By Design: How I Help to Tell Your Story

For me, the heart of every business is a person with a story to tell. Which probably explains why the client relationship is paramount in my work. I get to know my clients and their message to find the right way to sell them. And I believe in strengthening that relationship throughout the entire process of building their materials by keeping in close contact, listening, and working diligently. I guide my clients to solutions that make sense for both their budgets and their business.

My 10 years of experience in areas like web design, photography, and writing come together in a variety projects to save clients time and money. This is often ideal for smaller businesses that want to reap the rewards of higher-end project management and design, but cannot afford a high-priced agency. I make sure to guide clients to affordable solutions that will also help to make them competitive in their industry. (View my resume.)

I offer flexible, full-service attention, maintaining a reservoir of trusted and comparably-priced experts for those larger projects that need specialized attention (i.e. editorial strategy and complex programming). My own range of skills usually addresses most businesses' needs.

Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together. — Vincent Van Gogh

My own personal expression tends to be off the beaten path, something that contributes a unique voice to the design work I create for my customers. I can bring a quirky aesthetic and sensibility to a project without overshadowing communication.

Above all, I consider myself to be someone who is fun to work with and who is deeply invested in her work, devoted to making my clients and their businesses look great.

Art and Inspiration: The Flame That Feeds the Fire

The lights dim, the pastels are unveiled, and I come out to play.

I've worked in a variety of media and crafts over the years and have a few that are precious to me. Photography, film, dry pastels, and digital illustration are among my favorites. I also enjoy writing fiction and poetry, and most of my work bends towards magical realism. I have written a couple of novels and screenplays, and have a graphic novel in the works.

Storytelling is central to all of my work, and even abstract pieces that have no obvious meaning nod to the human condition.

My Story: What Brings Me Here

I've always been focused on the arts as a means of expression and communication, and became interested in graphic arts in high school. I was born in Germany and grew up in the southern United States, getting my design degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. After I graduated I moved to Portland, Oregon, where I have lived for more than four years and have come to call home. I love everything about Portland—the restaurants, coffee shops, art scene, and personality of the city and its people.

In true Portlander style, I treat my three cats like the human children I don't yet have. My South African beau and I currently live near our beloved downtown St. John's where we work in an office above Proper Eats. (If you need a Natural programmer, he's your man!)

My primary interests over the years have stayed fairly consistent and include the music and career of David Bowie, Henson shows and movies, fantasy and cyberpunk novels, the art of Brian Froud, the work of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, ecclectic costuming, hair dye, and the films of Terry Gilliam.