How to lead a small design firm through 2 recessions in 4 easy steps?
The Toolkit:
- Process streamlining
- Project pitching
- Brand strategy
- UI/UX Design
- Content marketing
- Motion Design
Step 1: Streamline Design processes to double output
I streamlined the design process for eCommerce stores by developing a pre-design questionnaire, which reduced the length of design calls by 50% and significantly improved conversion rates for our clients. This system allowed me to train a junior designer to eventually take over the role.
Step 2: Punch above my weight class to win pitches against established firms
An internship with The Weather Channel got me an opportunity to pitch for one of their new shows years later. After beating out established agencies for the job, I followed up my work on DayPlanner, by winning more work for CNN International.
More details on the DayPlanner package here
Step 3: Pivot when opportunity knocks
Successfully solving a communication challenge for pharmaceutical giant Merck helped build our reputation in the HR Communications industry. This led to providing motion design, UI design, and web development services for major brands like Xerox, Merck, Hasbro, and Williams Sonoma, enhancing their internal marketing efforts.
Step 4: Dominate new niches with Explainer Videos
Looking for more scalable revenue streams, and a way to showcase our motion design and storytelling skills, I created an explainer video for a local nonprofit, launching a fundraising campaign called 2K Strong for All Walks of Life.
The success of the campaign provided a key portfolio piece that helped me promote our new explainer video services. By getting in early with creator marketplaces, I built a strong portfolio and gained access to top clients like American Express, IBM, and National Geographic, eventually benefiting from Visual.ly’s expansion and acquisition by Rocket Content.
How did I help Coastal Georgia land 7-figure development deals?
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- UI/UX Design
- Branding Design
- Campaign collateral design
- Motion Design
- Email marketing
What’s at stake? Just a couple billion dollars and hundreds of jobs
The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) can’t afford to miss out or make a bad first impression when billions are at stake. With so many cities competing for talent and business relocations, regions only get one shot at standing out. And claiming to be yet another “great place to live” isn’t going to cut it.
Since our first meeting 19 years ago, we’ve shown SEDA how a research and data-driven creative strategy could turn websites, brochures, annual reports, and mailers into powerful business tools. Our partnership has resulted in over 11,600 new jobs, 155 local business expansions, and $7B invested in the region.
How? By…
Standing out with memorable mailers at unexpected times
More about these unconventional mailers here
Modernizing their annual reports into responsive, digital experiences
Upgrading the UI of their primary marketing tool (their website).
How did I* help get legislation passed in the Canadian parliament?
The Toolkit:
- Data Visualization
- Motion Design
Working for WorldVision’s team on the No Child for Sale campaign, I visualized the stark reality of millions of children around the world using simple illustrations, data visualizations, and animation. The campaign was successful in getting Bill S-211 “The Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act” passed in 2021.
*Of course, all the petition signing for hundreds of thousands of people, lobbying by WorldVision, and advocacy work by the Property Brothers probably helped too.
How did I get first-time candidates elected?
The Toolkit:
- Branding design
- Print collateral design
- Digital collateral design
I met Matt, the cofounder of Civic Power of Change, at a CreativeMorningsRVA event and was introduced to their work linking resource-strapped political campaigns with motivated creatives. I immediately signed up and have since enjoyed producing branding, print, and digital materials for several campaigns contributing to their 62% win rate.
How did I reignite connections between NYU and its alumni?
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- Branding design
- Print collateral design
- Digital collateral design
- Motion design
After revitalizing NYU’s Alumni Family Day with a new brand identity, I continued to create impactful projects for the Alumni Relations Department. These include videos for incoming students and visual identities for initiatives like Alumni College and the annual Changemakers campaign, featuring a dedicated website, awardee videos, and social media content.
How did I shed light on the dire conditions endured by North Koreans?
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- Branding design
- Print collateral design
- Digital collateral design
- Motion design
The Georgia W Bush Center asked me to tackle one of my toughest challenges to date. Translate the atrocities they uncovered in North Korea into attention-grabbing, but not depressing, visuals. That endeavor resulted in 3 large infographics and 2 explainer videos.
How did I amplify crucial support systems for veterans?
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- Motion Design
I’ve had several opportunities to play my small part for our men and women in uniform. Once on a series of videos for the Bush Center, focusing on the invisible wounds many veterans experience, especially those who served after 9/11. Additionally, I created an explainer video for Virginia Navigator, a nonprofit that provides valuable resources to older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, and their caregivers, helping to support these individuals and their families.
How did I work with UN agencies to advocate for children’s rights?
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- Motion Design
UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, aims to create a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person thrives. They asked me to visualize their research on keeping girls in school through puberty. I brought the data to life through the story of a girl named Lena, making the charts and graphs more engaging. Word must have spread in UN circles, as UNESCO’s Jamaica office soon requested a similar video.
How did I fill in for the Lorax for a few minutes and speak for the Trees*?
*The National Forest Foundation, to be exact
The Toolkit:
- Creative Brainstorming
- Motion Design
I was approached by the National Forestry Foundation to breathe some life into an infographic they created with useful facts and figures about the benefits of our national forests.
I’m a multi-disciplinary designer solving intractable challenges for mission-driven organizations.
With over 20 years of experience under my belt, I’ve amassed an eclectic toolkit of creative skills to help global brands and worthwhile causes leave a meaningful imprint on the world.
Me, at a glance
Helped get legislation passed in the Canadian parliament.
Infographic design | Motion design
Worked with UN agencies to advocate for children’s rights.
Motion design
Helped get first-time candidates elected in competitive down-ballot races.
Branding design | Print collateral | Social media collateral
Helped Coastal Georgia land 7-figure investments and create hundreds of jobs.
Creative strategy | UX/UI design | Branding design | Print collateral | Presentation design | Motion design | Social media collateral
Led a small design firm through 2 recessions.
Creative strategy | Branding design | UX/UI design | Print collateral | Social media collateral | Content marketing | Motion design
Shed light on the dire conditions endured by North Koreans.
Infographic design | Motion design
Amplified crucial support systems for veterans.
Motion design
Filled in for the Lorax for a few minutes and spoke for the Trees!
Motion design
Testimonials
“It was quite enjoyable working with Andrew. His professionalism and talent combine to give him a demeanor of creative quietness, which produces excellent work every single time. Honestly. His creative process happens so fast and with such succinct focus, it is truly inspirational just to be a part of it, and that goes for creatives and clients alike. If given the opportunity, I’d definitely work with Andrew again.”
Wade Acuff
Animator / Modeler, Weta Digital
“Andrew’s cognitive insights have an obvious impact on his design work, displayed in the quality of the product he delivers to his clients: Rich creativity and innovation, deep design message and language, and the ability to help clients achieve a final product that best serves the goals – and even hidden aspirations – that they desire to communicate to their larger audience.”
Frank W. Spencer IV
Founder & Principal at TFSX
“Drew is one of the most talented designers I’ve worked with in Savannah. He has been our “go-to” guy for almost all of The Creative Coast Alliance’s print and design work and we continue to go back for more. A partner at Paragon Design Group, his company has come through in the clutch too many times to count!”
Fitz Haile
Data & Analytics Consultant
“I wanted to reach out to express our appreciation for the AWESOME explainer video you and your team created for VirginiaNavigator! We are simply thrilled with the finished product, but maybe more importantly for you to know….working with you was such an immense pleasure.”
Adrienne Johnson
Executive Director, Virginia Navigator
