Groundwork

An integral part of my creative process involves gaining a deep understanding of the intended audience and what their needs are prior to beginning to ideate solutions.

When possible, I team with research partners to identify and define the parameters of a study. We create a plan, develop a research primer with specfic goals, and create a guide for interviews. The information gathered allows me and my team to brainstorm solutions that are not only visually appealing, but strategically sound. 

Rapid Visualization

Once I have a firm grasp on the vernacular of the client, their target audience, and any additional key metrics, I enjoy rapidly validating with pen on paper. The process allows me to explore multiple ideas without committing to fonts, colors, software, etc. Finally, I optimize creative concepts to arrive at potential solutions.

Experience

My ability to provide successful communications solutions is informed by my varied educational, career, and life experiences. 

My eight-year enlistment in the United States Air Force taught me the value of working with a cohesive team. Being an architectural draftsman and illustrator, in the Air Force and as a civilian, taught me the importance of accuracy and planning.

Undergraduate and
Graduate Studies

My undergraduate studies in graphic design provided the foundational knowledge for my career. My graduate studies in art history and doctoral studies in anthropology, along with my research experience excavating Preclassic Maya structures at the site of Xunantunich in Belize, taught me the value of working as part of a team while learning, understanding, and respecting history, people, and culture.

Creative Leadership

Leading multiple creative teams in New Mexico, New York, and Texas, taught me the value of inspiring, motivating, guiding, and supporting diverse groups of talented professionals working toward unified goals. It also provided me with the opportunity to mentor creatives at varying levels to help them reach their career goals.

Higher Education

In my role as an Assistant Professor of Graphic and Media Design at Russell Sage College, I instructed the next generation of designers during their formative years to learn ideation skills and techniques, design development, strategy, human-centered design, and production. It also reinforced my strong belief in the importance of providing constructive, actionable feedback.

Leading Creative Teams

My journey to creative leadership has been exciting and frustrating, fulfilling and disheartening, exhilarating and infuriating. On the one hand, I have worked with great people who taught me about creativity, leadership, pitching, and much more. On the other hand, I have also worked for leaders who modeled the pitfalls of leadership and micromanagement. Whether positive or negative, I learned from every encounter, every situation, every success, and every failure.

I wrote this book as a guide for the next generation of creatives. My goal was to provide them with the advice I wish I would have had when I started my career.