Are you looking for
a f**king Grownup?
You found me!
You know, with smarts, kick*ss talents, actual people skills, a wealth of knowledge, and real-world expertise?
WHAT I DO…
VISIBLE WORK
Branding / Logo Design
Branding isn’t just a logo. It’s the entire visual foundation of any brand’s story. It’s the typography, the colors, the style, the graphics, all the visual assets that tell us who you are. A professional, authentic, memorable brand that reflects your values, personality and vibe is simply invaluable. Whether your brand is a whole company or just you, it’s the most important investment you can make. After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Web & Digital Design
Let’s face it: all websites are absolutely NOT created equally. The level of customization, the page structure, architecture, interface, all of these details are truly make or break. These days, we are told we can all build a website without the need for any design skills at all. A slew of platforms cry out to us from every popup ad and TV spot - “DIY!” they say “Anybody can make a website with no experience at all!” While this is technically true, it leaves out the most important part: the skills, knowledge, experience, training and talent to make something really great. I specialize in creating custom websites on the Squarespace and Shopify platforms, as well as making all the digital assets people need for socials, promotions and more. I’m an authorized Squarespace Circle member.
Photo/Video
Images wield a great deal of power and there’s nothing more important to getting your message across than the the right visuals. Besides, without images a website is just a series of empty boxes. Visual media is where you tell your story, where your brand personality shines through, where the strongest connections are made between you and your audience. The job of creating visual content encompasses everything from art direction and pre and post production to producing, directing, shooting and editing moving and still images. I work with clients to create professional high quality media in multiple mediums.
Print/Graphic/E-Book Design
I work with clients to create stunning custom print graphics for a range of scenarios. I have created packaging, designed complex vinyl vehicle wraps, laid out entire magazines, and more. I work well with digital and traditional print professionals to ensure that specifications and benchmarks are met, that details are honored, and that each project has stellar outcomes. I’ve also created multiple e-books for both iBooks and Amazon’s Kindle.
INVISIBLE WORK
Wordsmithing
(AKA: Copywriting/Editing)
Words matter. Especially in the short attention span whirlwind of the modern world. I do smart, effective naming, copywriting and editing of internet copy with an eye toward SEO. I have a knack for saying what you mean in the “stickiest” way possible. I also work with authors of all kinds to get their manuscripts ready for the next stage, whatever that may be. Trust me, a human brain really is much better than that chatbot. At least for now…
Business Developing
(AKA: Consulting)
Whether they’re trying to overcome issues or just want help getting started on the right track, I work with individuals and organizations to get their structural ducks in a row in the service of healthy and happy growth. It can be difficult to see a clear path to a stable and profitable future, and it can be incredibly helpful to have a fresh set of experienced eyes on your business “Big Picture” - no matter where you are in your evolution. I listen to stories, goals and dreams so I can find practical paths from here to there. This encompasses all kinds of work, including industry-specific research and advice, building flexible and efficient workflows, finding the right people, gearing up, roadmapping and beyond.
Project Managing
Tons of moving parts! Deadlines! People to manage! Tools! Tech! More tools! I help folks run smooth and efficient projects from inception to completion. It’s all about keeping the people, tasks, tools and milestones on track so folks end up not just with a great outcome but a drastically improved experience. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it has to be unpleasant. I’ve successfully managed all kinds of large and small projects (on and off the web) and I’ve never met a level of complexity I didn’t want to delve right into.
Producing
(AKA: Fixer,
AKA: “solver of myriad problems”)
We need to source three 40 foot wide swaths of fabric by Monday? It has to be opaque? Of course it does. In red? OK, I’m on it.
The old web designer registered our domain name and then, well, sadly…she died. No, we don’t have access to the registrar account, but we do have her sister’s email address! Right. Let me see what I can do.
To be a great Producer, you need people skills, curiosity, research skills and stick-to-it-iveness. I’ve got all of these and more. I never met a challenge or a mystery I didn’t love to solve.
SEO/M, Content, Social Strategizing
(AKA: Analytics and traffic)
Making a website is like throwing a party. It doesn’t matter how fantastic your catering, your entertainment, your decoration is, if you don’t invite the right people, your soiree will be a dud. Search Engine Optimization, marketing, and content strategy is the research-based process of figuring out what will get the attention of both algorithms and humans, and then giving them what they want. It’s a complex discipline that’s constantly in flux and saturated with snake oil salespeople, and without a guide to help you navigate what to create, how to create it, and where (and when) to deploy it, you’ll be left stabbing in the dark. There’s no magic bullet for effective online strategy. There’s only the mix of art and analytics that comes with years of finding the right visitors and getting them in the door.