A forward-thinking creative leader focused on achieving strategic business results in innovative ways.
I love to learn, collaborate, and create.
My design journey so far has led me 15+ years into a career that has had a few distinct chapters: ad agency designer, freelance business owner, creative professional in higher education, in-house department leader at a tech start-up, and founding UI/UX designer.
I specialize in art direction for developing brands, creating digital experiences, designing impactful products, and working on noteworthy campaigns.
How did we get here?
I grew up playing with Legos® and coloring on everything I could reach. As you can imagine, this made my parents incredibly happy. Stepping on those foot-crunching plastic cubes at all hours of the day led to screams that could be heard two streets over. I did make some pretty cool "creations", though, and I’m sure that made the pain go away. 😉
After discovering that Lego® Architecture was actually not a university course of study, I enrolled in a studio art program. While I put my coloring skills to good use in painting, sculpture, and some super-awkward life drawing classes, I was still unsure how I could turn my passion of creating things into a career. And that’s when one graphic design class changed my life.
Sitting in front of a computer and using a software program to create something beautiful and useful, opened my eyes to a whole world of possibilities. When I get stuck, and I’m finding it hard to come up with good ideas, I often think about myself as a child and the joy that erupted after using all of the Legos® in the bucket.
Today, I have translated my childhood passion for creating into many skills: design direction, UI/UX, visual and product design, brand strategy, and strategic team leadership. What I love most is the ability to work on meaningful projects that actually solve people's problems. I’m able to focus on helping businesses make profitable changes. And that makes me proud.
A few tidbits
I returned to the midwest after brief jaunts on the east and west coasts. Madison, Wisconsin is home for now, although the mountains of Colorado are always calling.
I’m on a mission to visit all of the National Parks in the US and love being outside and traveling as much as possible—preferably with my dogs, Cooper, Fiona, and Frankie. Although I love the smell of coffee, black tea is my hot beverage of choice.
I'm always interested in making new professional connections and meeting interesting creative folk.
Reach out if you want to grab a cup of tea, go on a hike, visit the dog park, want to talk design, creativity, business... or Legos®!