Creative director by day. Sci-fi author at night.

I lead world-class teams to push the boundaries of craft and create compelling one-of-a-kind brand experiences that move the hearts and minds of audiences. My alter-ego is a speculative science fiction writer on a mission to explore the mysteries of the multiverse.



I approach each project with an investigative eye for how it supports the overarching purpose of a brand, then strive to deliver unexpected creative strategies, content and experiences to engage consumers and keep the story moving forward.



Sorta like what Kevin Feige does, except for brands.

Based in Chicago, Iโ€™m just a quick hop to NYC, a skip to DC, a jump to the West Coast and a short leap to the rest of world.

PREVIOUSLY

  • Creative Director, MOWE Studio

  • Co-Founder, Creative Director, The Human Expansion Co.

  • Head of Film, Western USA, Ogilvy

  • Resume / C.V.

EDUCATION

  • M.F.A. in Filmmaking

    • New York Film Academy at Universal Studios

  • B.A. with Distinction in Comparative Literature: Cinema Studies

    • University of Washington

I am currently available for freelance collaborations and serve as a Board Member of AIGA Chicago.

Letโ€™s connect!

What to Expect

DISCOVERY

I start by asking questions. A lot of questions.

I was once a radio host and later directed documentaries. Questions are at the heart of who I am.

My goal is to understand your goals. What is your purpose? How does a project, a single deliverable or a campaign, support that purpose? Who do we want to connect with? What actions do you want to inspire them to take? How do you want your audience to talk about your brand after engaging with a project? What is your competition doing?

Using answers to questions such as these, I build the compass that guides creative decisions.

IDEATION

This is my favorite stage of any project, when the creative stuff is still raw and mushy with infinite possibilities.

It starts with building the conceptual sandboxโ€”setting boundaries to guide our creative process, and if one has not yet been established, defining a creative foundation for our concepts. Then comes brainstorming, followed by the tempest of words and visuals.

There is no one way to ideate. This is feeling our way through the dark and making our own light. We start with nothing and design our way to mapping out every aspect of your project: concepts, mood boards, scripts, storyboards, style frames, wireframes, prototypes and all the logistics to grease the wheels like budgeting and scheduling happen here.

Some particulars: I encourage embracing risk and exploring emerging technology to develop breakthrough concepts that amplify audience engagement and enhance the effectiveness of your creative output.

PRODUCTION

By now, youโ€™ll have a pretty solid idea of what your final product will look like, and all thatโ€™s left to do is sprinkle a bit of pixie dust, crank up the timer, and wait for it to bake. At least thatโ€™s how Iโ€™d like to imagine it works.

In reality, everything leads to these moments.

The success of a project comes down to how we execute the smallest details. From elaborate live action set builds to low footprint documentaries in West Africa, to ensuring that animation sticks the landing as we evolve it from storyboard to motion or directing voiceover talent to nailing the right musical rhythms, I oversee every step of the production process to ensure that all deliverables meet the expectations weโ€™ve agreed upon during ideation.

Here are some organizations that have liked my work:

Emmy Awards

Shorty Awards

Webby Awards

Vimeo Staff Picks

ADC Awards Shortlist

National ADDY Awards

Motion Graphics Awards

North American Excellence

Hermes Creative Awards

Communication Arts

Digital Design Days

Brand Film Festival

C.A.S.E. Awards

Telly Awards

ShortsHD TV

W3 Awards

Behance

PR Week

Thanks for stopping by!