Curious, determined, and creative

Qualities: Curious, creative, detail-oriented, unique, direct, mentor

Skills: Disciplined, determined, detail-oriented

As a designer, I have always aimed to create work that is helpful, and educational while visually appealing. This means that while I care about aesthetics, I’m even more interested in the role graphic design plays for us as a learning and media-engaged tool. I love working on complex and layered design projects. 

To date, my biggest accomplishment has been making a documentary that has been well-received and is used in graphic design curriculum worldwide. The process of making the film required that I be persistent in my desire to see it through, as fundraising is a major challenge that requires dedication and time. It also required that I be disciplined in continuing the work over the course of three years, managing the project on my own, while selecting the best collaborators to help realize aspects of the project I was not qualified to do (cinematography, editing, motion design). Filmmaking is a team endeavor, like many things. Finally, making this film meant I had to believe that, regardless as my status as an unknown assistant professor, I was the right person to make such a film and therefore should be approaching various well-known, highly accomplished designers to interview and film. 

As a colleague, I am highly aware of those coming up around me and make myself available for support as needed. I also step in if I feel any junior colleague is being taken advantage of or needs support.

In my work teams, I’m both light-hearted and love to crack jokes, but also communicate quite directly. Clarity in communication is incredibly important to me for the best possible outcome, but also just for morale.