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Hello There!

Thank you for checking out my online portfolio. I am a UX/UI designer and artist currently living in Denver, Colorado. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, I moved to Columbus to attend Otterbein University and fell in love with the city and all it had to offer. In 2013, a year after I graduated college, I moved back home and spent two years reacquainting myself with my hometown. While I learned Toledo had some great things to offer, I never gave up on returning to Columbus. Luckily, in August of 2015, I was able to land a job in Columbus. So, I packed up my life and moved back down to the capital city where I enjoyed geeking out with my friends, watching the latest superhero TV show, and making art.

In the Fall of 2018, I took a leap and made my way out to Colorado. I have been in love with mountains for a while now, and I decided to take advantage of an opportunity to move close to them. Every day out here is a new adventure and the mountains are amazing.

So What's Up with the Name?

Now, I could make some profound connection between all this moving around and my bird logo and brand name, but that would be a bit of a stretch. The less exciting answer is that Gingerbird Creative was born in 2012 from my pride of being a ginger (a.k.a redhead), and my love of birds. While I was hesitant to create a logo using a bird, the name fit too well to ignore. So, I sketched him during an evening college Shakespeare course and named him Hank (again, the name just fit). He became a solid representation of me and the work that I wanted to do in the future.

Hank recently received a refresh in 2019 and looks as you see him to the left. You may also see his other plumage variations throughout my site, resume, and business cards. Here you can see his illustration plumage. There's also one for design and photography.

Design Background and My Creative Process

With experience in various areas of design, I love experimenting with new subjects and formats. I believe in the advantages of technology, and the power it has to positively impact humanity. This recently spurred an interest in User Experience design and I completed General Assembly's UX Design bootcamp in January 2020. This career pivot allows me to utilize my visual design skills and my side interest in psychology, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

In 2016, I completed an emotional intelligence and leadership training that presented me with the opportunity to step into my power as an individual and learn how to deeply connect with others. I went on to coach this course as a volunteer in 2017-2018. I practiced valuable leadership skills as I managed several small groups of four to six individuals, and coached a group of over 60 at large. While I was one of a team of coaches, this experience taught me how to hold others accountable and help them reach their goals and expand their potential. Many of these coaching skills are applicable to UX research. I have applied them to great success in my projects and my work life.

Before switching to a UX/UI focus, I worked primarily in the digital marketing realm where I create banner ads, shot product photography, created visual content for email blasts and social media, designed for responsive website, created interactive infographics, and more. Outside of digital, I've worked in package design, signage, invitations, branding, advertising, and corporate design and training materials to name a few.

Whether I am designing something that I have done many times before, or trying something completely new, I approach the problem with an open and inquisitive mind so that I can find the best possible solution. I love learning new methods and ways of problem solving, so I constantly take in information from books, the Internet, and my surrounding environment.

If you have any questions about my work or would like to talk further, you may contact me by filling out the form below or by visiting my LinkedIn profile here for my qualifications.