Graphic Designer. Video Production Artist. Podcast Producer.
Graphic designers must be agile – able to shift gears on the spot and discern what the client or director wants based on little information. To do so, one must be good at listening and reading individuals – seeing what isn’t there and delivering results based on nuances. Perhaps it’s based on what one is wearing, what their favorite color is, or a minor comment they made about an article they read. To succeed, we need to know how to connect with people in creative ways. Since art and design are subjective, our goal is to make many individuals happy and ensure that the designed piece aligns with an overall brand, in most cases. This is hard at times. It’s a trait that one has to hone over the lifespan of our career and beyond. Fortunately, I have and continue to thoroughly enjoy honing this part of my skill set. I take pride in being able to discover not only what my clients say but also what they don’t say. I love to push the limits while striving for new unique ways to showcase visual information.
Designers are like chefs. We have to ask ourselves: What can you do to make each individual happy while keeping the main ingredient? What element of your design do you change to keep everyone happy? Changing colors or elements – design ingredients, if you will; mixing, tasting, and seeking feedback to finally strike that perfect balance. And then, just when you think you’ve stuck that perfect balance, another individual may come in and shake the wire – shifting the energy in a different direction. When this happens, you have to remain calm, cool, and zen. You have to understand that what might be a good balance for one might not work for another. I understand this deeply. I strive to make my client happy while ensuring that others involved in the process are just as pleased with the final deliverable.
Full circle. I truly enjoy all aspects of the creative world. I started primarily in print. I’ve been a hobby photographer all my life. If I see a need for a skillset that bridges the gap between digital and print, I’m going to do my best to learn that skill. Graphic design has evolved so much since I joined the workforce. We’re not just print designers anymore. We need to be open to evolving our skills and being where the client needs us. That doesn’t mean that every graphic designer needs to know video production, or how to produce a podcast. That’s just one aspect of my skill set that makes me unique – I apply design principles to video projects. I have always loved creating, learning technical skills, and helping clients to realize their vision. When I can help a client build a print visual and turn that into a video promotion, that’s a full-circle moment for me.
Here’s a list of my ingredients:
- Talent: Creative lead with expertise in video, podcast, digital, and print production. I craft compelling content and visuals for a variety of collateral – elevating them to a sophisticated level.
- Experience: Over 15 years of in-house graphics experience and 20+ years in the creative industry, focusing on high-quality design for various audiences. I’m technically driven and highly organized.
- Knowledge: Proficient in Adobe CC, Ceros, Canva, G-Suite, WordPress, CSS, and HTML, with hands-on experience in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Animate, and Lightroom.
- Strong Communication Skills: A great listener who simplifies complex ideas. I thrive on collaboration and brainstorming to deliver effective graphic solutions.
- Relationship-focused: A dedicated communicator and team player, I’m passionate about quality work and helping others succeed, with experience in multi-disciplinary teams.
- Dedicated to learning: I’m committed to expanding my design skills. Software is continually evolving, and we must do the same. It’s important to know how to use our tools and understand the technical aspects of those tools.
I began my career in Belltown, Seattle, working for a small boutique firm. While enjoyable, this was not a long-term opportunity, so I accepted a full-time position at a sign company in Bellevue to gain more experience in production and design in a fast-paced setting. The shop owner gave me the opportunity to collaborate and work directly with customers, as well as drive the design aesthetic of the shop. This experience proved to be just what I needed to give me an edge as a designer. I learned how to speak with clients, work quickly, flex my design mind—from simple to complex projects—and work with a fun team in a high-output production space.
After some time, I found another opportunity that gave me significantly more responsibility. I ran the creative department at an aftermarket auto parts wholesaler for about seven years, starting in 2000. The department had an operating budget of over $200,000 per year at the time, which I successfully managed. I maintained a yearly production schedule of multiple product catalogs, direct mail newsletters, advertisements, and planned all the print collateral for a yearly trade show.
My current role is primarily focused on video production, audio production, and digital and print design. I manage a small team that supports a global law firm of more than 2,000 lawyers. At times, we produce up to 15 or more unique video and audio projects per month, while also supporting our graphic design team in brand collateral and print production.
