My introduction to design came through creatively sourced copies of Photoshop and architectural software from the early internet’s back channels. IYKYK 😉. Late-night experimentation turned into a lasting love of making things and telling stories visually. Just don’t ask to see my early work. That goes with me to the grave.
As a kid, I couldn’t stick to one interest. I bounced between drawing, science experiments, and studying whatever caught my attention in nature. I even won a national science fair in fifth grade. Looking back, the common thread was curiosity: I wanted to understand how things worked, then see what I could make with them.
After cutting my teeth at an interior design studio and earning my degree in Communication Design (go CSUN Matadors!), I joined the global team at AIDS Healthcare Foundation. There, I learned to turn sensitive health topics into accessible visual communication, balancing creativity with cultural context and the responsibility of getting the message right.The work gave me a chance to contribute to campaigns reaching communities around the world. Explore selected projects from my time at AHF here.
It was meaningful work that pushed me as a designer. Over time, I wanted more room to develop my own style and pursue projects I felt personally connected to. That curiosity set the next chapter in motion.
Four years later, I went freelance, helping businesses across Southern California build distinctive brands through visual identity, storytelling, web design and photography. I connect the details, from typography and color to imagery and messaging, so each business shows up with a personality of its own. When clients need support behind the scenes, I also bring strategic planning, organization and practical uses of technology to help them manage the business they’re building.
That work grew into Synthesis Creative Co., my studio for shaping distinctive brands through strategy, visual identity, web design and photography. I help small businesses express their personality across logos, packaging, websites and campaigns, supported by practical systems for growth. I connect lead generation with smoother client intake to help turn interest into inquiries, bookings and sales. Synthesis is also home to client collaborations, my original creative projects and an upcoming collection of humorous merchandise.
I also created Tails of the Season, a seasonal pet and family photography venture for portraits worth printing, sending, and keeping.
Now, I’m developing a children’s book series and lifestyle brand. It’s still taking shape, with trademark work underway, and I’m ridiculously excited to share more soon.
· Help businesses and established organizations connect brand strategy, design, photography and marketing across their customer experience.
· Develop distinctive visual identities and carry them across websites, packaging, print materials and campaigns so each brand feels consistent and recognizable.
· Create product photography, field documentation and event coverage, providing image libraries and recap content for ongoing marketing.
· Build intake forms, organize client data and map marketing funnels to help businesses manage inquiries and coordinate follow-up.
· Apply AI tools to concept development, content exploration and workflows where they can reduce repetitive work.
· Manage creative projects from brief through production, coordinating timelines, deliverables and vendors so clients have support beyond the design itself.
Selected Results:
· Increased average monthly digital reach by 150% across platforms, during six months of client work.
· Created campaign content that generated more than 1 million combined views across 3 platforms within a six month period, driven by timely content, trend fluency, and audience psychology.
· Helped increase lead conversion rates by an average 40%, through tailored brand experiences and precision-targeted campaigns that resonate emotionally and strategically.
· Translated sensitive public health topics into accessible campaigns that helped audiences understand HIV prevention and sexual health information.
· Developed materials for communities across Africa, Europe, South America and the United States, adapting visual communication to local contexts.
· Led creative direction for the Girls Act campaign, ta campaign supporting girls and young women, turning educational messaging into engaging visual materials.
· Collaborated with international teams to maintain a consistent campaign identity while addressing regional communication needs.
· Managed budgets, schedules and procurement to support projects from planning through delivery.
· Improved internal organization by tracking responsibilities, outstanding tasks and project priorities. Spearheaded weekly performance reviews to monitor engagement, resulting in a ~10% boost in client retention and ~5% revenue growth.
· Managed accounts payable, accounts receivable and monthly reconciliations to support financial administration.
· Reviewed project progress and coordinated operational needs to keep the team informed and client work moving.