May is for Making

Creative direction, design direction, photography, and copywriting. Over the first half of 2014, I revamped the branded presence of Makershed.com while engaging with developers and front end designers to overhaul the commerce site. We launched a responsive commerce platform and nearly tripled our email campaigns in 2014. New photography, spirited headlines, and a DIY-inspired branded presence were chief among my goals with this project, along with revenue goals.

This great book of essays by beginning and pro makers was in need of a cover. The brief required that I somehow convey the breadth of experience levels represented within the book, while focusing on "beginnings." I styled and shot tools and materials reminiscent of the making process and used a woodburner to inscribe a very rough-hewn "MAKER" in caps. I then composited the typography after some minor retouching.

National Maker Faire launch site in collaboration with the White House. Role: copywriting, design, and creative direction.

The Learn to Solder Pins are simple soldering activity kits that teach basic soldering skills, awarding the consumer with a working, blinking, wearable pin once complete. John Viet-Triet Nguyen illustrated these based on sketches for our launch at Maker Faire Bay Area in 2014. It was such a treat to see kids and adults alike wearing their proud badges of accomplishment!

App concept and design direction.

Make: Magazine print advertisements and collateral for Maker Shed. Art direction, photography, design and copywriting.

This preschool game was born out of a trip to Tokyo, where I saw a multitude of training chopsticks for children. The idea of using chopsticks as the centerpiece of a game grew into the Squirrel Squeezers, which encourage children to harvest acorns while practicing their fine motor skills. I sketched a tree-shaped box and worked with the factory to develop this hand-wrapped, fully illustrated package that doubles as the game board.

Packaging concept and design for Sony's Jeopardy! Home DVD System. This SKU sold in major mass market retailers across the U.S.

Art direction, design, and copywriting of various toy catalog covers.

Photography and art direction for Intel Edison launch and eCommerce campaign.