As Associate Chair, Graphic Design BFA at ArtCenter, I work with faculty, our department leadership team, and other divisional and schoolwide teams to craft and support outstanding creative education for our current and future students, helping them develop industry-leading skills.

As a Professor, I utilize my 25+ years of experience building and analyzing brand and packaging systems. My teaching spans across our undergraduate and graduate programs, including co-teaching sponsored project and Designmatters courses that connect students to esteemed companies and organizations.

Prior to joining ArtCenter in 2020, I held the positions of Senior Design Director at John Paul Mitchell Systems, Creative Director at AdamsMorioka, and Senior Designer at Addis in Berkeley, CA, while also maintaining a freelance practice between on-staff roles.

Along the way I've increasingly focused on mentorship. I'm most fulfilled when I can help others build and succeed in their design careers, whether they be my students or my professional team members.

I’ve found that my true passion is designing opportunities for designers.

Experience

Associate Chair, Graphic Design BFA • ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, CA
August 2023-Present

Serving ArtCenter's Graphic Design department in a multi-faceted role that includes curriculum planning, faculty management and mentorship, student advising, admissions reviews, course scheduling, exhibition planning, and fostering divisional, schoolwide, and industry partnerships.

Professor • ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, CA
September 2022-Present

Joined the full-time Graphic Design faculty team, teaching three courses per term. Instructed students in branding, packaging, and transdisciplinary studio courses within undergraduate, graduate, Designmatters, and Masters of Design (MDes) in Brand Design and Strategy programs. Continued to advise the Graduate Graphic Design cohort on the their thesis projects. Mentored Designmatters Cedars-Sinai fellowships.

Adjunct Instructor • ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, CA
September 2020-August 2022

Served as an Instructor or Co-Instructor for multiple undergraduate and graduate level Graphic Design, transdisciplinary studio, and Designmatters courses, with an emphasis on branding and packaging design. Served on the team of instructors advising the Spring 2022 MFA Graduate Graphic Design cohort on their thesis projects.

Senior Design Director • John Paul Mitchell Systems, Los Angeles, CA
January 2018-July 2020

Worked with the Creative Director to mentor and direct all Creative Department team members, as we collectively developed effective and inspiring branding, packaging, print, and advertising for our multiple brands. This role built on my previous experience at JPMS, and included direct management of the full staff of seven Art Directors and Designers, as well as external collaborators. Responsibilities included job assignments/workload management, reviewing work from the Digital and Media teams for brand cohesiveness, and presentation of creative to VPs and Executives.

Freelance Creative Director/Designer • Los Angeles, CA
November 2015–2018

Freelance creative direction and design for local and national clients. Assembled teams as needed to complete projects. Included a comprehensive signage system for LA Family Housing, branding of Relation Insurance Services, and multiple promotions, site design and collateral for Brian Ades, one Sotheby’s top performing agents.

Senior Art Director • John Paul Mitchell Systems, Los Angeles, CA
October 2013–August 2015

Under the VP of Creative, directed and mentored teams of Designers and Production Artists to complete a robust schedule of branding and promotional projects for multiple product lines, while also contributing my own concepts and design. Worked directly with Marketing Managers, the Purchasing Department, and external vendors to develop strategic solutions that met required budgets. Developed concepts for brand identity systems, product and brand photo shoots, print, packaging, advertising, promotional styling tool finishes/graphics, and large scale environmental/event graphics. Assisted in directing internal and external Digital and Animation teams. Represented the Creative Department in Project Management meetings to help identify and resolve schedule challenges.

Creative Director • AdamsMorioka, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA
Senior Designer 2005–2008, Art Director 2008–2011, Creative Director 2011–July 2013

Worked directly with Partners to develop and execute strategic design concepts for identity, print, interactive, and environmental projects for a wide range of clients in multiple industries. Notable projects included exhibition design for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Signage for the UCLA Stein Eye Institute, and member and donor collateral for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Assisted Partners in managing client relationships. Directed, hired, and mentored creative staff. Managed studio schedule and deliverables. Directed and collaborated with external vendors and contractors, including Developers, Printers, Freelance Designers, Signage Manufacturers, Illustrators, and Photographers.

Senior Designer • Addis, Berkeley, CA
Designer 1999–2002, Senior Designer 2003–2005

Acted as a design lead on identity, print, interactive, and packaging projects. Collaborated with Strategists, Designers, Illustrators, Photographers, Developers, and Production Artists. Assisted in the hiring and direction of Junior Designers and Interns. Assisted in managing relationships with external vendors.

Freelance Designer • Be Design (Now Brand Engine), San Rafael, CA
1999, 2002–2003

Acted as a design lead on identity, packaging, and environmental projects. Collaborated with Designers and Production Artists.

Education

Academy of Art College and University of San Francisco
Cooperative BFA Program, 1994–1999

BFA in Graphic Design, Minor in History
Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Recognition

Graphic Design USA: multiple awards given to team members for work created under my direction, 2018-2019
HOW International Design Annual, 2015
Graphic Design USA In-House Design Awards, 2014
Idea-ology: The Designer’s Journey, 2010
Good Design: Deconstructing Form and Function and What Makes Good Design Work, 2009
Design Evolution: Theory into Practice, 2008
Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual, 2007
The Design of Dissent, 2005
Typography 26, The Annual of the Type Directors Club, 2005
365: AIGA Year in Design 23, 2003
Print Magazine Regional Design Annual, 2002

Panelist, AIGA Los Angeles Blueprint Series, 2013
Guest speaker and portfolio reviewer, Art Center College of Design, 2009–2012
Guest speaker, Chapman University, 2011
Guest speaker and portfolio reviewer, Academy of Art College, 2000–2010

References

Available upon request.

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Work shown on this site was completed in collaboration with the teams and companies noted on project pages.

ArtCenter Course List

UNDERGRADUATE GRAPHIC DESIGN
Communication Design 4
Package Design 1
Package Design 2

GRADUATE GRAPHIC DESIGN
Graduate Studio 2 (equivalent to
the current Graduate Studio 4)
Graduate Studio 3
Graduate Thesis 1
Graduate Thesis 2

MDES
BrandLAB 1
BrandLAB 2
Capstone Project
Writing for Brand

DESIGNMATTERS
A Good Stopping Point
Mind Matters
The (Re)Search for Inclusive Healthcare

SPONSORED PROJECTS
Greenies
Koenig & Bauer

Partial Client List

24 Hour Fitness

The Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences

Adobe

Aerus

AIGA

Annenberg Community
Beach House

Blue Shield of California

Brian Ades/Legacies of L.A.

The Broad Foundations

Cedars-Sinai

Disney

Hewlett-Packard

Intel

JCPenney

John Paul Mitchell Systems

LA Family Housing

Logitech

The Metropolitan Opera

Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc.

Natural History Museum
of Los Angeles County

Netflix Animation

Planned Parenthood

Relation Insurance Services

Rockport Publishers

Sundance Film Festival

Sundance Resort

Target

University of
Southern California

University of California,
Los Angeles

Warner Bros.

Zyliss