stINQers Candles stand as a perfect example as to what it is I do... I am a Brand and Product specialist. I create brands and the stories around them. I create visuals both graphic and photographic of content created to tell the brands story. I involve myself with the brands I work with in a passionate way. I want to know every aspect of who they are, what they stand for and why they exist. I dive into how things are made, in this case creating both the soy wax mixture and the scents that made this line of candles stand out from the rest.

stINQers are candles made to be healthier and softer on your lungs while providing one of the largest scent throws offered on the market today. They stINQ before, during and after you burn them offering days of fresh smells. Inspired by the scents of sun tan lotion, tropical fruits and that beach life we all love. Enriched with Vitamin E, the melted wax is cold to the touch and is perfect to rub on your hands for that refreshed silky smooth skin we all love. Especially great after a day at the beach... you know that salty skin feeling!? Try some stINQers on for a change and refresh your outer layer!

During my time as Creative Director for Aventon bikes I developed a concept to deliver a limited run of our "Diamond Frame" bikes complete with custom packaging, a limited run frame, kit, water bottle and a few extra goodies as well. The objective was to deliver these to the top riders male and female around the world. A very classy way to say hello to some of the elites in the bike industry. 

When I was living in Washington, I received an offer I couldn’t refuse.  Relocating to California to design baseball bats and hockey sticks for Easton was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.  Working with Jordan Ballard under the lead of John Anderle was hands down an amazing experience. As a team we rebranded the baseball and hockey product lines; we traveled to Hong Kong & Mexico to restructure production, saving both time and money. We practiced a very tight design method in order to keep our ideas innovative and the process well organized.

Baseball (fastpitch,youth,t-ball):
Power Brigade I
Power Brigade II
Power Brigade III
MAKO
Mass/Retail Lines

Slow Pitch:
Raw Power I
Raw Power II
Brett Helmer Signature Line
Brian Wegman Signature Line

Hockey:
Mako
RS1
RS2
RS3
Stealth
Synergy

While working at Easton I was given the opportunity to rebrand the wood bat line.  I worked alongside the wood bat department to create a new look and feel of Easton wood bats.  Competing with companies like Louisville, I had to create a competitive edge and redesign graphics and colors to better establish Easton in the wood bat world. 

My approach was to eliminate the screen printing process and replace it with laser engraved graphics; and swapping the knob stamp with foil stamped leather.  My goal was to use all natural products in the design process to allow the wood to speak for itself.

Working alongside my team in the wood bat department was one of the greatest experiences in my design career. 

UI/UX DESIGN

The Aventon Diamond frame embodies pure ‘performance,’ from its uniquely shaped diamond tube to its full carbon fork the Diamond frame is dressed to kill no matter the occasion.  Forged from quality 6066 alloy, the Diamond frame is Aventon’s answer for the high demands of performance without blending into the monotony of recycled frame design.  Complete with a matching full carbon seat post, the Diamond frame outshines the competition on the podium, and dominates the street in style.

My goal when designing this frame was to create details inspired by diamonds, to utilize the way light reflects off them.   Every detail mattered, from the polished and cleared dropouts, to the angular tubing and the unique shape of the bottom bracket and head tube.

When I was brought onto the Nike design team (JR286) as a Color Specialist, it was my job to follow seasonal trends for all color and pattern use. Much of my work with Nike was setting up tech packs, making sure product design was well organized; and presenting seasonal colors and line presentations to the product managers. I really enjoyed my time at Nike, I had the pleasure of working with some of the industries most talented designers. 

Industrial Designer - Jason Farsai

Industrial Designer - Drew Browder

During my time with Easton Baseball I worked on many bats. From creating grip patterns, cap designs, and even getting involved with some of the engineering process involved. Bats are all different depending on the league, regulations and even style of ball you are playing. Designing bats was so much fun, brought me back to my days of little league.

A logo that communicates its purpose through visual representation is the backbone of any good brand, it has the power to speak volumes without saying a word.  Logos create brand recognition, that then build relationships with the consumer. 

Creating graphics is the core of what I do, no matter what medium I use. T-shirts, digital marketing, print collateral, whatever your need I can create the graphics you need to make your project stand out and get noticed.

I love typography...I love the endless possibilities of creating type.  Playing with clean letters or the bending of letters in graffiti.  I really respect typography because of its tradition and history; from letter presses to sign painters, letters have been a huge inspiration in my career.

When I joined the Aventon team, its product and distribution was already in place.  I was brought on to create the brand, to establish Aventon as a premium, top of the line bike brand.  I redesigned the logo with that in mind and moved toward a more symmetric feel, to set Aventon apart from an already saturated market.

Aventon is about persistence and determination, it's about pushing your mental and physical boundaries to conquer your goals.  By continuously pushing innovation and what it means to be a performance bike company, Aventon is a seamless transition from the everyday street rider to the performance cyclist.

Designer & Photography: Eddy Densow
Marketing & Photography: Matt Lingo

Ahoy Mate!

I’ve had a constant tidal wave of creativity since 1984, thus the SEASofINQ (seas-of-ink) .  Art to me is like life, its ever-changing.. and what better way to represent that then the ocean.

My art is a representation of my life, it’s my experiences and truths. Growing up as a garage artist (Thanks Duffy!) in Moses Lake, WA. I was always digging through garage sales and junk yards to find cool stuff to turn into something beautiful.  My grandfather was a traveling hobo boxer, so the art of storytelling is something I grew up with, and like to use in my designs.

Please contact me if you are interested in a custom piece.  No project is too big or small.

INQ..

When it comes to product design, my favorite part is the process. Going from prototypes to testing, and all the way to the product release. It’s such a great feeling to work with a team and see your product come to fruition.

When I approached the development of the Aventon Factory Team I wanted our team to boldly stand out, without being too over the top. During my R&D stage I found that ‘Aventon’ means to ‘push on’ or ‘hitch a ride’ in Spanish, which has now become our mantra.  I decided to run with the original brand colors to create a statement and strong introduction of brand recognition. It was my job to make sure our riders looked the part while traveling and competing in races and events.