Creative Director // Brand Builder // Art Director // Graphic Designer
Creative director with a proven track record, working with global brands on multi-channel campaigns, successfully achieving brand and business objectives. Skilled at leading and collaborating with creative teams, agencies, and partners to produce premium content from concept to completion. Effective creative coach, guiding and mentoring internal crew and inspiring a culture of creativity and inclusion. In touch with emerging trends, technologies, materials, methods, marketing tactics, architecture, art, and design.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. // Remote-Hybrid, Portland, Oregon
Global Brand Creative Director
03/2022-11/2023
Established creative strategy and vision for global campaigns, product launches, and large-scale events, driving creative and compelling omnichannel brand storytelling.
Led brand design, copywriting, and content capture teams, reinforcing authenticity, consistency, and premium quality in all deliverables.
Recruited new team members, adding top-notch full-time and freelance talent to the roster.
Pitched product storytelling ideas and concepts to internal stakeholders by clearly articulating compelling strategies, creative, and rationale.
Directed design of new category and product content across Harley-Davidson.com and H-DCollections.com.
Worked with cross-functional partners to support the creative needs of all business units throughout Harley-Davidson, ensuring alignment on deliverable quality and creative direction.
Guided content capture efforts for new motorcycle launches, motorcycle racing documentaries, and fashion through creative direction and on-site art direction for motion and still photography.
ROUNDHOUSE // Portland, Oregon
Creative Director
05/2017 – 03/2022
Drove creative strategy and vision for global brands, campaigns, and product launches with a primary focus on retail, experiential, and digital environments.
Translated client business, marketing, and brand goals into strategic, innovative, and engaging storytelling opportunities.
Led new business pitches and sell-in concepts to clients by clearly articulating compelling stories, creative work, and rationale.
Established photo art direction, planned and directed photoshoots, working with world-class photographers, crew, and talent with expertise in all phases of studio and location photography, from initial concepts, scouting, product and propping choices, lighting, set builds, on-set direction, image selection, and overseeing retouching and photo treatments.
Actively built and maintained strong client relationships and contributed to the growth of the business.
Worked closely with account managers and project teams to track budget, scope, and timelines, ensuring the creative vision was executed consistently, and high standards for design quality and client satisfaction were achieved.
Led creative team with effective direction and constructive feedback, inspiring the team to produce premium, world-class work consistently.
Managed, trained, coached, and mentored creative team, identifying professional development opportunities to help people achieve their goals.
Conducted one-on-one check-ins and performance reviews, provided pay equity assessments, and determined pay increases and promotions for the creative team.
Participated in team building and the recruitment of top creative talent by attending design/portfolio reviews, networking, and keeping a pulse on the talent market in the community.
Built partnerships and collaborated with vendors and outside resources that are experts in their fields to ensure flawless execution using the latest technologies and tactics.
Oversaw installations from concept to completion: Specified production methods and CMF, and reviewed plans, materials, and designs.
Partnered with athletes, influencers, and other collaborators to create engaging, branded content for social media, retail, and digital platforms.
Key Accomplishments:
Directed the creative for Roundhouse’s adidas account, averaging $10 million billable annually.
Established “Evergreen” sustainability guidelines and resources for adidas retail (Spring 2020).
Launched the adidas in-store retail initiative for the Spring 2020 adidas x Ivy Park collection (a collaboration between Beyoncé and adidas), with a 100% sell-through in one day.
Collaborated with adidas Global Retail to launch the remodeled adidas Paris flagship store in 2019, leveraging international partnerships and vendors to successfully complete our tasks efficiently and safely during the Yellow Vest civil unrest.
Led creative team on the creation of a branding toolkit for Red Bull Conquest championship e-sports gaming series, a competition featuring top regional fighting game champions from 15 cities across the USA (Summer – Fall 2019).
Partnered with adidas x Parley to create a sustainable retail launch, raising awareness of the far-reaching impact plastic waste is having on the earth’s water systems.
Concepted and directed “A Day in the Life” social media campaign with musician Tory Lanez and Champs Sports, featuring exclusive still and motion content (Summer 2018).
Strategized the adidas Alphaskin Baselayer global creative toolkit and oversaw the North American 2017 retail launch efforts.
Built relationships with adidas Basketball, and NBA athletes such as Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard, and James Harden to provide content, toolkits, and resources for signature footwear launch campaigns, including video, still, and social channel activations.
MORSE DESIGN // Portland, Oregon
Creative Director
06/2005 – 05/2017
Effectively directed and managed the small design consultancy, executing a wide range of projects across multiple creative disciplines, bringing in specialized talent when needed.
Oversaw all phases of creative work from concept through completion, ensuring alignment from key stakeholders and delivering high-quality creative solutions.
Cultivated strong, professional client and vendor relationships key to successful campaign rollouts.
Concepted, designed, and/or managed branding and campaign initiatives for clients such as Nike, KEEN, Microsoft, and Xbox.
Partnered with architects and GC to design and develop Nike Campus offices and creative spaces (CMF, furniture packages, and branding).
Concepted and designed retail environments and campaigns for Nike Skateboarding, Nike Basketball, and Nike Running.
Delivered automotive industry trend reports and car culture insights to Nike by attending the Detroit International Auto Show, Sema, and other events for trend gathering and research.
Captured photo assets chronicling the Saleen-Matmut team at the 24-hours of Le Mans to promote sales of the Saleen S7.
Partnered with agencies such as Fitch, Arnold, MNML, and Fallon on work for Microsoft, Vonage, Volvo, Cadillac, and Harley Davidson.
NIKE, INC. // Beaverton, Oregon
Design and Art Direction
03/2001 – 06/2005
Collaborated with internal clients, external agencies, and vendors to conceptualize, design, and execute Global and North American brand guidelines and initiatives, including Nike Football, Nike Baseball, Nike Pro, and various seasonal initiatives.
Led Nike Cycling brand campaign partnering with Trek, USPS, and the Livestrong Foundation (print, retail POP, and soft goods).
Partnered with Ford Design and J. Mays to create a Retrofuturism Exhibit and delivered the Retrofuturism keynote speech to Nike employees.
Managed multiple concurrent projects and responsibilities to meet aggressive deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
Established photo direction for multiple categories under the Nike brand, utilizing world-class photographers, athletes, products, and models on location and in studio.
Built strong relationships with internal and external partners to ensure seamless communication on high-profile projects.
Sourced external creative partners, providing clear, concise direction to deliver successful results.
ADDITIONAL PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Elixir Design, San Francisco, CA
Design and Art Direction
Client work: The Sundance Catalogs, Athleta, Mondavi Wineries, SimplyShe, Sonapse
Cold Fusion Sports, San Francisco, CA
In-house Design and Art Direction
Ecomm and B&M for boardsports and lifestyle brand
Design Guys, Minneapolis, MN
Design
Client work: Target Brands, Inc., Park Bicycle Tools, Rollerblade, Aveda
Interrobang Design Studio, New York City, NY
Design Internship
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Communications
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Foundation Classes / Year One
Prof G Certified Brand Strategist
November 2020
SKILLS
Creative Direction and Ideation
Art Direction: Video and Still (Product, Athlete, Lifestyle)
Concept Sketching, Illustration
Scripting and Storyboarding
Strong Understanding of 3D Environments and Architectural Space Relationships
Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, Bridge, Lightroom)
Figma
Apple Keynote
G Suite
Microsoft Office