I BUILD USER-CENTRIC DIGITAL EXPERIENCES.
As a User Experience Director, Visual Designer, Motion Artist, Inspiring Leader, Process builder, Social Marketing Fanatic, Avid Gamer, I translate client key points of interest into optimal usability and creative executions. As a digital creative, I have 18+ years experience crafting the taxonomy, user experience, digital eco-system, concept, visuals, animation, and strategy for Fortune 500 brands. Leading digital experiences for agency and client-side teams that combined UX/UI, multi-cultural, creativity, strategy, social, motion, and user-centric thinking skills to create innovative and award-winning work for each company.
EXPERIENCES THAT DRIVE USER ENGAGEMENT.
I grew up imagining amazing worlds, from the first time I played a video game. My digital education began in the halls of Castlevania. The game inspired me to draw, dream, and design. By transporting the user into a whole new world of possibilities, experiences, and touchpoints, I draw a lot of my creativity and ideation from the gaming universe. I am able to apply that same exhilaration you feel to a brand experience.
I have a passion to inspire, share knowledge, mentor, listen, and learn from all those around me. Helping to develop talent and create the most positive creative environments.
AGILE DESIGN PROCESS FOR RAPID INNOVATION.
Discover, Ideate, Prototype, Deploy, Learn, Adapt. In the hyper-accelerated world of digital we have to be completely agile. Researching user behaviors, prototyping experiences in device, learning from the data, and adapting the creative to increase engagement. My clients have included Martell, Fed-Ex, Nationwide, Oliver Stone, Warner Bros., AT&T, Honda, State Farm, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Burrell, Dale Earnhardt Jr., LEGO, Paramount Studio, Irvine Company and many others.
WHAT I DO
Combining work and passion
WHAT I USE
My favorite tools for the job
EPSILON
2012-2017
DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Lead multiple teams and projects creating experiences in digital, branding, social, mobile, advertising, and motion. Helped introduce and champion a video motion graphics discipline. Produced and animated digital videos for new pitch, social and internal presentations. Built a group social page to have creatives around the globe share what motivates and inspires them. Collaboratively raised the design standard for quality across all customer experiences, in web, mobile, and social.
Clients: Fed-Ex, AT&T, NFL, American Express, GE Capital, Honda, Martell, State Farm, Ford, Irvine Company Apartment Communities, Bombay Sapphire, Allstate, Pepsi, Auto Nation, Chivas, and more.
New business won: Fed-Ex, Honda, Kia, GE Capital, Olive Garden, 24/7 Workout Anytime, John Hancock, Cazadores.
EPSILON
2012-2012
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Managed and worked with senior level creative team of art directors, multi-cultural marketers, writers, and user experience designers. Concepting creative strategy, UX, visual design and brand development for an array of clients.
Clients: Fed-Ex, AT&T, NFL, American Express, GE Capital, Honda, Martell, State Farm, Ford, Irvine Company Apartment Communities, Bombay Sapphire, Allstate, Pepsi, Auto Nation, Chivas, and more.
New business won: Fed-Ex, Honda, Kia, GE Capital, Olive Garden, 24/7 Workout Anytime, John Hancock, Cazadores.
THE DISTILLERY
2012-2013
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Working hand-in-hand with the Owner/Chief Creative Officer I established the creative strategy, executions, brand, and visual design for online advertising, web and mobile pitches and clients. Managed a freelance and in-house team of developers, writers, and art directors.
Clients: Oliver Stone, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Relativity, RISE Interactive, Chuggington TOMY.
New business won: Oliver Stone, Savages (Facebook App), NYE Resolution (Facebook App), RISE Interactive.
MANIFEST DIGITAL
2011-2012
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Managed a high level interactive squad who created the digital strategy, flash games, user experience, executions, flash animation, concepting and visual design for web, mobile, and advertising.
Clients: LEGO, Mattel, Bally’s Total Fitness, SEARS, Yoo-Hoo & Friends
New business won: Lego HEROICA, Lego STAR WARS, SEARS Your Way Rewards, Yoo-Hoo & Friends, Barbie WOW, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse.
UNCOMMON THINKING
2002-2011
OWNER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Directed, managed, and consulted high level entertainment clients creating their digital strategy, brand guidelines, visual design, and animation. Won multiple FWA site awards for our flash designs.
Clients: Grand Touring Vodka, Duke Mens basketball, Danica Patrick, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Coach John Wooden, Scott Dixon, Mario Andretti, Jenny Finch, and more.
New business won: Duke Mens basketball, Danica Patrick, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Coach John Wooden, Scott Dixon, Mario Andretti, Jenny Finch, Grand Touring Vodka and more.
IMAGINE THAT
2001-2002
SR. INTERACTIVE ART DIRECTOR
Managed, designed and developed “Flash” animation sites. Leading the company into winning many multi-cultural interactive advertising banners, projects, and flash site intros.
Clients: B&B Cognac, Black Voices, BET, HIVE4MEDIA, Sprite, Coca-Cola, Burrel Communications, Harley Davidson, StarCom, Nintendo.
New business won: B&B Cognac, Black Voices, BET, Sprite, Coca-Cola, Burrell Communications.
EDUCATION
Illinois Institute of Art – Studied Multimedia Arts & Animation
YOU MADE IT THIS FAR…
Here are some hilariously fun tid-bits
I’ve played World of Warcraft (on & off since vanilla). Bayel has been my “main” since the beginning. Never played any other spec then enhancement and still loving it.
FOR THE HORDE!
I’m an bourbon snob. Maybe a cocktail snob in general. Blame it on “Madmen” and the renaissance movement in the industry with all these “speakeasy” type places.
If the hipsters loved video games I would own a golden PBR. I still have the original SEGA Dreamcast. Still play Soul Caliber and Crazy Taxi every now and then.