• Across both coasts, I conduct design, writing, and research for hospitality groups, vineyards, food & beverage brands and products through the product branding and hospitality firm Nothing Something. Primarily in New York and California, I create unforgettable experiences for brands connecting with audiences on a deeper level.

    My eponymous Raleigh, North Carolina studio focuses on social impact by collaborating with forward-thinking startups, non-profits, VC groups, and professional services tackling significant challenges and creating positive change.

  • People know me as a hands-on leader taking ideas from nothing to something. My ongoing work with diverse and successful founder-led brands leverages deep, multi-decade creative and business expertise. Listening, asking the right questions, planning, art direction/design, writing, and production are core strengths.

  • Design is the elegant side of business competition. Competition features both winners and losers, and, though it may sound harsh, we’re here to win. Not just to survive; but to win hearts and minds, grow strong, and build wealth.

    Winning, i.e., to:
    “gain the affection or esteem of”
    “gain or succeed by struggling, conquering, and obtaining.”

    People are won over by a charm offensive of voice, personality, and story. Like people, brands may comport themselves in this way to win affection and gain market. Winners understand: The genuine emotional connection brands can build with design creates the pleasure of steady growth.

  • Brand personality emerges through process. For me, that process is almost always Collect, Reflect, Effect. As a north star, I try to stay classic while still moving freely enough to break things. I aim to invigorate those who invite my help, and be grateful for the relationships that follow.

 
 

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.

 
 

Believe in Nothing

Go-to-market brand strategy, brand guides, and pitch-perfect social experience for a zero-alcohol wine startup.

A collection of images from a Winery Brand System
View this profile on Instagram

STUDIO NULL (@nullwines) • Instagram photos and videos

 

Apple Music

I’ve always loved Apple, and now I love them even more. As an Apple Dynamics artist chosen for labeling expertise, I’ve learned two things: One, Apple creatives are some of the most wonderful, charming, kind, and inventive minds on earth; and two, anything can be playlist art.

 

Dennistoun Bar-B-Q: A Brand Good Enough to Eat

I made a super-fun brand identity system for a legendary Glasgow burger chain.

members only newsletter dennistoun bbq footer.png
Dennistoun BBQ Brand Design Stickers
Vintage image of ad men looking at a Dennistoun Bar-B-Q Logo Presentation
An Advertisement Featuring Milwaukee beer that reads "The closest you'll ever get to Milwaukee. Hopefully."
 
 

World Central Kitchen: Helping People & Businesses On The Line

When restaurants across America were forced to shut down, we built and mobilized a massive humanitarian meal delivery organization, bringing together the coalition of chefs, restaurants, vendors, and volunteers still distributing thousands of meals a week to hard-hit communities.

Our New York response continues to effect change through World Central Kitchen. See what is being accomplished and learn how you can help children, senior citizens, immunocompromised, 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.

 

Feature: Designing the Scribe Winery Brand Identity

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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

Anti-Slavery Posters "Reaching out. Making impact. Together" with airplanes and soundwaves.
 
 

Gravity Heights

I designed bold, scalable branding for Gravity Heights and San Diego restaurant group Whisknladle Hospitality. See more

 
Gravity Heights logo animation
Gravity Heights Stout Beer Can Design
Gravity Heights Brand Usage Guidelines