This is the part where I have to be serious. And fight off the imposter syndrome demons. Back ye beasts!

I have more than 6 years of experience as a designer and art director, with extensive knowledge of print media and complex layout designs. I can make and break a grid faster than I can tie my own shoes or get my cat off the counter.

I have left a trail of satisfied collaborators in my wake (photographers, authors, illustrators, designers, freelancers, CEOs). I have a proven record of synthesizing the needs of the audience with the visions of the content creator to create a beautiful product.

Look at me tooting my own horn! You go girl! Toot toot!

My meandering career path started out in education. And for good reason. I really enjoy teaching. I love taking systems of information and making them navigable to learners. I like helping people navigate. I love organizing and planning and responding to when nothing goes according to plan.

My first ever designs were worksheets, grade reports, and bulletin boards (which for anyone who has never had to create a bulletin board before, it is a labor of love, my god). And while these “designs” were not as visually appealing as some of my current work, they taught me how to empathize with my users, how to anticipate confusion and head it off with a solution. How to pivot quickly. Learn on the job. Roll with punches. Look at the data, but also have a heart.

These days I teach other designers. Aspiring and established. If you’re interested in learning more, check out my other site: Jack of None.

Look, I have no illusions about it: I’m not for everyone. I’m hardly for me. But in small doses I’ve been told I can be pretty great.

If you tell me about a hilariously embarrassing thing that happened to your kid when they were little, I will remember their name forever and ask you about them whenever we talk.

If you have something on your face, I will wait until a discreet moment and let you know and quietly hand you a tissue.

If you ask me how my weekend was, I will make a joke about spending it with my cat, and that may sound self deprecating, but it isn’t. My cat is awesome and we should all be so lucky as to hang out with him.

Point being, I’m not the best person ever, but I think I’m pretty far from being the worst.