Scroll to view my creative progressionI'm an award-winning creative with over fifteen years of experience. I have touched almost every corner of the creative world. This is driven by my insatiable curiosity to learn and push boundaries.
2023 -Currently I’m the Vice President, Head of Design for Capital Bank, which is a commercial bank that is also working to become the most trusted credit-building partner in America. It’s essentially a 25-year-old start-up within a publicly traded company and every day I get to wear my creative hat(s)… over my regulatory corporate haircut1 … In 2024 I had the opportunity to completely overhaul the opensky credit card business2 from top to bottom. I’ve learned more about leadership and compliance here than when I was a camp counselor3 during the summer of 06.
1 I cut my hair to help my transition into the corporate world. I’ll do just about anything for the right opportunity
2 See the opensky re-brand here here
3 See 2006
A day in july 2023I took a day off4 at the bank for the opportunity to photograph Nicole Mcglaughlin5. I got to help art direct a video and document on of Nicole’s collabs with Rumpl. While working as a corporate overlord you must keep your creative senses tingling.
4 Mental health days are important
5 See photos here
Jan. 2021 - Oct. 2022Before transitioning into the corporate world and “selling my soul” as they say, I was Head of Creative, for a start-up called Guest House. I actually became a part owner of the company when I did the branding and design systems way back in 2015. This time around I helped build an easy-to-use tech platform6 integrating planning, staging, and sales functionalities into a one-stop solution. I also learned you can build an X-mas tree7 out of chairs.
6 See the Guest House case study here
7 See 2006
May. 2020 - January 2021Before that I worked with a small creative team to produce a great body of work around the Spark Grill8. My role as a contract Creative Director covered art direction, design, video production, product, and apron making9.
8 See the Spark case study here
9 Check out my sewing skills here
2020-2022 COVID ERABefore that I started a film subscription company10 with my friends. We curated 3 rolls of 35mm or 120 film alongside a monthly zine with film notes and customer photos showcasing each film type. Unfortunately film prices went up and our margins went down. But we built a dang cool lil’ film community at the time.
10 See the Notch case study here
2020 COVID ERABefore that I bought my first Leica11 and my love of film photography12 reached an obsessive level.
11 Leiac M7
12 See my photography here
May. 2020 - January 2021Before that I was building the first end-to-end platform13 to make buying and selling homes easier than ever before. I learned a lot about data and risk models. I also learned the software that mortgage lenders use is similar to the XP operating system you riddled with limewire viruses on your family’s gateway computer14 in 1999.
13 See the Homerun case study here
14 I proudly come from a Mac family.
APR. 2015 - mar. 2020Before that I branded a new electrolyte drink and powder mix called Basis15. I used to buy it at whole foods before Erewhon was cool.
15 Need something here
APR. 2015 - mar. 2018Before that I was the Design Director for Blinker. Here was the first place I heard the joke about changing blinker fluid. The jokes were mild but the team was incredible. In fact we won the SXSW Innovation award, 2 webby nominations, and 2 Emmy awards for our broadcast spots.
16 Need something here
17 Need something here
APR. 2014 - mar. 2017Before that I was created a brand called Worthy. We made stuff. Cool stuff like wool caps, dog collars, bandanas, candles and bags. We didnt make any money, but learned a lot about starting a business.
18 Need something here
January 2011 - mar. 2015Before that I was a senior art director and before that an art director, and before that an associate art director at Factory Design Labs. Is climbing the non-corporate ladder a thing? Either way, this one one of the places that really shaped me into the creative I am today. It was glamourous, fastidious and eternal burnout all at once. I got to work on global ad campaigns for some of the largest and coolest action sports brands19. While blowing damn near every paycheck within employee discount portals, I was busy being mentored by some of the best creative minds in the industry. No idea was off the table. Well.. except a work life balance. But hey, its the best time I never want to have again.
19 The North Face, Oakley, Callaway Golf, Scott Sports, Wheel Pros, New Belgium Brewery, Aspen Snowmass, Casa Sauza Tequila.
SEP. 2011 - Dec. 2011Before that I was an interactive design intern for Crispin Porter + Bogusky. It's here I had the opportunity to get my hands dirty on some of the hottest interactive projects at that time and seeing what being a "Creative" really meant. You know that Domino's pizza tracker? Yeah I was just there, but got to see some of the secret sauce it takes to be a true innovator. I even got to make some pretty cool pizza box illustrations to go with the project. I know... You thought it couldn't get annny better than pizza box illustrations. Well.. You're wrong. It does. We had a big red english style Domino's phone booth, where anyone could pick up the phone at any time and order a free pizza. While eating said pizza I also spent some time developing work for Jello, Old navy, and Under Armour, which was pretty cool.
20 I got offered a really great opportunity to work for Modcloth in San Francisco but my dad convinced me that I couldn’t live on the salary they were offering. So instead I went to boulder and made minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
SUMMER 2006Before that I got my first, and short lived, taste of leadership as a camp counselor. I was responsible for building teams, staying compliant with pool rules and regulations, and making sure the kids didn’t tell their parents I let the cuss during kickball.
21 I got offered a really great opportunity to work for Modcloth in San Francisco but my dad convinced me that I couldn’t live on the salary they were offering. So instead I went to boulder and made minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
SCHOOLYEAR 2006Before that I worked at blockbuster as a night clerk. 2 free rentals pers shift, baby.
22 I ended up forgetting to return multiple “Free rentals” and ended up owing like $42 to collections. My mom had to western union money to me.
A half-day some time in the fall of 2005Before that I worked half a shift as a movie theater concession stand guy. I left at lunch when I was getting hazed by my superiors and never went back. In fact they got so concerned that they called my mom saying I could pick up my check for the 3 hours if I was still alive.
23 I ended up forgetting to return multiple “Free rentals” and ended up owing like $42 to collections. My mom had to western union money to me.
2004Before that I worked at target. Ever see those soap bottles lined up perfectly, label facing out as you’re walking down the aisle? That was me. Or Dion1 I should say. Probably a leading cause to obsessively checking design grids.
24 I didn’t want customers to know my name so I found a nametag “DION” in lost and found and wore it in place of mine. That way Karen’s couldnt call and complain about me after they didn’t get their 42” Plasma televison on black friday after they called and asked if it was in stock.
2002-2003Before that I made my first skate video with a Sony Handycam and Final Cut.
25 See ice films or pirate bay
2000-2001Before that I was fumbling my way through Photoshop making fake IDs1 for me and my friends so we could see The David Letterman Show2 on spring break. It worked. Except for Sam’s. He got stuck outside by rupert's deli.
25 See ice films or pirate bay
2000-2001Before all that I was just a kid unleashing my creativity through making and learning. Sometimes that meant making a plan to hand make hockey goalie pads1, cutting a hole in my sneakers tongue and sewing in a mini radio, drawing all the nhl logos, sewing homer simpson quilted pillowcases or just dreaming, I’m still just that kid at heart with a expansive imagination.
25 Started my technical requirements early. Check out the plans here