was well past graduate school and elbows-deep in my former career in higher education. Thankfully, I finally gave in and allowed myself to pursue what I always knew: I'm supposed to be creating for people.
I believe good design comes from research and awareness of what the market(s) tells us. I also believe good design comes from dialogue and building a relationship with my clients. While I get to enjoy the role of the the one who designs everything, I believe some of the best work has come from co-creating with clients.
When I'm not designing, I also serve as a professional leadership speaker working with college students across the country. Leadership development and helping others find a sense of purpose and meaning is one of my other passions in life.
When I'm not designing or speaking, I play in a local wiffleball league, watch a fair amount of Colorado Rockies baseball and Colorado Rapids soccer, snowboard, ride my bicycle, and hang out with my wife, Kathryn, and the world's most distracting shop dog, Rocket. (pictured below)
LOGOS | BOOKLETS & CATALOGS | BUSINESS CARDS | LETTERHEADS & STATIONERY | MENUS | PRODUCT PACKAGING | SIGNAGE | PRESENTATIONS | ILLUSTRATIONS | COPYWRITING
GOOD DESIGN IS INVISIBLE. BAD DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE. I've heard countless versions of that quote by an equal number of different people. I don't know who to credit for it, but I believe it to be true. You don't always notice great design because it brings the focus on the business, product, organization, etc. When you see bad design, you notice it instantly. It draws attention to the bad design versus its intended subject, and that's a bummer. Good design is like a good movie soundtrack. It amplifies the emotional experience of the story…your story, product, business, organization. It heightens the experience.
I see so many businesses, products and organizations that all suffer the same problem: they don't look anywhere near as good as they are. It's frustrating to witness, and I enjoy helping folks create visual identities, advertising campaigns and products that better reflect their passion for what they do. Design can be a "job" some days, but I prefer to see it as a service to others.
The HOW of the work is fairly straightforward, although there is a certain amount of inspiration and magic involved as well. In short, we dialogue, research, design, dialogue some more, make revisions, polish the thing up, and commence in the ancient and customary exchanging of high-fives.