About Me.

My introduction to design happened freshman year of high school in an introductory design class, and honestly, that was it for me. I was hooked immediately. I took every design class the school offered, picked up an independent study when I ran out of options, and by junior year I was producing homecoming shirts for my class. I even priced them higher than the school's version and still sold more. Looking back, that was probably my first lesson in the value of good design.

I went on to study design in college, but had to step away a few credits short, the debt just wasn't something I couldn't keep taking on. No diploma, but the foundation was solid.

My first real role was as a Communications Specialist and Graphic Designer for the State of Illinois legislature. From there, I relocated to Champaign with my soon-to-be wife and joined Martin One Source, where I continued growing my craft.

Then, in July of 2025, I reached back out to one of my old professors and re-enrolled to finish my BFA, completing it in a single semester, while working full time, with a lot of help along the way. Then, during the last week of November, I got called into a meeting with senior leadership at my job. No context, no heads up. I genuinely thought I was about to be let go. Instead, the company was restructuring to reduce insurance costs, and I was moved to 1099 status. Just like that, I was self-employed, free to set my own hours, take on my own clients, and build something on my own terms.

When I walked into that room expecting the worst, turned out to be the push I didn't know I needed.