PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
I conduct design, writing, and research to put the cult in culture: building rituals people return to and identities people remember. Through my Raleigh, NC agency Nothing Something, I offer project vision, all things design, and the technical needs of scaling brands.
Whether partnering with legacy winemakers on the coast, VC and purpose-led ventures, or emerging brands, my focus remains on building enduring, thoughtful identities that speak clearly and inspire the people who encounter them.
Now Launching
SAINTSBURY WINERY REBRAND
Another exciting business-wide brand refresh, this time for family-owned legacy winemaker, Saintsbury. Cutting through a half-century of brand fog, we’ve created a fresh artistic vision perfect for a changing Napa & Sonoma — and worthy of the skill and care inside each bottle.
Scope: Brand growth strategy, rebranding of all estate assets and visual design systems, wine bottle labeling, slogan, copywriting, digital scaling, and brand standards.
Labels for 3 tiers of Saintsbury wines: Ricci Vineyard Saint Laurent, Alder Springs Chenin Blanc, Green Acres Chardonnay, Vandal Vineyards Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
A woman at the Saintsbury Winery tasting room in Carneros pours Pinot Noir into a wine glass.
My APPROACH
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People know me as a capable creative judge taking ideas from nothing to something, growing diverse and successful founder-led brands. Listening, asking the right questions, planning, art direction/design, writing, and production are core strengths.
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Design is the elegant side of business competition. Competition features both winners and losers, and, though we don’t create to win, it is an expected outcome. Not just to survive; but to win hearts and minds, build an unwavering base, and grow the scale of what’s possible.
Winning, for a product or service, is success by struggling, conquering, and obtaining. For brands, it means gaining affection and esteem.People are won over by the charms of image, voice, personality, and story. Like people, brands may comport themselves in this way to win affection within markets, or even create new ones. Rarely can this be faked; genuine emotional connection blooms when new rituals and stories are offered. These inventions show an understanding of what a culture values, and excites it by expanding on possibilities.
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Brand personality emerges through process. For me, that process is almost always Collect, Reflect, Effect.
Collect research, Reflect on the culture, and use design and writing to Effect change, expansion, and excitement. Break a few things, but understand and respect what a culture values. Done right, this system creates work that resonates long after people encounter it.
Featured Works
ONX WINES REBRAND
I managed a business-wide brand audit for ONX Estate Wines & Vineyards, including internal/external corporate strategy, the rebranding of all estate assets and visual design systems, wine bottle labeling, copywriting, and executive brand standards. Launch
The image shows the ONX Estate Wines & Vineyards portfolio of wines and features label design by Kevin Landwehr. Focus: wine label design for Tracing Paper Rosé of Tempranillo.
NULL WINES SOCIAL MEDIA & BRAND STRATEGY
The joy of a well-executed vision: My go-to-market guide provides a pitch-perfect social experience for this spectacular zero-alcohol wine startup.
Apple Music
Apple Dynamics included me in their Artist Icons project, reimagining my label designs as playlist art.
BRAND DEVELOPMENT GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
I made a super-fun brand identity system for legendary Glasgow burger chain Dennistoun Bar-B-Q.
DESIGNING FOR COMMUNITIES IN NEED
World Central Kitchen: Helping People On The Line
My partners & I built and mobilized a humanitarian meal delivery organization, bringing together the coalition of chefs, restaurants, vendors, and volunteers who activate for World Central Kitchen to distribute meals to communities.
See what is being accomplished and learn how you can help children, senior citizens, low-income families, out-of-work, homeless, and independent restaurants in your community.
Brand Design & Social Strategy: Old Kan in Oakland is OK!
I designed the name, logo, and social strategy for a true Oakland brand; Old Kan in Oakland, California. See more
The brand is built to be natively social, and uses a reinvention to own the “OK” sign, an easy way for fans to represent and broadcast their love for Old Kan, the city they love, and the people and places that make it great.
A website featuring brand design, copywriting, and label design for Old Kan Beer of Oakland California.
FEATURED PROJECT
Designing the Scribe Winery Brand Identity
Fighting Modern Slavery
Simple work helping a critical partnership between Delta and Freedom United, the world’s largest anti-slavery community, petitioning governments to ratify a comprehensive international standard on forced labor.
You can help end human trafficking today at www.freedomunited.org
Gravity Heights
I designed bold, scalable branding for Gravity Heights and San Diego restaurant group Whisknladle Hospitality. See more
