What brought me from Boston out to Arizona? It's a bit complicated, and I've been meaning to come up with a short form answer to that question for over a decade now... and I'm still working on it.
I'm a Professional Graphic Designer.
That may seem like a pretty obvious statement - considering the context of this website - but it's actually taken me quite a while to come to terms with it. After all the hats I've found myself having to wear over the years it's sometimes been hard to land on any one thing, and feel definitive while saying it. But time has proven again and again where my mind and heart return to when given the chance to wander, and regardless of what the next project calls for or where the next paycheck is coming from, it's always back to the art of design.​​​​​​​​​
Headshot circa 2017
My main focus in design is in poster or other artistic design, so my skillset in programs mainly revolves around Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and - more recently - Procreate.
Other programs I have extensive experience with - but with less proficiency - are Adobe
In-Design for print layout, Premiere Pro for video, and After Effects for animation.
I've also done a lot of work on whatever location for whatever the project or campaign calls for, sometimes in the role of videographer but more often for my photography skills.
I've worked for and with a few of the local agencies over the years, but mainly I felt like the best way to develop as a designer was to make my way as a freelancer. In doing so I've learned a lot more than I would have otherwise, not only about design and the various programs involved, but about marketing strategies and the business of design as well.
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In 2020 I became heavily involved in various local political races. In the time since I've brought my total experience on campaigns to about a dozen, sometimes acting almost as a de facto campaign manager. They were good experiences, but all-encompassing and often with grueling hours. After this last cycle I've decided that - unless the offer is one I can't refuse - my days doing political are over. I went to school for design, and that's what I came here to do.
I started off thinking I'd be a writer somehow, I guess mainly because I loved to read so much as a kid. But as any clueless undergrad with an English degree is bound to find out, no one is exactly handing out job applications to become the next Hemingway after graduation. So after a brief stint at Harvard University Press, I found work in the field of Historic Preservation. I loved working in the trades, and the opportunity gave me a chance to fully develop my appreciation for fine craftsmanship and work on a variety of iconic buildings, such as MIT and the Old North Church.
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But that creative itch needed to be scratched, so I kept writing on the side and then found my way into the world of design, and in the most unlikely of places. You wouldn't think doing a tile job would be a source of artistic inspiration, but the moment I laid my hands on the wet saw and realized the limitless array of shapes that could be made and the world of various designs that could be made from them, I was hooked on the idea of becoming pioneering my way into a career of custom carved tile designs and installations.
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In hindsight, it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself, in terms of personal growth. I'd eventually quit my regular job, lock myself in a friend's basement for a couple years and teach myself everything I had to learn about the trade - usually the hard way. It was a lonely, dirty and stressful way to try to make a living, but within a few years I was doing regular installations in high-end homes along the coast, and turning out projects that other tradesmen who'd been around a lot longer than me would make it a point to shake my hand for. I was proud of the craftsman I'd become, and was developing a designer's eye and a lot of the soft skills that would end up proving so important later on.
Sadly though, there were still some tough lessons to learn, and after a move to my native Cape Cod and entering a promising but ultimately doomed joint venture into the realm of shingle design, it became clear after enough time that maybe a fresh start should be explored, both in location and vocation. "Partnerships are sinking ship", someone once told me, and had I fully heard it this part of the story may have turned out very differently.
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It ended up being for the best in the long run though. I enrolled in the Art Institute of Tucson, aced the courses, was president of the Ad Club, won a National Addy Award for advertising and graduated with an Associates Degree at the top of the class. Which was great, but in reality the true education was just about to begin, and I've spent the years since then cutting my teeth in the design and marketing game, and teaching myself everything I can about design and the art of advertising. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I've somehow managed to acquire one of the largest design libraries I know of, and spend a lot time pouring through the pages of those books - a lot, but not enough.
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But now I'm finally in the position where I can find that time, and do the type of work that I dreamed of doing for years now. I know that not every project will be a chance to create something for the annals of design history, that the goals and needs of the client inherently come first, and in today's game of marketing there's no shortage of millennials with Canva accounts that bill themselves out as experts and are willing to promise the world. And I'm sure in many cases they might actually be able to deliver.
That's not my gamble to make though, or my game to play. I don't even think of myself as a marketer, in fact, even though I've been in the advertising world for over a decade now. At heart I'm still just that custom craftsman from back east, with the kind of pride and blue-collar work ethic that ensures every job gets done right, and a history of developing extremely strong relationships with my clients. The only real difference now is that I've traded in my workbench for a laptop, and the clientele have different needs. But that's still the approach I bring to each project, and the one aspect of it that's not up for negotiation.
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If that sounds like a good fit for your next project then get in touch. I'd love to hear what you're working on.
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The Steeple at Boston's Old North Church was my favorite job site during the restoration days.
This rendition of Van Gogh's Starry night was among the first pieces created during the mosaic period.
This swordfish remains one of my favorite pieces due to the client's bold imagination and vision
Working on projects for start-ups and small businesses has allowed for the creative license to build on my skillset.