With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design from Ohio’s Kent State University (design concentration in 2D/3D print design and a minor in advertising), I moved to New York and spent a year as Junior Designer at BorsaWallace, a design firm who partnered with clients such as DeVries Global to captivate editors with new product launches from brands such as Pantene, Oil of Olay, and E. & J. Gallo Winery.
In 2005, I relocated to Cleveland to work for an advertising agency, with an impressive 70-year-history, as their Designer and Art Director. My favorite projects involved those for Vitamix, American Greetings, Moen, DOW, and Shoes & Clothes for Kids—a non-profit who provides new clothes to children in need. The packaging I designed for Vitamix was their primary package design for about 10 years!
Following five years at the agency, I opened my design studio where I focused on event invitation suites as well as marketing solutions for small businesses such as Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center. During this time, I also launched a stationery collection and participated in a couple of local markets. It was within this period that I discovered my interest in lifestyle goods design and development.
As luck or destiny would have it, a Design Director opportunity became available at Aesthetic Movement (A/M) — a lifestyle brand rep group with an in-house design studio. I moved back to New York and cultivated my product and brand development expertise over the next seven years. I led the design team and collaborated with A/M’s founder and creative director on strategy, concepts, branding, product development, marketing, and photography for gift, home, and accessories brands, our A/M brand, and other esteemed clientele. Our small design team launched thousands of products together across eight product lines! In addition to my own design work, I produced and art directed photo shoots (collaborating with Kate Sears, Pam Morris, and more esteemed stylists and photographers), strategically managed the design department, provided concept and design direction to our team, assessed deliverables, defined seasonal schedules, reviewed samples, and liaised with clients and industry partners. I also prepared contracts and proposals, consulted with third party product lines interested in brand growth or gift and home product development, and managed the interviewing and hiring of team members, and encouraged professional growth and company culture.
Beginning January 2019, I returned to working independently and continued to partner with A/M as well as other boutique brands and design agencies. From strategy, ideation, product development, branding, and art direction to marketing and everything else in between, including hospitality agency design direction and design team management and mentorship, I’ve filled in the gap where my collaborators need it most. Select clients and brand experience include Sir/Madam, The Floral Society, Revolver New York, Thomas O’Brien, Marriott, Govino, Bozzuto, Kimpton Hotels, Carnaby & Vine, Djeco, Pidgin, and Shoppe Object.
In 2024, my long-time collaborator and I launched our studio, Fountain Partners Creative, where we provide holistic creative services for lifestyle brands such as Shoppe Object, The Floral Society, Prose, and Verloop.