Brand Identity Design | Visual Communications | Workplace Innovation | Virtual Spaces
I link people, technology, and culture through sector-connecting design outcomes. Below is a high-level view on a selection of my work. To learn more about my ventures, or to discuss how we might collaborate, please connect.
Innovation and Design for Enhanced Adjudication
With a recent transition into the public sector, I am now serving the United States Federal Government in a permanent Strategic Business Advisor role. I am responsible for Human-Centered Design at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, within the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations (RAIO) Directorate’s Innovation and Design for Enhanced Adjudication Office. Our mission is “to elevate the role of technology at RAIO by building tools that focus on adjudication and process improvement, removing barriers between technology and business expertise, and further strengthening the culture of innovation and creativity among RAIO’s staff.”
Serving as a Design Leader to help governments deliver critical services to those who need them
In 2022, I was selected and onboarded to serve as a design volunteer for U.S. Digital Response (USDR) - a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps governments, nonprofits, and public entities respond quickly to critical public needs. USDR serves the immediate needs of the public by activating highly-skilled, experienced professionals to leverage design and technology and partner directly with governments and organizations at the state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal level as they work to deliver critical services to their communities.
Reframe: Elevating the business of art through virtual community building
I am the Co-Founder & CEO of Reframe: an innovative digital platform that transforms how people relate to art, through the power of online community building, and empowers artists and patrons to create meaningful relationships through art. Reframe is an LLC currently in development.
#HRvsVirus Hackathon: Creating meaningful connections during crisis
In 2020 I served as Brand and Design Mentor to five international, interdisciplinary teams creating solutions around workplace-related challenges caused by COVID-19. We collaborated to create five open-source solution concepts in a 72-hour sprint. Challenges were submitted by government agencies, HR and business leaders, gig workers and not-for-profits.
Workplace Transformation: Space design in a complex corporate ecosystem
I led all brand identity and art solutions for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services’ new 200,000 sq. ft., contemporary Business Center in Fort Worth, TX. The all-new workspace was designed to support employees with cutting-edge technology solutions that create an engaging, productive, and collaborative workplace environment that is infused with contemporary art.
Mercedes-Benz: Branding and UX/UI design for innovative digital platforms
I led Brand Identity Management and advised on User Experience/User Interface design for benchmark digital products and services for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services dealers, consumers, and employees throughout North America. Diverse projects included websites, consumer apps, and the MBFS intranet, using established and emerging technologies.
Communication design leadership for a global icon throughout the Americas Region
At Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, I was Manager of Brand Identity & Communication Design for for five countries, seven market-facing brands, and an extensive range of campaigns, products, and initiatives that required design thinking methodology to solve business-meets-culture challenges in a highly complex environment.
Vectorform: Entrepreneurial brand strategy for start-up-turned-global industry leader
Vectorform’s Co-Founders recruited me to join their highly collaborate, founding start-up team as Creative Director. We developed corporate strategy and service platform while I led the team through an immersive, interactive creative development process to design and develop its first brand identity and communications system.
Visual Thinking Srategies: Art as a platform for human understanding
I introduced and integrated Visual Thinking Strategies, an inquiry-based educational strategy, into the culture at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and beyond. I organized learning sessions at museums and facilitated sessions for internal employees and external business leaders to coach them in harnessing the powers of creativity and critical thinking.
Experiencing Perspectives: Culture-transforming exhibition programs
Experiencing Perspectives is a multi-city art exhibition and education program that I developed for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. I forged unique and long-lasting partnerships with respected art and educational institutions to develop an integrated series of exhibitions, community conversations, and publications.
Community advancement through inventive partnerships and programs
At MBFS, I created and developed meaningful programs that continue to build innovative character and boost the role of creative placemaking in local communities. These included international residencies, creative collaborations and challenges that broke down silos between the corporate, education, and non-profit sectors.
Sharing insight and perspective: Speaking and jurying opportunities
Engaging directly with new audiences has been an important element of my human-centered design efforts. I have enjoyed collaborating through speaking engagements at international conferences, presentations in local college classrooms, panel discussions in the community, and on juries for arts and culture grants and international artist residencies.
Activism and volunteer engagement for the non-profit sector
I have held leadership roles on boards at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where I contributed to a significant political victory in public funding for the museum, and at my alma mater, the College for Creative Studies, which honored me with National Philanthropy Day’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Recognized as a “Top 3” out of 500 for leading in professional excellence
The Oakland County, Michigan Executive's “Elite 40 Under 40” program recognizes ambitious professionals under 40 who are thought leaders, have achieved excellence in their field, and have contributed to the quality of life in their communities. Out of 500 nominations, 41 were selected as the “2014 Class” and then narrowed down to the “Top 3”.