Leveraging Military Expertise to Boost Engagement
Developed a flyer and guide to target military recruiter subject matter experts (SMEs) for focus groups. The flyer, written in a style that appeals to military personnel and featuring real recruiters, effectively reached these often-hard-to-reach individuals. The 12-page, accessible (508-compliant and AWS-tested) Best Practices Guide was crafted with teams for distribution across Joint Forces recruitment commands. All design and layout was done using Adobe Creative Suite to ensure accessibility.
Modernizing CBLE: Recruiting Customs Broker SMEs
As part of the initiative to modernize the Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE), I designed accessible flyers and social media content (both static and video) to recruit subject matter experts (SMEs) for Department of Defense (DoD) partner focus groups in Spring 2024. Collaborated on the overall outreach strategy and ensured all materials were created using Adobe Creative Suite, met 508 accessibility standards, and were compatible with JAWS screen readers.
Crafting Captivating Presentations
In my role crafting presentations, I transformed how our organization communicated by creating accessible (508-compliant) slide decks and templates. These presentations captivated audiences at conferences, high-level meetings, and internal training sessions. I leveraged design, animation, video, and accessible multimedia to turn what could have been static slides into dynamic and engaging experiences, significantly elevating the impact of our Powerpoint presentations.
Crafting Captivating Presentations for the Military
By developing a captivating multimedia presentation titled “Engagement Ready” for the Chief of Public Affairs, I secured her positive feedback from over 300 U.S. Army Generals at a major conference. This success led to further opportunities,including collaborating with senior leaders on the annual Army 101 Powerpoint slide deck used for both internal and external audiences.
Modernizing HR Avatars for 30 Second Demos
In order to win new business, I revamped a research organization’s HR avatars for use in 30-second Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs). I designed a variety of engaging and diverse avatars in modern illustrative styles, including 3D models and even a unique “Spiderman Metaverse” option. To ensure a successful implementation, I created a detailed plan for the client that outlined everything they needed to know: the software required, the design process, how long it would take, how much it would cost, and how it would all meet accessibility standards.
BrightShade Gardens, LLC
Recovered BSG’s downed website and secured it with modern software and updates. Collaborated with business owners to build their new website – responsive, secure – with an aesthetic design, 3-year hosting plan and transferred domain. Established new social media accounts and a framework for future e-commerce. Created a custom comment blacklist to prevent spam. Created with Adobe Creative Suite, Wordpress and Bluehost. 2024 updates currently underway.
Engaging the Army’s 20 Million Followers on Social Media
Crafted engaging digital content, including eye-catching static posts and motion graphics, for the U.S. Army’s five social media channels. This strategy reached a massive audience of 20 million followers with informative and interactive content, including calls to action. To keep them hooked, I constantly monitored and analyzed social media feedback, both positive and critical, to refine the content and ensure maximum engagement. The design and animation magic was created using Adobe Creative Suite and Wondershare Filmora.
Crafting Clear Communication: Reaching Audiences Beyond the Ranks
In a leadership role, I spearheaded the creation of over 100 clear and concise communication pieces (playbooks, plans,guides) ranging from 4 to 24 pages, ensuring a consistent Army brand identity. I worked with internal writers and editors to make complex information understandable for various audiences, both within the Army and externally. These materials were then strategically distributed to internal troops, Army supporters, media outlets, and even the U.S. Congress.
Honoring Heroes: Medal of Honor Project
Spearheaded the branding and visual storytelling for the Medal of Honor Project, which celebrated the achievements of eleven Medal of Honor recipients and their U.S. Army experience. Collaborated across teams to create a consistent narrative for all media (print, web, social media, news) and designed a wide range of materials using Adobe Creative Suite. This included posters, Pentagon exhibits, digital displays, website visuals, media products, programs, videos, event materials, and social media graphics. Overall, the project not only honored the recipients’ heroism but also significantly increased public awareness of their courageous acts.
U.S. Army Pentagon Exhibits: From Concept to Completion
For the Pentagon, I led a year-long project to design, produce, and install six new, high-impact U.S. Army exhibits totaling 1,200 square feet in high-traffic areas like the main visitor center. This project involved collaboration with ten Army Commands, senior leadership, two national creative firms, photographers, and vendors. I managed the budget, timeline, technology purchases, and future updates for long-term use. I presented designs to secure leadership approval, created engaging content for eight large digital screens, and ensured smooth execution with vendors on specifications, design, construction, and installation. Finally, I oversaw exhibit construction, performed ongoing maintenance, and updated videos annually to keep the content fresh and engaging.
Turning Clicks into Crowds
A creative print and social media ad campaign using static and motion graphics attracted a non-military audience to the 2023 Army Birthday Festival, reaching over 10 million people in 10 days for under $1,000. This successful campaign, aimed at building a positive relationship with the American public, and showing non-military viewers what they could expect, resulted in a sold-out event with 4,000 ticket buyers.
Dense Data Into Dynamic Infographics
Regularly distill complex and overwhelming data sets into clear and engaging infographics. These dynamic visuals break down the information into easy-to-understand elements, making it more memorable and fostering better information retention.
Operation Warp Speed
Launched in 2020, Operation Warp Speed was a U.S. government-led effort bringing together public and private organizations to speed up the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. The initiative also included creating visual aids like logos, signs for military leaders, public information cards, and motivational posters for their offices, all designed using Adobe Creative Suite programs.
Sugar Shack and ENT Doctors Product Roll Outs
Designed a promotional poster for Sugar Shack’s Luther Sunrise sandwich, using the colors of a Potomac River sunrise for inspiration. To promote it on social media, I also created a post featuring my son enjoying the sandwich while wearing sunglasses. In a separate project, I designed a collection of 120 patient education brochures (AAO-HNS) for our publishing partner. These brochures are available for ENT doctors to order on-demand for their practices, and the digital files can also be licensed for doctors’ website content. The most challenging part of this project was obtaining permission to use an image of a child with a cochlear implant, which required four levels of approval. However, my persistence paid off, and the brochure is now featured on our website and in our digital advertising. I used Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and HTML to create all of these designs.
Client Logos: Bringing Brands, Events and Features to Life
This portfolio showcases logo designs created in Adobe Illustrator for a diverse range of clients. It includes impactful logos for brands, events (including virtual series), features, non-profit and personal identities, as well as commemorative designs for special occasions and small businesses.
The Client Knows Their Brand Best
While working remotely at the height of the pandemic, I created four initial logo options for a local business owner launching a new online garden design service. Since the business was based in Virginia, the client knew they wanted a Dogwood, the state tree, to be the focal point. We then collaborated through two revision rounds in Adobe Illustrator to refine the chosen logo and bring it to its final form.
Warning: This content contains disturbing and graphic images and content about suicide.
Spreading Awareness Through Design
In support of Army social media initiatives, I designed graphics for various awareness campaigns. This included highlighting the global humanitarian work of Army Civil Affairs during their anniversary, a motion graphic using powerful footage shot for the U.S. Army in the aftermath of the Holocaust to counter denial of this atrocity, a flyer promoting a virtual panel discussion for LGBTQ Pride Month, and marketing materials for the U.S. Army's virtual event on Resilience & Suicide Prevention.
Virtual Event Design: Bringing the World Together (Despite Distance)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I played a key role in creating design materials (collateral) to promote over 50 live virtual events. These materials included eye-catching flyers, animated social graphics, and event holding screens. These events ranged from commemorative observances to thought-provoking panel discussions. They were broadcasted across various platforms like Microsoft Teams, Facebook Live, and Twitter Spaces, reaching impressive audiences of over 100,000, 10,000, and 49,000 viewers respectively.
Cape Cod C.A.N. (Creative Arts Network)
I played a multifaceted role in supporting Cape Cod CAN!, an organization dedicated to inclusive art experiences for people with intellectual disabilities. I designed their celebratory logo and built a website that dynamically reveals it,showcasing the organization's impact through visuals and testimonials. To expand their reach, I helped establish social media channels and trained volunteers to manage them. Finally, to amplify their message further, I donated a portion of my earnings to fund their first paid Facebook ad campaign.
Websites & Graphics: Building Brands Online
I designed and developed websites and corresponding graphic elements for various clients. These projects included landing pages and social media graphics for entnet.org, a website to launch the plant-based catering business for thelittleeggplant.com, a microsite, e-newsletter, and digital graphics for entpac.org, a website with event promotions for the Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival, and the website and digital graphics for Wherewithal Design.
Beyond Photos: The Power of Illustration
Illustrations can be a powerful alternative to photographs, as demonstrated by these examples: a lighthearted and playful invitation for an AAO-HNSF spouses’ luncheon, a neurology conference postcard that uses a brain stem illustration to visually guide viewers through the information and spark interest, a Cape Cod CAN! event poster that captures the playful spirit of the location, and simple silhouettes used by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to convey the urgency of finding missing children of all ages.
The Power of A-Frame Signage
A-frame signs were versatile tools for promoting Arlington County events. Eye-catching illustrations on one sign transformed giant machines and mulch piles into something fun to promote an upcoming event. At the Rock-N-Recycle event, attendees learned about county recycling data from informative signs. Another sign promoted a county-wide paper-shredding event. Finally, a popular magnetic game helped residents learn where to dispose of difficult items. All of these signs were created using Adobe Creative Suite.
Shattering the Status Quo
To improve Arlington County’s recycling program, a year-long campaign informed residents about the mandatory removal of glass from bins. This campaign used print, digital, and even tactile materials for large events and to promote new glass drop-off locations. Over 250,000 residents received informative direct mail packages, including a special “What to Recycle” graphic that could be easily stuck to any surface without damaging it. The success of these educational pieces was confirmed by an increase in the amount of correctly sorted recyclables found in yearly audits.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Education
As part of resident education efforts, an Earth Materials Display was created to explain how Arlington Recycles (ARL) turns leaves, yard waste, and even food scraps into usable products like topsoil and mulch. This interactive exhibit was one of many low-tech tools used to engage residents with recycling experts. Additionally, permanent signage was designed and produced for the 10th anniversary restoration of the Arlington County Interpretive Recycling Park. These signs, including a large entryway piece, were made with durable materials to withstand wear and tear, and their installation required collaboration with county officials.
A Unique Event Brings Out the Residents
The Solid Waste Bureau’s first-ever ROCK-N-RECYCLE event, designed to promote sustainability, proved a smash hit, exceeding attendance goals. The marketing campaign, encompassing print, digital ads, event signage, and community outreach, drew residents in to see massive earth material piles, big trucks, machines, and art projects. Event planning included securing vendors, collaborating with neighborhood associations, and developing collateral like t-shirts, signs,and even a giant 12-foot logo stencil that transformed into a 100-foot collaborative artwork. The result? Over 1,000 attendees, far surpassing the initial goal of 300-500.
Is This Recyclable? Sorting Residents’ Recycling Mysteries
Helped ARL County to analyze their recycling website’s “Where Does It Go?” search data to identify the items residents were most confused about recycling. I then created educational digital graphics featuring these mixed materials and shared them on the county’s recycling website and social media. This campaign resulted in more people using the website’s recycling search tool and contacting recycling specialists, ultimately leading to residents making better recycling choices.
Multitasking Magic: Travel Article Boosts Local Business and Tourism
Faced with a tight deadline to promote Harpers Ferry, WV for the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, I created a day-trip travel article. In a whirlwind day, I explored the town with my family, wrote the article on the ride home, as our sales team secured ad agreements from two local businesses. The day before print, I created the two ads, obtained a special photo from the West Virginia Tourism Office, learned about their advertising schedule, and informed our sales team. The article boosted business for the local participants, and we secured a new advertising partner in the West Virginia Tourism Office.
Deadline Crunch Leads to Revenue Rush
A last-minute feature highlighting the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s New 40 Under 40 awards and honorees, created using Adobe InDesign, turned into a public relations win. The article generated immense goodwill, resulting in over 20 new paid advertisement agreements within just four weeks of publication. Local Alexandria businesses and organizations jumped at the chance to congratulate their recognized employees in the publication.
Rescue Ads With Real Results
A year-long print advertising campaign for the Alexandria Animal Shelter, designed using Adobe Creative Suite programs, resulted in a first-place VPA award for excellence in advertising design, and significantly boosted both the shelter’s and the sponsoring Realtor's visibility. The success of the impactful ads prompted Diann to upgrade to full-page ads, yielding positive results. She remarked, “Thanks to your ad, I received two calls today inquiring about properties.” Created using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
Email Marketing Success Stories: Boosting Engagement & Revenue
My email marketing efforts have driven impressive results across various clients. For The Times, an engaging email campaign promoting their e-edition led to an 800% subscriber surge in just 3 months, with increased website traffic from reader sharing and a strong 23% click-through rate from advertisers. Station 650’s email marketing campaign for their luxury apartments resulted in a significant boost in website visits and rental inquiries. Additionally, eye-catching email creatives designed for Fredericksburg EXPO & Convention Center events secured a successful 2-year partnership.
From Recycling to Democracy: Designing Posters for Positive Change
My design work has included creating eye-catching posters for a variety of purposes. These include: the 248th Army Birthday poster distributed to Commands worldwide, Arlington County wide recycling posters for various locations (ensuring clear messaging and boosting recycling rates), Abraham Lincoln stamp first-day-of-issue event posters for the U.S. Post Office, and Vote-by-Mail reminder posters displayed in all U.S. Post Offices for six months. All designs were created using the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
Small Ads, Big Results
For three years, I created a powerful track record in advertising by crafting over 2,000 impactful small newspaper ads that drove significant results for a diverse range of clients.
Small Ads, Big Impact: A Case Study in Driving Sales for Whole Dogz
Whole Dogz pet care’s year-long newspaper ad campaign, created with Adobe Creative Suite, was so successful it led to further work for their website and social media. This included static and animated ads promoting their “Scout & About” and “Bugging Dog Toys” lines. While the Photoshop posts used the manufacturer’s product photos, the overall campaign concept and execution were mine.
From Logo To Lanyards
An integrated campaign to boost attendance for the ENT Surgeon's Annual Conference in Vancouver, BC, was developed from concept to completion. This included designing the event logo, a microsite, digital assets, print collateral, direct mailers, signage, and even lanyards. Three such successful conference campaigns were created using Adobe Creative Suite.
All Star Spirit
An initiative called “Little League All-Star Swag” brought a wave of team spirit to Alexandria’s Little League. Players were surprised with a package containing custom uniforms, a welcome letter from their coaches, and even a yard sign to show community support. This unexpected gesture has been a hit with both players and their families, all while promoting the league itself.
Stop Scrolling, Start Moshing: Band Promos in Motion
Created eye-catching social media motion graphics in the form of Instagram and Facebook Stories to promote Hanoi Ragmen’s upcoming show at Arlene’s Grocery in NYC (August 2023). These short, back-to-back videos were a success, helping the band reach a wider online audience and sell out their NYC appearance.