Brief Summary
I'm a multi-disciplinary creative professional who directs and designs brand identity, packaging, print and online experiences for small- to medium-sized companies looking to make things better.
As a 'hybrid' designer, I'm most comfortable in the creases of cross-medium design, marketing, technology, art and storytelling. Building brands over the past decade-plus, I’ve come to command a diverse blend of tools best suited towards developing more effective campaigns.
My goal as a designer is to not only provide the visual but also to help refine and promote an effective strategy beneath it. A solid strategy joined to the right content and a multifaceted design approach will ensure your project will get the attention it deserves, both on- and off-line.
Clients
Abstract Entertainment, Anthony Bertotti Landscaping, APS Construction, Bloodwizard skateboards, Bows Collective, Cal's Pharmacy skateboard shop/gallery, Chef Angie Murrillo, Clairecords, California Landscape Contractors Association, Common Underground, Crunch Media, Worldbuilders educational publisher, ExpOne skateboards, Firefighters Burn Institute, Flatpsot skateboard shop, Fourcorners Publishing (Color magazine), Graciela Gutierrez, Hearts And Horses, INDIEpendent, Jay Howell (artist), Jerome Tabilon Massage Hero, THELEGEND magazine, Midtown Monthly, Paradyme Audio, Plastic Idol Records, Sacramento Caledonian Club, Sara Jane And Co., Skinner (artist), SLO Folk Society, Smash Hit skateboards, Tonevendor record shop, Treehouse Green Gifts, Tunel 21 restaurant, Upper Playground (Sacramento), Vapors magazine, Weird Forest Records, Zach Hill (Suicide Squeeze, 5RC, Narnack).
Professional Experience
2002 to Present
Independent Creative Professional
Award-winning communications design for both print and web media; concept, production and project management.
I’ve done some of my best work serving:
• The youth market: labels, magazines and retailers
• Non-profits: associations, charities and arts groups
• Publishers: print and audio, authors and artists
… in the following areas:
• Publication design (editorial and advertising)
• Event promotion & on-site collateral design
• Logo development & identity
• Website design & strategy
• Packaging design
• Exhibit & large-format design (indoor/outdoor)
• Poster design & illustration
• Email campaign design & management
• Specialty graphics (diecuts, apparel, toys, etc.)
I have been fortunate to be involved with projects like:
• Firefighters Burn Institute: I replaced the charity’s outdated site with a modern, custom content management system. The upgrade added calendar, contact and fundraising features while now allowing staff to update content themselves. I later developed brand-consistent digital PR kits, print collateral and an email campaign.
• Weird Forest record label: The client, who I’ve worked for since their first release in 2003, has built its reputation on straying outside the lines of traditional music and a commitment to quality packaging. My work for the label has been featured in HOW and idN magazines and the Pasadena Museum Of California Art.
• California Landscaping magazine: I worked diligently over several years at elevating the creative direction of the bimonthly trade publication above-and-beyond its class, using bold, modern color palettes, oversized photos of award-winning landscapes, custom infographics and sophisticated typography.
• Color skateboarding magazine: Under the creative direction of Sandro Grison at Fourcorners Publishing, I art directed and produced the 2007 Agenda fashion trade show magazine/program, illustrated an article and assisted on editorial layouts.
August 2006 to Present
Adjunct Professor, Graphic Communication
Los Rios Community College District
Teach Adobe Illustrator (beginning and advanced) and Intermediate Creative Web Design at the American River
and Sacramento City College campuses.
February 2000 to November 2010
Communications Design Professional
California Landscape Contractors Association
• Lead the visual development and creation of all identity and promotional efforts for event, education and membership programs.
• Designed and produced all specialty branded online content consistent with existing campaign identities, from single-page brochureware to multiple-tier image showcases and formatted (HTML) emails.
• Creative directed California Landscaping magazine, a bimonthly, full-color trade publication targeted at landscape contractors. Duties included:
— Art direction of editorial content and cover design.
— Creation and management of core template and stylesheet systems.
— Developing promotions and special sections.
— Interfacing with an outside advertising sales team, freelance photographers and writers.
— Color correction, typefitting, pre-flighting and pre-press responsibilities.
July 1995 to July 1998
Production Assistant/ Graphic Designer
New Times Weekly, Inc.
Graphic design production and photo-illustration of multi-page editorial, and a high volume of display advertising. Facilitated ad traffic and asset management
