multidisciplinary graphic designer

Designer first, Project Manager second. Eighteen years experience in the industry. I work and play well with others (I don't run with scissors). I'm a fairly down-to-earth guy. I don't take myself too seriously and I don't design just for the sake of design: my goal is to provide simple, intuitive, and effective solutions.

Graphic Designer first,
Project Manager second

About me

I tend to wear a lot of hats. It’s part of being in the graphic design industry, but I enjoy every aspect of it because I always learn something new.

So what have I learned? I can tell you the difference between a font and a typeface (okay not really: the definition has changed alongside technology and there is no right answer), why InDesign is awesome (because it’s not Quark), why Canon is better than Nikon (and vice versa: lenses vs. sensor), why overcast skies are best for outdoor photoshoots (it's natures soft box), why I prefer the boostrap platform over skeleton (more widely adopted), when to use a database driven CMS or when to use a flat-file CMS (big sites vs. small sites), why a Cintiq might never catch up with pencil and paper yet I still recommend it for workflow reasons (it's like drawing on a mirror), and why being OCD isn't always enough to be a good project manager (sometimes you have to be pesky).

And yes I prefer using a Mac for pretty much anything, although Outlook on an Exchange server might be the best email solution out there for email clients (#sorrynotsorry).

I'm also a ham radio operator (callsign: KF5VGJ), and if you've seen my Suburban you'll know I like to get outdoors (about as much as I enjoy being indoors in front of a computer).

Software skills: a jack of all trades
(a master of none)
Adobe Indesign
95%
My bread and butter. Page layout is where my heart will always be.
Adobe Photoshop
90%
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
Adobe Illustrator
90%
Even with its always-persistent bugs, I love what can be done with this app.
Adobe CC
80%
Bridge, Lightroom, Premiere, Dreamweaver, Muse, and probably a few more.
HTML / CSS
85%
I don't code from scratch, but I know how to dig in and fix what needs fixin'.
Microsoft Office
80%
The necessary evil, even here I must be proficient.
Email Kung-Fu
90%
Communication skills and time management, the dynamic duo.
Management
85%
Managing freelancers and contractors.

Portfolio & Profile

Check out my portfolio and my online profile.

Behance
Visit behance.net to see a variety of items I've designed and created, such as brochures, catalogs, magazines, identity guides, websites, and t-shirts, to name a few.
View Portfolio
LinkedIn
Get the big picture on LinkedIn: view my resume, skills, endorsements, recommendations, etc., or you can download my resume as a PDF here.
View Profile Download Resume

What I do

I'm never "done." I'm always learning. During breaks between projects, I’m usually asking "what's next?"

Print Design
Since starting out working on annual reports for Fortune 500 companies, print design has been my passion.
Web Design
Web design is maturing enough to where we can responsibly do some very cool things.
Art Direction
What a great opportunity this is to train up other graphic designers.
Marketing
Even with SEO, sales funnels, and grass-roots efforts, there really is no exact science to marketing.
Brand Cultivation
It's not what you say it is, it's what they say it is.
Project Management
I've learned to respect this craft. Attention to details and a certain level of OCD is only part of the gig.
Lead Generation
Frequently goes hand-in-hand with marketing (as a concept, and in execution), yet sometimes there is no template to follow.
Ecommerce
Don’t underestimate the shopping cart experience.
Photography
This can usually be a relaxing experience for me. I've learned a lot from the professionals I've worked alongside with.
Illustration
This is what got me into the design industry in the first place. I grew up drawing before I knew anything else (and still do, as time permits).
Corporate Identity
Not to be confused with "branding," as this is another craft entirely.
Consultation
I know a little about a lot of things, and a lot about a few things.

  • Mike is a fantastic designer, hard-working, dependable, and all-around swell guy. He's constantly exploring, learning and sharing which is reflected in his work.

    . . .
    Vincent Tran
    Director of Innovation Labs at MMI Agency, CISSP

  • What impressed me most was how Michael held true to his vision and went the extra mile to execute a finished product he — and the rest of the team — could be proud of.

    . . .
    Rebecca Harper
    Editorial Strategy for Brands

  • Michael is a talented and reliable designer who can be counted on in high-volume settings, as well as to deliver unique projects. He retains a reasoned demeanor even in chaos and is an asset to any workplace.

    . . .
    Amy Bills
    Marketing Director at Blackbaud

Accomplishments

I'm not a fan of blowing my own horn, but I recognize that I need to present this kind of information.

Word It Book

A book of collected entries illustrating the interpretive power of design. I’m on page 154.

AIGA Austin

I served on the Austin board as Outreach Director from 2005-2007.

ADDY Award

A bronze awarded in 2003 for the Motorola brochure "We Own Wireless".

Contact Me

Want to hire me for a project, or interested in bringing me onboard full-time? Shoot me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Send me that email

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