"DESIGN WON'T
SAVE THE WORLD.
"DESIGN WON'T
SAVE THE WORLD.
But it damn sure makes it look good."
– Mary Crawford
But it damn sure makes it look good."
– Mary Crawford
ABOUT ME
From an early age, my greatest source of joy stemmed from a simple box of sharpened colored pencils and a fresh pad of drawing paper. Hours would effortlessly slip away as I immersed myself in recreating beloved characters from television shows or comic books, each stroke a testament to my fascination with the diverse art styles they embodied.
My journey into graphic design introduced me to a new realm of creativity, where digital art breathed vibrant life and dynamic movement into my once-static drawings. Despite this newfound passion, my heart remained devoted to traditional fine art, culminating in the completion of the BFA program at Southern Methodist University's esteemed Meadows School of Art.
Following my graduation, my first foray into the agency world began in 2006 with Powerpact in Dallas. This opportunity marked an innovative venture, aiming to transition outsourced comp art and storyboard production in-house, while elevating visualization standards for business pitches. At Powerpact, I delved into Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, collaborating closely with talented Writers and Creative Directors to breathe life into their concepts. It was here that I gained a profound appreciation for adhering to a respected brand's stringent marketing standards.
During my four-year tenure at PowerPact, I witnessed significant transformations within the company. Subsequently, I transitioned to The Marketing Arm as a Multimedia Artist. In this role, I was tasked with conceptualizing visuals for commercials and in-store displays for renowned brands such as Frito Lay, Budweiser, and Dannon. Immersed in the essence of these client brands, I embarked on a journey that would ultimately lead me to establish my own venture, illHouseDesign.com. Here, I began crafting logos for startups and transforming their visions into tangible brand identities.
Through my years working with agency production teams, I was able to source and produce printed marketing materials for my own growing list of clients as well as provide support for social media content and other online marketing needs. I was bringing success to these new brands and they would send their associates and friends my way in return. I was finding more pleasure in this work than in drawing storyboards and concept art all day, so I made the decision to put drawing aside and to leave The Marketing Arm.
Thanks to referrals from past branding clients, I was fortunate to land the Design Director role at Pritchett in 2015. As my first in-house job, I was able to fully own the Pritchett brand and produce a handful of books, create a new online presence, design digital versions of their publications, produce videos that deliver their messaging, and play a huge part in the management of their products and brand. Through Pritchett, I have been able to expand my areas of digital expertise – including website design, creating and managing email campaigns, social media content creation, and experiential design – all which have in turn been useful in growing my illHouse Design business.
I currently live in Dallas, Texas with my beautiful wife and our adorable cockapoo, Abby.
