illustrator & Designer
Independent Projects, Illustration
In January 2021, USAA was nearing completion on a new design system and a refresh of their brand voice. They needed help defining how illustration at USAA should look, feel, and function. I crafted an illustration style and system that integrates directly into Reveille and reflects the modernized brand, then trained and led a team of illustrators to expand the library into the future.
Brand & Identity, Independent Projects, Illustration
In late 2019 and early 2020, Circle sunset, sold, or spun out every one of its consumer products, and dedicated itself to building B2B USDC services. Naturally, it was time for a rebrand! Though I had left the company months before, my friend and former colleague Kristine asked me to once again define the company’s illustrative brand—this time as a freelancer.
Brand & Identity, Illustration
When I joined Circle as a product designer, I was hired, in part, for my background in illustration. But that “nice to have” soon became my central focus. I’ve spent years defining and evolving the Circle illustrative brand, cementing its place in our products, website, marketing campaigns, and more.
Podcasts & Events, Music, Personal Projects, Brand & Identity, Illustration
How to Draw a Startup is a new personal project of mine, a podcast miniseries about the evolving role of illustration in the tech industry. I spoke with over a dozen illustrators, designers, art directors, educators, and more to understand why illustration is used, how illustrated brands are crafted, and where illustrators fit in creative teams.
Brand & Identity, Illustration
Circle was founded on the belief that blockchain technology could usher in a more open and inclusive global economy. But such a future can’t be built within the walls of a private company. It requires open standards and partnerships. That’s why, in 2017, Circle announced CENTRE, a “foundation, open source project, protocol, and network aimed at breaking down the barriers which cost us money and time to connect to each other financially.”
With the limitations of a small design team, early versions of Circle Pay primarily relied upon off-the-shelf icon sets. But after I joined and began creating illustrations for product and brand, I soon set my sights on icons. I made a few as needed, but replacing the old set entirely wasn't worth the design and development commitment. But with Circle Invest, I was there from the beginning.
As a financial tech startup, Circle’s apps have always needed to represent currency. Circle Pay got its start as a Bitcoin wallet, and within a couple years added US Dollars, British Pounds, and Euros. Custom icons were made for these four currencies, showing up throughout the app and its marketing.
But Circle Invest called for even more. The app offers _thirteen_ different crypto assets. Presenting these disparate crypto projects in a coherent and consistent way would advance Invest's mission to make crypto more approachable. I set out to create a unified set of crypto icons. Easier said than done…
Animation & Video, Illustration
In early 2019, Circle’s chief evangelist Anders Brownworth and I collaborated on an animated educational video. The project's goal was to demonstrate how USD Coin could facilitate fast, low-cost international transfers between exchanges.
Circle Invest isn’t just the best way to buy crypto, it’s the best way to learn about it. The "Explore" section of our app features approachable, informative content to help you develop your understanding of the world of blockchain. For each article, I’ve created a unique editorial illustration.
In addition to my usual product design and illustration duties at Circle, I have a fun little side project: creating custom wallpapers for my colleagues' phones. Each illustration features a few of our unofficial mascots, a crew of adorable crustaceans. What started as a monthly project has since become quarterly, as I kept getting more and more ambitious. So much for a "side project!"
In early 2017, I collaborated with my colleagues on Circle's brand team to create a short video about Circle Pay’s cross-border capabilities. Holly led on copy, Kristine art directed, and I created the visuals using Keynote as a motion graphics editor.
Circle's Boston team moved into a new office in the summer of 2017. I was excited to produce a mural for our cafe, bringing the spirit of Circle Pay to the central point of our office.
Podcasts & Events, Illustration
On October 1, 2013, Fresh Tilled Soil held its first annual UX Fest. The event brought together Boston's UX community to explore how every aspect of a business–from design and technology to marketing and strategy–contributes to the user experience. The event was a success, and a year later, we held an encore. I’m proud to have helped conceive of and organize these events, contributed to the creative collateral, and led sessions.