Duration: Eight years.

Location: Austin, Texas.

Education: BFA in graphic design from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois; MFA in visual communication and design from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.

Approach: I prefer to showcase  honesty in details. My illustrations for Thirsty Planet Brewing Company’s signage went from pencil to ink, and then were scanned and edited digitally. The band Franklin Felix’s cover art was a cropped photograph of a vat containing corn syrup and food coloring. These images could have been simulated digitally, but that takes all the fun out of creating the work.

Favorite projects: The record design for the St. Louis band Popular Mechanics acted as a change agent after graduate school. It was my work, on my time, for people I like, and I am genuinely proud of the finished result. This project changed my outlook on future projects and served as a benchmark for my studio.

Work environment: I need a bit of grit in my workspace—old things, dirty things, things in the middle of being completed. Collaboration is important to me, and that means a lot of talking, sketching and making jokes to generate ideas.

Philosophy: Teaching keeps you honest. Adventure keeps you interesting. Collaboration keeps you modest. Making keeps you skilled.