Greetings!
With over 25 years' experience in Motion Design I’ve worn a lot of hats, from designer and animator to creative director, consultant and judge, with one constant: my passion for the medium and its ability to tell stories across barriers and reach people on a visceral level - while hopefully advancing the craft along the way.
My dream of becoming a Disney animator took me to Kansas City Art Institute in ’94 -- just down the hill from Walt's first studio. My ambitions were recalibrated during my time there, incorporating my fine arts, design and photography interests.
Following KCAI I co-founded animation studio MK12 with several of my school collaborators, which over the years evolved from a short film collective into an industry heavyweight, creating bespoke title sequences and graphic montages for blockbuster films like Stranger Than Fiction and Quantum of Solace, building cutscenes and opening sequences for franchise games like Watch Dogs and Deathloop, and gaining exposure for its short films at venues like Sundance and Alamo Drafthouse — a core studio pursuit across the years.
MK12 continues to be cited in academic and design circles as both an anomaly and creative influence on the industry.
MK12’s reach has allowed me to travel the world to speak at industry events, including SemiPermanent, SXSW, and at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. I'm also a return judge and consultant at several film and design showcases including SXSW and Motionographer, a Grammy Nominee, and a published authority on midcentury film title design.
A jack of many trades and self-proclaimed archaeologist of extinct, esoteric and folk design, my inspiration often comes from the pages of old design annuals and type catalogs, or the resourceful techniques of old animation studios - though I'm as comfortable and versed in modern UI and social design.
My major in Photo / Video at KCAI (which at the time was also a cover for would-be digital animators) also crystalized a three-generation love for photography and lensing that I continue to pursue. My perspective on vintage car culture and the American West has been exhibited and awarded in the US and abroad, and published in several trade books and journals.
Now living in Southern California, my focus remains on advancing the craft of Motion Design, with an emphasis on Film, TV, Gaming and Social Media. My experience ranges from day-in design and animation to long-range project planning, branding / ID, and team management.
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PROFILES
2015: Cinema Eye Award: Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design or Animation for MK12's contributions to the documentary Particle Fever.
2015: SXSW: Outstanding Title Design nomination: Semipermanent Conference Titles.
2014: Art of the Title: Top Ten Title Sequences of 2014: Semipermanent Conference Titles.
2013: Vimeo Staff Pick: Beauty in Danger (short film).
2013: Mile High Horror Film Festival: Most Innovative Short Film: Follow the Sun (short film).
2010: Miami Short Film Festival: Best Experimental Film: Telephoneme (short film).
2009: Grammys: Best Short Form Music Video: Jack White and Alicia Keys: Another Way to Die.
2006: Linda Lighton Foundation | International Artist Exchange Grant.
2005: MTV Video Music Awards: Best Hip Hop Video nomination: Common: Go.
1998: Princess Grace Foundation | Young Filmmaker’s Award.
2016: New York, NY: STYLE FRAMES conference: panel moderator.
2015 & 2012: Austin, TX: SXSW Film Fest: Title Sequence Awards jury panel.
2013: Los Angeles, CA: ProMax BDA: Shaken, Not Stirred: The History of the Bond Titles.
2011: Graz, Austria: SPRINGFEST: MK12 overview.
2011: Amsterdam, Netherlands: FITC DESIGN CONFERENCE: MK12 overview.
2007: Buenos Aires, Argentina: TRIMARCHI DESIGN CONFERENCE: MK12 overview.
2007: Sao Paulo, Brazil: RESFEST: keynote speaker.
2006: Torino, Italy: VIRTUALITY conference: keynote speaker.
2006: Singapore: OneDotZero digital film festival: MK12 overview.
2005: Chicago, IL: RESFEST: keynote speaker.
2005: Kharkov, Ukraine: National Academy of Art and Design: MK12 overview.
2004: Bilbao, Spain: Guggenheim Museum: MOTION GRAPHICS SYMPOSIUM: MK12 overview.
2004: Sydney, Australia: SEMIPERMANENT design conference: MK12 overview.