I am Creative

My particular brand of creativity usually takes the form of sketching, writing, graphic design, as well as making art. If I’m not doing the aforementioned, I’m usually indulging my inner nerd with tabletop game design (and gameplay, obvs), hosting events revolving around food, turning up my headphones dangerously high and engaging in community-level causes.

As it turns out, I’m not 100% me if I don’t have a creative outlet. Career-wise, this has manifested as design – graphic, brand/logo, web/UI/UX and presentation – as well as illustration of the vector and freehand varieties. I’m happiest when I have the opportunity to express myself and, frankly, when I’m happy, I’m capable of awesome things.

My adventures in creativity are not limited to the visual. I’ve also been involved in content creation. This spans from the more entertaining diversion that focuses on delight, relatability and engagement to the more formal bit of marketing communications that hits those SEO goals, provides value and is grammatically correct. And I enjoy the hell out of ’em. Expression is of paramount importance to me.

I am Driven.

I’m as much of a team player as the next person but when there needs to be someone who will provide direction and focus, I’m your guy. While I’m totally willing to take a backseat and contribute my part like everyone else, I understand that when things need to get done, things need to get done. I’m not afraid to accept the challenge as well as the responsibility leadership entails. Because, c’mon… Are we just going to talk about things or are we going to make a plan to get things done?

That said, I do like me some planning. I like to set things up, establish conventions, come up with systems and otherwise make manifest an overarching process. It is, after all, a logical extension of my interest in design. I like capital-c Community (no matter the size) and find teamwork to be the natural by-product of a carefully cultivated one. Moreover, my repertoire also consists of project management and event coordination and, as dorky as it may sound, I think they’re all kinds of fun. Planning menus, for example, is my very own version of the New York Times crossword. Don’t judge.

I am my Own Person.

Work doesn’t define me; I do. I believe it’s important to be yourself. Why else would I have struck so casual a tone here?

Sure, I could be all shirt-tie-slacks-and-nice-shoes but that’s not me. I’m not a corporate drone devoid of identity outside the workplace, the khakis just for show or the extra hours just for face time with the higher-ups. I am no mere human resource, no.

I’m that quirky, think-outside-the-box guy who has a smart alecky comment about something if only to make someone crack a smile. I’m that guy who puts in the overtime not because it was demanded of him but because some things need to get done before I call it a day. I’m even that same guy who helps change out the water in the breakroom not because someone is watching but because helping out is the right thing to do.

I Wear Many Hats.

Yes, literally (see photo), but also figuratively. I pride myself in being something of a modern day renaissance man. And as the saying goes: A Jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

While this may mean that I’m not the most spectacular in any one discipline, I am more than capable across numerous fields. My versatility and ability to communicate in cross-functional teams make me super appealing to small companies. With this portfolio of skills, I am comfortable working solo but I really enjoy being part of a team. Collaboration is my jam.

I Really Dig Design.

I’ve been doing visual design professionally since before 2000. And that’s a long time. Got a degree in it. Taught students and mentees some of the various flavors of design, even. In that time, I’ve done plenty of print, web, email, animation and even the occasional presentation design. And while I’ve had to pick up HTML and CSS in order to do a lot of the aforementioned in the past, I’d like to keep the HTML wrangling in the past, please.

Sorry/Not sorry.

I /Heart Communication.

Through the years, writing has shown up in the work I’ve performed so many times that it’s become its own section on this site. I have done documentation (because it is easily one of the things that falls to the wayside), pinch hit for subject matter experts and content writers as well as provided proofreading and copy editing. Besides executing the technical and visual duties that more befit my more designy job titles, I have provided content creation both professionally and recreationally for no small amount of time.

My background in design coupled with my passion for teaching is exactly what has allowed me to become an effective contributor when it comes to the written word. Like planning, it has been a logical progression that has allowed me to find ways to articulate information in a method to be better disbursed to the masses. I hope to keep on writing, to keep mixing my pixels with words and maintaining and promoting clear communication wherever I can. I mean, what’s design and instruction if not simply the communication of ideas?

Sound good? Good. There’s a form down below. Let’s talk.