I'm the son of an advertising executive,
but I majored in astrophysics.
If you wanted to breed a strategist in a lab, that would be a good plan.
The thing is, I was really bad at astrophysics. But once I graduated, I was able to use the analytic and creative skills I did have to realize that I could be unemployed anywhere. So I left Ithaca, tires squealing, and moved to San Francisco.
I got my first job as a market research assistant for the venerable Landor Associates, since they figured I could at least handle the math involved in market research data analysis. They were right.
Little did I know that I would fall in love with the design business. I continued in the market research lane for 10 years, in the service of everything from corporate identity, packaging, retail design, print and broadcast advertising, and public relations, before coming back to the design business, where I have been ever since.
I made the transition from research to account management and strategic work when I joined the digital agency pioneer CKS Partners, serving as their Director of Account Strategy. During the dotcom boom of the late 90's, I was a co-founder of the integrated marketing firm Addwater.
Since then, I have alternated between my freelance work for creative agencies, and full-time assignments at Landor and Interbrand. Most recently, I served as Principal of Insights & Brand Strategy for the San Francisco office of Method Design, working in support of digital UX design.
I still love space, and I still love ideas and creativity. I just have them in the proper order now.
