COCREATOR - GRAPHIC DESIGN

I created three illustrations for Adobe MAX 2021 — a mega, virtual conference with a full slate of ideas, tools, and inspiration designed to celebrate the creative community. Using the Adobe MAX brand assets, I provided conception, art direction, and completion for these illustrations which were available as free, downloadable art for all international attendees.

In this comprehensive guide, a 3-time World Domino Champion breaks down the fascinating history and culture of one of the world's most popular pastimes — and shares how-to instructions for playing 65 different domino games.

The cover exudes a sense of elegance, sophistication, and fun — appealing to both seasoned domino players and those new to the game. The Art Deco-inspired grid pattern with coupled with cascading dominoes is visually appealing and enticing to readers who want to learn more about the game.

The definitive account of Blaxploitation cinema — written by film critic Odie Henderson — Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras is a spirited history of the freewheeling, often shameless, and wildly influential genre from a distinctive voice in film history and criticism.

This cover is a strong typographic composition that reflects the bold, rebellious spirit of Blaxploitation films. Combined with design elements reminiscent of the genre, this cover is a compelling representation of blaxploitation cinema.

For Martin Luther King Day in 2022, I was commissioned by 23andMe to letter Dr. King’s quote “of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” Part of this inequality comes from a lack in representation of people of African ancestry in genetic research. This campaign highlighted how 23andMe is uniquely positioned to make that change and how “representation matters.”

Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, attracting thousands of people to Brooklyn, Manhattan, Jersey City, Los Angeles, and Miami each weekend to eat from dozens of local vendors. It launched 2011, as a spinoff of Brooklyn Flea — founded in 2008 — and has since launched dozens of small businesses and attracted millions of visitors.

Referencing those ubiquitous “Welcome to…” postcards, I crafted the letterforms for the word “Smorgasburg” to pay tribute to these cultural staples as patrons are welcomed back outdoors for great food and amazing fellowship.

EDITORIAL/CUSTOM LETTERING

I worked with Minneapolis Star Tribune to create black and white lettering for its February 2021 cover story which celebrated 30 Black music makers from Minnesota.

The goal was to illustrate the words, so they spoke to the rich history of Black musicians from the North Star State. A list of greats which includes Prince, Lizzo, Sounds of Blackness, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, this lettering is a great homage to these 30 luminaries.

In 2022, this piece was include in a Star Tribune in individual combination portfolio, art directed by Madyline Byrd, that was received an Award of Excellence from the Society for News Design's annual Creative Competition, considered the world’s top visual journalism contest.

CUSTOM LETTERING / ILLUSTRATION

My Illustrated Song Lyrics series a personal project born out of my love for lettering and music. The idea is simple: I take a song lyric from a catchy song and combine it with custom letterforms and illustrations. The result: unique and energetic compositions full of highly-detailed lettering.

Many of these works find inspiration in African American music which has helped to uplift souls, express pain, and give social commentary. The impact of African American music and its importance to the Black experience, to the cultural heritage of all Americans cannot be escaped, regardless of race or origin.

These words have personal significance to me, are timely in my message and address timely topics such as isolation during the pandemic, equal pay for women of color, coping with civic unrest, concerns regarding the removal confederate statutes, virtue signaling vs. actionable allyship, and the importance of self-care.

ILLUSTRATION/CUSTOM LETTERING

You Are Not Alone Murals is a nonprofit project conceived of by longtime friends Annica Lydenberg, illustrator and mural painter of Dirty Bandits and Samantha Schutz, author of I Don’t Want to Be Crazy, a critically acclaimed memoir about living with anxiety disorder. Started in 2019, this campaign annually coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month.

My 2021 contribution to the ongoing series comes after the throes of a global pandemic and civic unrest where many of us had to address feelings of isolation and helplessness. Using the campaigns’ color palette of black, white, grey, and yellow, the cheerful and optimistic tone of my lettering reminds viewers there is available support.

None of us are immune to anxiety, grief, anger, shame, and sadness. And none have to cope with these feelings by ourselves.

CUSTOM LETTERING/ILLUSTRATION

Ribalta is a Michelin guide rated Italian restaurant that specializes in hand-crafted Neapolitan pasta and pizza made from the freshest of ingredients.

This witty series was created in partnership with Do It For Locals, a collective of New York City based artists and entrepreneurs supporting businesses impacted by COVID-19 with free media and advertising.

To help support Ribalta, we turned quarantine themes like rising yeast shortages and social distancing into playful headlines to drive more customers to order Ribalta online. The color palette and letterforms pay homage to classic Italian Art Deco posters and signage; together they bring copywriter Nick Marchese’s words to life.

ILLUSTRATION

For Entrepreneur Magazine's December 2018 issue, it talked to industry leaders and experts and get their perspective on what big changes and new opportunities are coming in the next year. This opening spread for the issue featured custom illustrative lettering which captured the optimism and energy a new year can bring.

36 DAYS OF TYPE, 7TH EDITION

36 Days of Type is a project that invites Designers, Illustrators and Graphic Artists to express their particular view on letters and numbers of our alphabet. visitors to were sent a new dimension known only as the “Letter Zone” to experience letterforms of all shapes and sizes.

36 Days of Type is a project that invites Designers, Illustrators and Graphic Artists to express their particular view on letters and numbers of our alphabet. This series invited visitors to be amazed and astounded by the circus of letterforms of all shapes and sizes.

36 Days of Type is a project that invites Designers, Illustrators and Graphic Artists to express their particular view on letters and numbers of our alphabet.

Over the last year, I have developed a passion for illustrative letterforms.  My work is influenced by traditional sign painting, optical art, and comic book lettering.