Ever since then, punk rock has instilled certain ideologies in me; to fight for causes I believe in, to question authority, and the DIY ethos.
I found design by accident as a teen. I was making my own shirts, stickers, and zines—designing without knowing that I was designing. At the same time, the web was becoming a thing.
Because of this, I pursued an AAS degree in “IT/Web Development” (aka web/interaction design), graduating in early 2002. With my good buddy, James Day, we co-founded a web design company called “New Global Media”. Such a web 1.0 name!
After about two years, we dissolved NGM on good terms.
In the fall of 2003, I went to Virginia Commonwealth University to get a BFA in graphic design. I got out in 2008 to try and start my career again. Although, this proved to be a little challenging with a recession.
Nonetheless, I knew I wanted to bring those punk rock ideologies I held close to my heart into my new career path; fighting for causes I care about, questioning existing systems, and creating my own projects.
That’s when I found Project M, a program that motivates designers to create positive change in the world. Project M changed the trajectory of my professional and personal life.
Thanks to John Bielenberg and others, I’ve incorporated the Think Wrong process into a lot of my work while doubling down on those punk rock ideologies.
From 2009–2012, I called ~20 places “home”, living out of two bags with a bike and a laptop.
This allowed me to take on projects that helped build out my social innovation design portfolio as well as working with, and befriending, a ton of amazing and talented people.
Fast forward to 2016, I co-founded The Determined, a design strategy and creative consulting studio that collaborated with climate-focused organizations on branding, messaging, marketing, and innovation strategy. We ran that for six years.
In 2019, I co-founded Climate Designers, a global hub for designers and creative professionals from all industries, committed to using our creative skills for climate action.
Seeing Climate Designers grow into a global community and resource has been truly inspiring.
I'm also adjunct at California College of the Arts. I created and now teach a class called "Climate Designers".
I believe we need more designers to use their creative talents, in some way, to address our climate crisis. This is why in 2020, my friends and I wrote the 4th version of the First Things First manifesto.
Today, as I call myself a climate designer, I strive to use my creative talents to take climate action.
It’s cool to finally bridge all of my interests together (design, climate, social good, education, and punk rock) to pursue my life’s work. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s so fulling.
I love hearing stories of designers and how they got where they are today.
What’s yours?
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