About
I’m a multidisciplinary creative designer with experience across all brand mediums – covering the traditional and digital spectrums – through the application of timeless design principles. I have walked the line between the overlapping columns of brand and design. My belief is that branding is about expressing an organization’s specific promises, in order for audiences to feel and experience something memorable. Design is often more about removing extraneous details in order to help audiences understand those promises more efficiently. They often blend when the final recipients experience what the intended communication is on a scale that works best for them.
Skills
Creative/Art Direction
Digital/Web Design
Branding
Strategy
Typography
Illustration
Iconography
Retouching
Project Management
Mentoring
Motion Design
Physical Mockups
Press Checks
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite
Sketch
CSS, HTML
Wordpress
Client Experience
National Museum of African American History and Culture
American Jazz Museum
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Seattle Center & City of Seattle
State of Washington
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Mercy Corps
The MacArthur Foundation
American Theological Library Association (ATLA)
California Health Care Foundation (CHCF)
California Air Resources Board
Antwone Fisher Project
Jane Goodall Institute
University of Southern California
(USC, School of Cinematic Arts)
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH)
Audi of North America
US Bobsled and Skeleton Foundation
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
Work Experience
Director, Brand: Forum One
2015–Current | Seattle, WA I help brands clarify and communicate their value in visually compelling ways – by specializing in building comprehensive brand strategies through visual identity, print and web design. Currently enjoying empowering organizations to effectively tell their own brand stories.
Freelance Creative Director + Designer
2012–Current | Los Angeles, CA / Seattle, WA Manage all aspects of all types of creative/branding/digital projects, from estimating a project to seeing it roll off the assembly line or go live.
Senior Designer: ds+f
2009–2013 | Washington, DC / Los Angeles, CA Created and managed every aspect of Print and Web projects from concept to completion, including working directly with clients and vendors. Continued to work on projects with clients after moving to Los Angeles in the Fall of 2012.
Contract Art Director: Progress Energy
2008–2009 | Raleigh, NC Directed projects of varying scope within corporate in-house communications department of major utility company. Updated existing branding parameters including typography and color usage. Developed unique direct-mail pieces as well as internal interactive modules for human resources.
Art Director: Anoroc
2003–2008 | Raleigh, NC Managed design team and projects as creative lead, working within budget and scheduling requirements. Conferred with agency heads to discuss client requirements and to coordinate creative activities. Reviewed all creative materials, and managed quality control measures over outside vendors. Organized and maintained all aspects of working studio.
Designer, Finished Artist: McKinney
2001–2003 | Raleigh, NC
Aided lead creatives on national brands. Developed visual concepts for presentations by retouching imagery, working out layouts and researching. Took layouts from rough to mechanical stage as print-ready art for all national publications.
Education
James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising and Graphic Design, 2000
Minor: Art Education, Licensure K-12
Virginia Commonwealth University: Richmond, VA
Art Foundation Program
Personal
Originally from Virginia, I have lived in NC, DC, CA, and now WA. In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my family, playing and watching soccer, and loading the dishwasher in the most effective way. And yes, most folks call me “Smitty”.