Branding . Environmental . UX . Print . Advertising . Consulting
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The 39 Steps – UAB Department of Theatre2024-03-05T17:13:42-06:00
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God of Carnage – UAB Department of Theatre2024-07-29T10:21:05-05:00
Alabama Shorelines App – Alabama Power2024-10-16T20:46:03-05:00

Designing Meaningful Brand Experiences

I am a graphic designer specializing in the creation of brand identities and their integration across all media. While recognized for my environmental design work in placemaking—bringing concepts to life in physical spaces and crafting large-scale visual experiences that foster community and connection—my expertise spans a wide range of design disciplines. With nearly three decades of experience, I deliver visually compelling and strategically effective design solutions. I enjoy creating brand experiences that blend intuitive interaction with aesthetically evocative design.

My work spans a wide range of business communications, including Brand Identity, Typographic Systems, Interaction Design/UI, Content and Navigational Systems, Iconography, Motion Graphics, and Print. Additionally, I am hands-on in the creation and development of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress publishing environments, ensuring seamless integration of design and functionality.

I’m a Birmingham native and a graduate of the Auburn University School of Industrial and Graphic Design. I spent years working in the San Francisco and Atlanta design communities before returning home to The Magic City, where growth and creative energy continue to inspire my work.

My agency experience includes Studio Archetype/Sapient, Resource/Ammirati, Lewis Communications, and Luckie. I’ve worked on major brands such as Vanderbilt, Baptist Health System, HGTV, JVC America, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, UPS, Sun Microsystems, VeriFone, Adobe, HP, ING Group, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Nisus Corporation, Oklahoma Heart, Bellin, Smithfield Foods, Bayer Environmental Science, Alabama Tourism, Char-Broil, GSK, Alabama Power, Little Debbie, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Diversified Energy, each opportunity enhancing my understanding of how design can elevate a brand’s presence and connect with its audience.

Resumé     LinkedIn

Design Proficiencies

Brand Development

My work at several prominent agencies has given me extensive experience in brand development across all stages. Whether for new or existing companies, I identify business objectives and contribute significantly to the written strategies that define them. This has enabled companies to establish communication objectives for ongoing campaigns. My roles range from high-level strategic planning to providing essential design components, ensuring both vision and execution align with goals.

I design symbols with deep meaning, familiarity, and timeless appeal, drawing from a wide range of logo aesthetics and historical design trends. Whether crafting custom letterforms or hand-sketching marks, I always integrate thoughtful color theory to ensure lasting resonance.

I craft comprehensive brand guides that establish a cohesive visual language through type, color, shape, and variation, aligning with a company’s business and communication goals. By first articulating an ethos, I lay the foundation for a brand’s visual identity, connecting its origins to the key dynamics that define its future.

While I don’t label myself a business strategist, I frequently contribute to brand strategy. This strategic involvement sharpens my design thinking and allows me to deliver more insightful, impactful creative solutions.

I’m proficient in ad creation, though I don’t identify as a traditional ‘ad man.’ My strength lies in integrating identity design systems with communication objectives. I’ve had success crafting compelling ads that align with and elevate the core messaging.

One of my greatest strengths is illustration. With a lifelong passion for drawing, I’ve developed a diverse range of styles throughout my career. I adapt my aesthetic to meet various brand needs, from intricate, detailed renderings to bold, graphic compositions. This versatility enables me to introduce unique visual elements that enhance storytelling and add depth to creative concepts.

While ad writing isn’t my primary focus, I’m proficient at crafting strong tags and headlines when needed. My experience in this area complements my role as an art director, where I recognize the importance of collaborating with and supporting a writing partner.

I strive to empower account service professionals by delivering high-quality work that fosters team unity and ensures clients feel their investment is valued. I’m also proficient at interfacing directly with clients to discuss proposals, budgets, and strategies.

Websites + Digital Properties

My roles have frequently focused on the digital space, with a strong emphasis on Information Design and UX deliverables—areas where I excel. However, my career has balanced digital work with visual design, tone, and aesthetics. My most extensive experience in digital design comes from roles where I was introduced to methodologies like IDEO’s Design Thinking, deepening my understanding of how to break down information and present it in progressively comprehensive messages.

This is one of my key strengths: distilling complex topics into clear hierarchies and structured formats. I anticipate users’ varying levels of interest, breaking down content into manageable chunks to enhance comprehension.

Modeling websites and other digital properties with rudimentary schematics before aesthetics is vital for user retention and client buy-in. My extensive experience in preliminary UX work—creating wireframes and defining user flows—ensures that final designs are intuitive and engaging.

My web design experience dates back to the Netscape era, when HTML presented far more limitations than today. Over the past 30 years, I’ve witnessed its evolution into a platform for dynamic, interactive experiences. I continually adapt and learn new techniques to enhance web design and evoke emotion from users. Throughout my career, I’ve designed entire websites and key sections for a diverse range of brands, including UPS, Bank of America, and Brasfield & Gorrie.

My motion graphics experience spans short, hand-framed web animations to long-form video edits for web and TV. I enjoy reimagining static graphics, using time and sound to capture attention and create impactful messaging.

While I don’t label myself a writer, crafting content has been essential to my design work. For long-form content, I enhance organization and tone using client source material. In short-form writing, I concentrate on perfecting headlines and calls to action that align with and support the overall information design.

Projects

I want to enhance your identity, reputation, and user experience. I would love the opportunity to learn more about your business and its unique needs. Together, we can define your communication objectives and ensure your design requirements are fully met. Please feel free to inquire below to discuss my availability and explore how I can support your next project.

Apprenticeships

I’m always on the lookout for young minds with fresh ideas. If you are a student of graphic design and seek an opportunity to assist in my practice, please inquire below. Be sure to include a link to your portfolio and share your specialties and goals.