Keir By Design

Designer by trade, writer by training. I help businesses and organizations keep a stylish, compelling identity and clear, consistent message. I design for print and pixel: event branding, publication layout, music artwork, and maps.

Design: Brand identity, publication layout, data visualization, illustration, cartography.

Management: Business/account/project administration, marketing, mentoring, speaking.

Software: Adobe Creative Suite, Google Docs suite, Microsoft Office suite.

Writing: Copywriting, copy-editing.

My professional design experience includes roles at agencies (production, supervision, and project/account management), volunteer nonprofits (board leadership), and freelance (entrepreneurial, management). I’m well-versed in design leadership, project management, and art direction—as part of an in-house creative team or as a freelancer. I’ve been a creative professional since 2004 in graphic design, mostly for publication layout and event branding, with substantial identity design experience, music artwork direction, and map illustration.

Keirtography

• Designer/Map Artist (February 2020-present)

Keirtography is a catch-all for my pandemic-era freelance creative work. That’s taken two paths: 1) traditional branding/identity and publication design, mostly for educators and nonprofits, and 2) custom map illustration and world-building, mostly for (but not limited to) editorial, fiction, and tabletop role-playing. The second path is true “Keirtography,” some of the most creatively compelling design work of my career, but done at manageable, side-hustle-level intensity.

Tight Ship Design

• Designer/Co-Owner (January 2017 -September 2020)

Tight Ship was a creative partnership offering complete graphic design services for events and conferences: branding, print, digital, and environmental. As co-owner I helped keep projects shipshape from start to finish so each client could achieve their goals. As a designer I delivered compelling visual identity across multiple media to help ensure event attendees anticipate a fun experience before going, enjoy a great time during, and share their memorable stories after each event. The company closed in late 2020.

AIGA Santa Barbara

• President (January 2015-December 2018)
• Communications Director (January 2012-December 2014)

AIGA is the professional association for design. I joined the volunteer board of AIGA Santa Barbara as Communications Director, and then served as chapter President before helping the chapter transform into AIGA Central Coast in 2019. As President I defined the vision and direction of the chapter in collaboration with the AIGA S.B. Board of Directors, helping keep the board focused on its mission and objectives on behalf of our membership and all creative professionals in our region: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. As Communications Director, I collaborated with the AIGA S.B. Board of Directors in developing and maintaining the organization’s online media presence and messaging materials that support design-centered, educational and networking events for professionals in our creative community.

Oniracom

• Senior Designer (February2016-February 2017)
• Design & Content Strategist (June 2015-January 2016)
• Designer & Developer (August 2013-May 2015)

Oniracom is a full-service strategic creative agency for entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle brands. I held several positions there over 4 years. At Oniracom I helped our clients achieve their goals by creating consistent, accurate and impactful brand experiences across all media channels: websites, apps, social media, presentations, wayfinding, print collateral, merchandise, and print publications. Internally, I collaborated with my colleagues to champion our own story using strategic approaches to design and content creation. I also managed our communications interns and freelance design staff.

BBM&D Strategic Branding

• Chief Creative Officer (September 2011-July 2013)
• Designer & Web Developer (September 2007-August 2011)
• Junior Designer (October 2004-August 2007)
• Intern/Production Assistant (June 2004-September 2004)

BBM&D was a full-service branding and marketing agency that blended strategic and creative skills to communicate corporate and nonprofit identity. I held several positions there over 9 years. At BBM&D I was responsible for telling a client’s story via their brand, managing an in-house creative team through all stages of each project. We designed & developed marketing materials for commercial and nonprofit identity in both print (logos, stationery, brochures, folders, magazines, copywriting/editing) and web (programming in HTML/CSS/Javascript/Flash, e-mail marketing, integration of CMS, E-commerce, SEO and social media).

Santa Barbara Independent

• Freelance Writer (February 2001-June 2003)

The Indy is Santa Barbara’s alternative weekly. I wrote album reviews (under the “Sound & Fury” section) and a weekly arts/music/happenings column (the “Positively State St.” column).

AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) – Member since 2011

NACIS (North American Cartographic Information Society) – Member since 2019

University of California, Santa Barbara

• Certificate, Graphic Design & Visual Communication (2004)
• Bachelor of Arts, English (1999)

At UCSB I began as a Geography major but ended up with a B.A. in English. I also wrote for the UCSB Daily Nexus student newspaper and played bass in two local bands, the Mojo Wire (1996-2001) and Honey White (2002-2007), which served as my initial experience with creative collaboration. Later, I completed a UCSB Extension certificate program for design industry best practices in layout, typography, etc., using tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite of design and development programs. My time at UCSB also included stints working for the campus bookstore as a Course Materials Assistant (Jul ’98-Dec ’00) and for the HR office as Assistant to the Director (Mar ’01-Dec ’02).