About Me
Hello again! So glad you stopped by.
I’m Josh, a creative director, team builder, and designer. I’ve been working in design and marketing for more than 15 years. Refining my craft and developing my vision and style. I currently call Carlisle, Pennsylvania home, where I live with my partner and our dog. When I’m not designing and directing, you can find me outside, learning a new hobby or elbow deep in a sketchbook.
PHONE
(888) 888-8888
Email@email.com
The type of projects that get me excited for design are the ones that can teach me something new. Whether that is learning tools like Figma or about someone's lived experiences. I approach every project with a profound curiosity. Brand Identity and awareness are a specialty of mine and make up the meat and potatoes of my experience. Building identities for companies to growing brands from the inside. Branding is my jam!
Every Brand has a story to tell. Brands need a creative leader with vision that matches its voice and value that can be its raconteur. I strive to help brands tell their stories in ways that endear audiences and stick in memories.
I even kissed the Blarney Stone for that extra bit of magic.
A successful creative leader tells great stories, has strong vision and design philosophy. I'll explain the core of my design philosophy through easy to remember quotes.
A successful creative leader tells great stories, has strong vision and design philosophy. I'll explain the core of my design philosophy through easy to remember quotes.
Typography is the root of Design.
Type is the most essential building block of design. It conveys a multitude of unspoken meanings and messages to our audiences. Great Design begins with type and carefully considers what those messages are.
Superior Fundamentals are the framework of exemplary Design.
There is a very good reason we start with the fundamentals when learning about design. The fundamentals give us a common language that provides our framework to build on. As designers we need to understand the basics so we know when to use them and when to discard them.
Simplified Design speaks louder.
As Kelly Johnson put it, “Keep it simple, stupid”. Not only excessive elements or complex designs, but the message you are communicating. Focus your thoughts and message to the core idea you need your audience to comprehend. Then simplify your design to support that core idea.
Design is a magic trick.
Great Design is often invisible to our audience. The audience doesn't know how a texture can feel more natural. That blue feels more trustworthy, or a bold font grabs their attention. Like the magician using misdirection, designers create illusions that thrill and entice interaction.
Dig Down.
Everyday design exists at the surface level. There isn’t a deeper meaning connecting the business to its customer. Bill Gardner explains it as the deep sea. Like life in the ocean, most of the average ideas are near the surface where the sun keeps things warm. The truly unique and weird solutions live much deeper. Designers need to go beyond the shallows and find deeper solutions.
Design goes beyond the interface.
In our current space, brands are no longer a logo and a location, they are complete experiences. From the smell of a Cinnabon to the “ta-dum” of Netflix. Companies are working to create more immersive brands. Ones that are no longer held within the screen or page. A true brand identity encompasses all the senses. Creating a brand that consumers can smell, hear, touch and taste.
My most rewarding experiences come from leading a team of creatives at Giant Food. Where I provided direction on the visual identity and defined the strategy of the ad. Leading the team and helping each person grow in their career taught me about what it means to be a great manager. Listening to your employee's goals. Putting them in the position to achieve them. Then watching them succeed is an incredible feeling. Leading people is much more than managing them. I get excited watching my team thrive. Steering strategy toward repeated success brings a different warm and fuzzy. Pride in one’s own work. I was able to grow my skills as a strategist by digging into the data and details. I had the resources I needed to define how, where, when and what the ad delivered to our customers. With that support I developed a competent and insightful strategic mind. I became capable of spotting where and how we could leverage our advantages.
My accomplishments at Giant Food speak to my success as well. In 2022 I received the “Best of the Best” award as part of Giant Food’s Annual Business Awards. The award was in recognition of my “Outstanding leadership and Business Impact.” I earned the award through my efforts leading my team and achieving business goals. Such as reducing budget spend, improving ad performance, and team development. Professional development is important to me. I take advantage of every learning opportunity presented to me. I took part in Dale Carnegie Leadership Training. Where I received another award for “Human Relations.” Recognizing me for my skills as a leader.
Ok, That’s enough business talk. Let’s get into the fun stuff. What makes Josh… Josh? Well let me tell you! A fine blend of constant curiosity. Playing Dungeons & Dragons. Art & Photography, and getting outside. I cut my creative teeth on art and role playing games at an early age and never stopped playing in those worlds. I love crafting stories and world-building for my friends as a Dungeon Master. I feed my inner artist through museums, art books, and learning new techniques with a pencil or a camera. When I’m not satisfying my creative drive you can usually find me outside, whether on a hike, in my garden or out for a run.
I don’t know about you, but if I read this far in someone’s biography I’d consider hiring them. Especially if I had a new project or to lead a team of creatives. Does that resonate with you? Great! Let’s get the ball rolling! Shoot me an email or drop me a line. I’ll be around when you need me. Oh, and you can grab my resume from the link below.
Talk soon! Sláinte!
Josh