I’ve worked for a car dealership advertising firm, a national race-running company, three newspapers, a marketing/advertising company, a technology center, and have been running my own freelance design company since 2015. All of this experience has given me the opportunity to learn more about the different types of design, client needs, work processes and deadlines.
I’m constantly on the lookout for what’s new and what’s hot in the design world, be it from blogs, social media, or attending conferences. I’ve attended the HOW Design Live and the Adobe MAX conferences, and it’s my goal to attend even more conferences, to learn more from other designers and learn how to incorporate new ideas into my designs, hopefully blazing a trail of setting some new visual trends myself.
I’m a former collegiate football player who loves design, but I also have a passion for science fiction and reading. I’m always looking for a new science fiction show or book series to get lost in. I also like being the kind of person who loves to enjoy life and make others happy, which is one thing I love doing with my designs.
During my time at Moore Norman Technology Center, I’ve been fortunate to have been able to to visit many of the printers I’ve worked with, in an effort to better understand the services they can provide, meanwhile learning more about what they can do that I can incorporate into some of my designs.
I look for new ideas and critique designs around me on a daily basis. I love to annoy my wife by pausing TV shows, stopping in the middle of a mall, or even taking too long to look at a menu, always on the lookout for a new design idea or something I can learn from (or in the case of restaurant menus, critique!). Design is everywhere, and I am always ready to learn something new.
I’m an expert on working in collaborative, fast-paced environments, while knowing how to work efficiently within client timelines and budgets. I strive to make the most of each penny of my clients’ so they can have the best design and product without maxing out their pocketbook. I believe every client deserves the best in design, but I believe they don’t always have to pay a premium for the very best product.
Both of my parents are U.S. Marine veterans, and my father’s work led to us living all over the world. I’ve lived in five countries and 18 different U.S. cities. This experience has given me a unique perspective that permeates my design, as I bring a flavor of everywhere I’ve lived to each of my designs. Because of my travels and experiences with different cultures, I’m easily adaptable and can adjust to different circumstances smoothly.
I took the lessons I learned on the gridiron and put them to use in each of my jobs. I have had the pleasure of working with a job coach at Moore Norman Technology Center, and I’ve enjoyed learning through her more effective means of communication, which I believe makes me a better team leader and a better team player.
The best thing my employer can say to me is, “We have an idea, but we’re not sure if it can happen, or how to make it happen. Can you research it and make it a reality?” I love having the opportunity to learn something new, be it a new design or a new program, or even a new skill. I have many skills that I honed, including video editing, Adobe Premier Pro, CSS, HTML5 and more. I would truly thrive and enjoy working in an environment that embraces my desire to learn new skills.
During my time working for Staplegun Design, I learned how to use and implement Google Web Designer and Hype, as well as Adobe Premier Pro and Adobe After Effects to use in actual client production.