What do you do and where do you do it?
I basically run c.creative from my living room amongst 2 active pre-teen stepchildren. So, while bombs are going off on Call Of Duty, disco-themed arcade music is blasting away on Marble Ultra Blast, I’m creating a color palette for a restaurant in Switzerland, tent banners and graphics for Waffle Planet or program applications for the Rally Foundation Cancer Research for Kids. If it weren’t for the 12 years working in studios bustling with drama, noise and pure chaos I would have folded months ago. Hands as steady as a surgeon.
What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it?
I originally went to FIT in Manhattan for Fashion Design. I lived, breathed and was nourished by Vogue as a kid…but after a year into the program I was disappointed in finding way too much dirt and indulgence in the industry. By then, I found much appeal in Advertising, so I switched majors. Advertising lead to Package design, consumer graphics lead eventually lead to Graphic Design. It all bleeds together for me and I have to say, it certainly helps to have a multifaceted background.
What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio?
I have to say the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational piece gets the most attention. I love the simplicity of Huge Type. After 10 years of trying to get the client to like small, petite, discreet, and completely illegible type, it was actually refreshing to just go BIG.
What/Where do you want to be in 10 years?
In my very own little private studio built just for me…close enough to the family and yet….just far enough away.
Who/What are your biggest influences?
Without a doubt, Margo Chase. In many ways, I feel a kinship or a parallel journey in design sense. I started out in college rapidographing all my logos by hand. I never grew tired of the process. We share the love of using the ancient art of chinese calligraphy as well. There’s something peaceful in grinding your own ink.
I simply heart her.
What do you wish you did better?
Being that I am now just learning Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks, I’m looking forward to utilizing these programs as efficiently as I do Illustrator and photoshop.
Why Connecticut?
I get asked this all the time by my city friends. While I did love living in the city, what I missed most was actually driving my car to the grocery store. There’s a quality of life in a sleepy little town like Deep River that I love. It keeps you centered and your way of life humble. It’s all about the simple things.
Who are the best creatives you’ve worked with?
I learned an enormous amount from both John Visgilio and Rena Debortoli. They’re both brilliant and set the standards that I hold for myself now.
What are your loves/passions outside of the field?
Cooking. I have Tyler Florence, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver on my iPhone, I think that says it all.
What do you know now that you didn’t know then?
That I’m actually good at what I do. It took me 10 years to realize that.
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