Savannah After Hours Illustration System
Forget the stiff bronze plaques. These character-driven sketches capture Savannah’s icons off the clock, once the tourists leave and the real work begins.
A Creative Director’s Approach to Brand Refinement (Without Starting Over)
Most brands don’t need a full redesign—they need refinement. A practical approach to improving clarity, consistency, and structure without starting over.
Why Most Creative Briefs Fail (and What I Use Instead)
Most creative briefs don’t fail because teams don’t care—they fail because they don’t guide decisions. A Creative Director’s perspective on why briefs break down and what actually works instead.
The Myth of the “One Small Thing” That Gets Your Work Chosen
From the outside, it can look like some artists discover the secret to getting their work chosen. From the inside of creative teams, the process is far less mysterious — and much more about alignment than leverage.
What Creative Directors Actually Need From Pattern Designers
Most pattern portfolios don’t stall because the work is weak—they stall because the positioning is unclear. A Creative Director’s perspective on what helps pattern work move forward inside professional teams.
Why So Much Pattern Design Advice Feels Misaligned
If you’ve spent time in pattern design spaces and felt the advice didn’t match your professional experience, you’re not alone. This post explores why so much guidance feels misaligned.
Why I Move Between Adobe Fresco and Illustrator (and Why It Matters)
A Creative Director’s perspective on moving between raster and vector workflows, and why illustration structure matters in professional environments.
Why Most Pattern Portfolios Fail Before the Work Is Seen
Why many pattern portfolios are filtered out before the work is truly seen—and what agencies actually evaluate.
A Creative Director’s Notes on Pattern Systems
A Creative Director’s UX-driven approach to pattern design, exploring real-world use, licensing, and how portfolios are reviewed in professional environments.
Chattanooga, But Make It a Pattern (Eventually)
What started as a few destination sketches quickly grew into Chattanooga Junction — a place-based illustration system built around movement, structure, and the Tennessee River.
Charleston Surface Pattern: Place-Based Illustration for Licensing
An illustrated Charleston surface pattern inspired by historic architecture and coastal details. Designed as a modular visual system for branding, licensing, and print applications.
Daufuskie Island: The One You Have to Work For
A system-based illustrated pattern capturing Daufuskie Island’s layered history, coastal character, and quietly confident visual identity — designed for destinations that don’t need to explain themselves.
St. Augustine, Florida: America's Oldest City Has Opinions About Everything
A custom illustrated pattern inspired by St. Augustine, Florida—capturing historic landmarks and local character through a system-based design approach.
All Signs Point to Vegas: A Vintage Illustration Pattern
An illustrated pattern inspired by vintage Las Vegas signage—celebrating bold typography, visual confidence, and mid-century spectacle.
Bavaria-ish: An Illustrated Stroll Through Frankenmuth
An illustrated look at Frankenmuth, the charming Bavarian-style Michigan town known for its covered bridge, chicken dinners, gnomes, pretzels, and the world’s largest Christmas store.
Merry Clarkmas: An Illustrated Tribute to a Holiday Classic
An illustrated series celebrating the most iconic scenes, characters, and chaotic holiday moments from Christmas Vacation movie.
Savannah, Georgia: The Surface Pattern I've Been Drawing Since Art School
A hand-drawn love letter to Savannah — from Tybee Light to hot boiled peanuts, wrapped in vintage charm and Southern wit.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Pattern: Lighthouses, Casinos, and 26 Miles of Beach Towns
A watercolor celebration of the Mississippi Gulf Coast — from Biloxi’s lighthouses and casinos to Sharkheads, Ship Island, and all the coastal charm in between.
Indianapolis Pattern: Racing, Tenderloins, and Sammy Terry
A hand-drawn love letter to Indianapolis — where tenderloins are bigger than your head, the clocks run on nostalgia, and every line tells a story.
Wedding Map & Itinerary Creator Kit: Custom Maps and Timelines Without Custom Pricing
A library of 200+ illustrated wedding map elements—venues, transportation, timeline icons, and more. Perfect for invitation inserts, venue directions, and love story timelines in Canva or design software.