Giving Gravity is making the intangible real
Accomplished design director and multi-disciplinary creative leader
delivering value at the intersections of design, strategy, innovation, foresight, brand, and experience
I am interested in ...
Design as a solution finder
At its best, design can change lives, return value, and benefit the planet. I'm most excited about design solutions at the intersection of product, service, and holistic experience AND that address real problems ... like actual real, validated problems.
Simplifying complexity
With the ability to switch readily between micro-detail or macro-system implementation at any point in the creative process, I can help teams understand how design fits into complex larger systems of brand, service, business, culture, or experience.
Helping others succeed
With years of experience in building capable teams, encouraging positive workplace cultures, and aligning creative resources to accomplish business goals, I thrive in enabling people to create their best work.
Exploring the unknown
Envisioning what the future holds can be a daunting task, though I find great thrill in the endeavor. Whether it's re-connecting with customers or speculating a new product, brand, or service, I've been there to help set the long-term vision and realize a clear pathway forward.
Allowing space to create
I strive for a workflow balance in everything do that creates space for open ideation, yet can also be streamlined for efficiency when needed. The creative process is rarely linear and my experience provides confidence in navigating different phases and programmatic needs.
Creation with
representation
We can't create viable solutions if key stakeholders are missing from the discussion. I bring a vast depth of experience in guiding cross functional and inclusive teams of designers, engineers, programmers, corporate partners, and end-users through the creative process.
Doing more
than talking
Talking about design, or anything for that matter, will only get you so far. I have a deep-seated affinity for making decisions and taking action to test ideas, establish progress, and explore solutions. I've found that the best way to get ideas out of the ethos is to start making them tangible ... give them 'gravity'.
Building a better future
Designers, or anyone responsible for creating the products and systems used within our society, have a responsibility to do no harm. I believe that there are viable means to success that include accommodations for people, profit, and the planet.
I describe myself as ...
A generalist with remarkable specialty
My work leverages a deep pool of practical knowledge, gained through 20+ years of professional design experience, in crafting and delivering human centered outcomes. I've acquired a potent mashup of product, service, and experiential design proficiency blended with proven success in change management and executive level leadership across a variety of touchpoints and business sectors.
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Project Image: I helped a small, cross-functional innovation team (backed by a global aircraft manufacturer) explore the future of urban aerial transportation and the creation of eco-friendly, battery powered EVTOL vehicles. I contributed to the project by leading user research efforts, turning insights into product and business strategy, envisioning future-state services, creative direction, and customer experience design.
A master of process, breaker of convention
The creative process is messy, generally non-linear, and riddled with unknowns. I've learned how to seamlessly blend methodologies and techniques from many different creative disciplines into an agile, yet rigorous process, tailored precisely for the challenge at hand. My approach is hands-on, iterative, and always focused on delivering something that is better than the sum of its parts.
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Project Image: I collaborated with a start up mattress manufacturer to be first-to-market with industry leading technology enabled by a mattress that monitored body position and proactively made adjustments to improve sleep throughout the night. The fully customizable sleep experience was controlled through a custom app that helped users understand their sleep patterns, see data reports, and make improvements over time. I contributed industrial design, manufacturing support, graphics and branding creative direction, and UI design.
A leader committed to collaboration
Piercing through difficult challenges and delivering insightful solutions requires an experienced guide along the entire project arch. More importantly, it also requires input from a diverse gallery of viewpoints and perspectives. I've been fortunate to have partnered with organizations of all sizes, enabling cross-functional teams to do their best work and accomplish astonishing results.
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Project Image: Over the course of a multi-year partnership, I led several innovation workshops with a global materials and chemical company to help participants collaborate in finding new solutions to a variety of business and social impact challenges. My contributions included group facilitation and activity planning, problem and solution framing, and mentoring.
Over the years, I have become pretty good at a few things ...
When I started, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) was at a cross-roads in determining its future. Even though I was coming in as Executive Director, I approached the role as a design project from the start and quickly set off to utilize my skill set to bring a designful mindset to everything we did. In the ensuing five years, I worked diligently with IDSA staff and volunteer leaders to overhaul the membership experience and face, head on, decades-old challenges that prevented the organization from moving forward. Some changes we made were large but most were small, calculated, and precise. The resulting impact ultimately came from compounding countless little modifications across nearly every aspect of the organization (internally and externally) which delivered the results I had envisioned.
Most recently, I have been redesigning a 50+ year old design organization ...
Other professional experience includes ...
Currently
I am open to new freelance or full-time opportunities
My ideal 'sweetspot' is in a leadership position at the intersections of design, strategy, brand, innovation, foresight, and experience.
I am based in Atlanta, GA and comfortable with in-person or remote/hybrid work environments.
Advisor, The Design Futures Initiative
Non-profit organization supporting the Speculative Futures community and the annual PRIMER conference.
Previously
I have thrived in a variety of roles within consultancy and in-house settings and I've been responsible for the implementation of solutions across a wide array of industries such as architectural water features, transportation, food and beverage, retail, and non-profit communities.
Notable brands I've worked with include:
BASF, Bridgestone Tire, Coca-Cola, Design Foundation, Embraer X, IDSA, Philz Coffee, and Tempur-Pedic
Academic
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama 2002
Bachelor of Industrial Design
Domus Academy
Milan, Italy 2013
Short School Certificate, Designing the Shopping Experience
'School of Life'
All day, every day - never stop learning
When I am not in the office ...
Father of two, husband to one
Sandwich connoisseur
Outdoors & snowboarding
Bonsai enthusiast
Guitars & ukuleles
Vintage BMW's
Anonymous street art