Beyond the Brief
Personal projects have always been a big part of how I grow as a designer and creative. They give me space to experiment, take risks, and develop skills that often find their way back into my professional work in unexpected ways. Here are a few of my favorites.
Heroic Review
I've always had a deep love for movies, TV, comic books, and the conversations they spark. Heroic Review was my way of combining that passion with my skills in web design, front-end development, and branding while pushing myself into new territory with video production and audience building.
I designed and built the site on WordPress, launched a YouTube channel featuring short-form video reviews, and grew an engaged audience of fellow enthusiasts. Over time I became embedded enough in the film journalism community to receive early access to content before public release, something I'm genuinely proud of.
Interested in seeing me in full nerd mode? Check out the site or the YouTube channel.
Gifted Brand
Gifted Brand was born out of my love for Northeast Ohio and my desire to see what it would take to build something from scratch. I designed the brand identity, built the e-commerce site on WordPress, and screen-printed the shirts myself from single to multi-color designs.
I didn't just sell online though. I took the brand on the road, selling at popular monthly events around Cleveland and engaging face-to-face with customers. It fed my entrepreneurial spirit and gave me firsthand experience in what it really takes to bring a product to market and build a loyal following around it.
Photography
Photography has been a constant thread through my creative life and a tool that's served me well across both Gifted Brand and Heroic Review. There's something about composing a shot, working with available light, and capturing a moment that feeds the same instincts I bring to design.
For a stretch I shot concert and event photography for Scene Magazine at local Cleveland venues, which pushed me to work fast, think visually under pressure, and deliver consistently.
