Location: San Diego, California

Duration: Six years.

Staff: Just me, myself and I—and, at times, my husband. Being married to a copywriter definitely has its perks.

Education: The University of the South (BA in psychology) and The Portfolio Center for graphic design.

Cultural influences: My childhood in South Carolina, a place rich with tradition and its share of fascinating characters.

Artistic influences: I love the crafted detail of European architecture, the graceful asymmetry of Japanese art, the bold simplicity of Scandinavian design, and printed ephemera of any kind.

Big break: An interview with Michael Vanderbyl led to a job at Templin Brink Design in San Francisco.

Work environment: A home office that I share with my French Bulldog, Hopper. When things get really hectic, I find his near-constant weirdness great comic relief.

Technique: Research. It’s an underappreciated part of the design process. By immersing myself in background materials and historical information, I can often find a truly unique concept from which to design.

Philosophy: Be creatively passionate from the very beginning to the very end. Remind yourself to enjoy the process—not just the results.