I'm a multi-disciplinary designer with a background focused on brand identity and strategy. My experience includes branding, advertising, marketing, packaging, and UX. I've led in-house teams within large organizations, been part of small, tight-knit agencies, and run my own freelance business. Design has always been my passion, and I'm inspired by what it can do for my clients and their organizations. I value brave ideas, an inclusive process, and quality craftsmanship. When I'm not working, you can usually find me walking 18 holes, enjoying a beer on a patio, or traveling someplace new.
Illustrator / Photoshop / InDesign / After Effects / Procreate / Sketch / Webflow / InVision / Abstract / Miro /
Figma / Keynote / G Suite / Asana / JIRA
As a Design Strategist at Philosophie, I work with stakeholders and team members to define problems, uncover new opportunities and insights, conduct user research, and design human-centered solutions for our clients and their customers.
The MS in Strategic Design and Management brings together human-centered design thinking, management, and applied social sciences to address the complex economic, environmental, and social challenges businesses face today. With a focus on design-based approaches, it furthers perspectives on organizational management and strategy, financial and environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership.
I built and led a talented team of in-house designers in a fast-growth environment at Kabbage. Kabbage is a financial technology company that provides funding and other financial tools to small businesses. During my tenure, our team refreshed the corporate brand and website, established design standards and guidelines, extended across marketing and content channels, developed national ad campaigns, helped launch new products, and supported internal departments and the employer brand. Kabbage's revenue and customer base increased consistently year over year, and we became the brand leader in our category. I gained experience hiring and developing team members, working with leadership, collaborating cross-functionally, and managing budgets and resources.
Brand Fever focused on helping organizations succeed and grow through brand research, strategy, and design. I worked closely with the creative director and account team to translate strategy and customer insights into strong brand identities for a diverse range of B2B and B2C clients. I designed logos, identity systems, websites, print collateral, ad campaigns, packaging, environments, and apparel. Brand Fever taught me the importance of pushing boundaries, how to effectively position brands based on research, and how to seamlessly manage a large number of projects simultaneously.
I have worked as an independent consultant throughout my career, including running my own full-time design business for over a year. As a sole proprietor, I’ve handled strategy, design, project management, client relations, vendor coordination, and business development. My clients have ranged across industries and creative disciplines, from local to international, and paid to pro bono. Working directly with clients through all phases of the design process has sharpened my ability to translate feedback into solutions that meet their needs.
3TIER delivered site assessments and power forecasts for the financing and operation of renewable energy projects. I developed and implemented the overall creative strategy for the global corporate brand, including the visual identity system, website, advertising, marketing collateral, templates, and trade show exhibitions. I worked alongside climatologists, engineers, and data scientists to develop digital tools, user interfaces, and reports for our customers. I also worked closely with the CEO on new strategic initiatives and discovered the myriad ways design can be used to influence and drive an organization.
I was fortunate to start my branding career on a team that shared my passion for working with organizations making a positive difference in the world. As a part of this small but nimble brand agency, I designed identities, packaging, websites, user interfaces and ad campaigns for clients focused on renewable energy, sustainable building, organic foods, green technology, environmental responsibility, and nonprofit causes. I learned about strategy, and how to work with clients, sell my ideas, incorporate feedback, deliver under pressure, and develop new skills. I also helped create a web design and development function within the agency during a time of transition in the industry.
My passion for books and typography led me to my first job at the UGA Press. I carried out design and production responsibilities related to bookmaking, including designing book interiors and jackets, typesetting pages, specifying materials, checking and correcting proofs, and preparing production estimates. As a production designer, I learned the importance of organizational processes and attention to every detail.
The by-application-only graphic design program at UGA included 1½ years of foundational art courses followed by 2½ years of design focus. The faculty stressed solid fundamentals, conceptual thinking, and professionalism. I received a faculty-awarded graphic design scholarship before graduating cum laude. During my time, I studied abroad in Cortona, Italy, with a focus on print-, paper-, and book-making.
I knew early on I wanted to use my artistic talent in my career, so I sought an internship at the CDC, where I was part of the graphic services department for four summers. Our department supported the CDC’s public health mission by designing educational materials and supporting visuals, branding and promoting various outreach programs, and creating exhibition graphics. I learned the basics of what it meant to work with clients and how to apply my talent in a professional setting.
