2018 - 2109
UX/UI Designer + Developer at Resonate and RChain Co-ops
Remote work. Companies based in Berlin, Germany and Seattle.
What I Did
- Collaborated with the Resonate product and marketing teams to completely re-envision and redesign UX for blockchain-based music streaming and social media platforms
- Created UX/UI design of user intake for the RSong Music Streaming Platform and a system for handling artist royalty payouts.
- As an independent contractor, personally managed and executed all UX/UI design work in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Coded UI views and collaborated with an overseas development team for backend programming.
What I Learned
- Even a brilliant idea cannot be executed effectively without realistic expectations and careful guidance
- How to work in a non-hierarchical establishment.
- How to take ownership of large-scale projects.
- How to work remotely with employees across the world.
- How to work with international co-workers.
- How to constantly push back against unrealistic expectations.
- How to let go of a project that is doomed.
- It isn’t necessarily good for a small company to compete with global corporations, but they can find their own niche instead.
- An understanding of how music royalties are split.
- All commercially successful music has a significant business component involved.
- How to attempt to collaborate with multiple designers.
- Some new design techniques and tools.
Academic Areas
- Music Business
- Project Management
- International Communication
- Digital design
- Computer Science
2012 – 2017
Sr. Visual Designer at Sofie Biosciences
Los Angeles
What I Did
- Increased product utilization and brand awareness by designing attractive and intuitive software user interfaces.
- Improved the process of prototyping and building digital products by taking on front-end coding duties and working closely with software engineers.
- Created Sofie style guide and maintained adherence across all product lines.
What I Learned
- How to function in a highly disorganized environment.
- How to push for appropriate compensation.
- When to push back against unreasonable requests.
- How to complete large projects in a short period of time.
- A general idea of what matters in commercial design and what doesn’t.
- How to code.
- How to work with programmers.
- How to work on multiple different projects simultaneously.
- A general distrust for tech industries and a deep concern for the future they are creating.
Academic Areas
- Branding
- Digital design
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Communication
- Computer Science
1999 – present
Freelance Audio Engineer
San Francisco, Tucson, Los Angeles, and Eugene
What I Did
- Studio and live sound for recording projects and events. Well-versed in modern and vintage gear and techniques.
- House assistant engineer at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco from 1999-2001 with clients including George Clinton and the P-Funk All-stars, Zigaboo Modeliste, and Hieroglyphics.
What I Learned
- How to quickly adapt to unfamiliar audio setups in a new environment.
- How to coordinate with bands to accomplish as much as possible in a limited timeframe.
- How to set expectations.
- How to be honest when faced with a sub-par performance that can’t be digitally fixed.
- A vast understanding of different music equipment and sound techniques.
- How to create a plan B when plan A isn’t paying the bills.
Academic Areas
- Music Production
- Audio Engineering
- Music Business
- Project Management
- Communication
- Entrepreneurship
2006 - Present
Freelance Designer
Tucson, Los Angeles, and Eugene
What I Did
- Collaborate with clients to deliver high quality digital and print products which have often resulted in strengthened business identities and growth.
- Processes tailored to meet individual client needs.
What I Learned
- How to run a small business.
- How to estimate design work.
- How to set deadlines.
- How to say no.
- How to self manage a project.
- How to keep a project within scope.
- How to design in various styles for various mediums.
Academic Areas
- Branding
- Digital design
- Traditional Art
- Marketing
- Business
- Project Management
- Communication
- Computer Science/Programming
2010 - 2013
Prepress Operator and Webmaster at SLB Printing, Inc.
Los Angeles
What I Did
- Developed SLB's web presence, resulting in a substantial improvement in search engine results and sales.
- Designed, updated, and repaired client files for maximum print quality and customer satisfaction.
- Prepared and ran jobs on digital, offset, and wide format printers with minimal waste and highest quality results.
What I Learned
- How to create a web presence for a small business.
- How to decipher web analytics.
- How to prepare commercial print jobs.
- Bindery for commercial print jobs.
- How to coordinate with print clients.
- How to coordinate with outside print vendors and contractors.
- How to negotiate salary and job title.
- How to operate various types of professional print equipment.
Academic Areas
- Branding
- Digital design
- Traditional Art
- Marketing
- Business
- Project Management
- Communication
- Web design/development
1996 - Present
Band Experience
Tucson, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Eugene
What I Did
What I Learned
Academic Areas
TCA
- California/Oregon based Band 2009 - Present
- Formed my music project TCA, produced three releases, and performed live in collaboration with others.
- Advanced music recording, editing, and mixing skills.
- How to coordinate with other musicians to perform guest parts on my compositions.
- How to develop a simple album release plan for a self release.
- How to book live shows and a tour.
- How to use technology and live looping to play multiple instruments live in the same band.
- Music Production
- Music Composition
- Music Performance
- Electronic Music
- Business
- Communication
- CDigital and Physical Arts
- Marketing
Cuneiform
- Arizona/California based Band 2005-2008
- Co-founded rock band Cuneiform with two other members living in separate cities. Wrote, recorded, released, and performed an album.
- Created band artwork.
- How to coordinate a band with members spread across three cities.
- How to write music with a hybrid remote and in-person approach.
- How to be a significant songwriting member as the band’s drummer.
- Music Production
- Music Composition
- Music Performance
- Business
- Communication
- Digital Arts
Holy Dose
- Tucson based band 2007-2009
- Co-founded metal band Holy Dose, recruited additional band members, co-wrote and recorded songs, and performed live
- Created band artwork.
- How to recruit and audition potential band members.
- How to create a recording with no budget whatsoever.
- How to write metal songs.
- How to put on high-energy metal performances.
- Music Production
- Music Composition
- Music Performance
- Business
- Communication
- Digital and Physical Arts
Dreams to be Bulletproof
- Tucson based band 2001 - 2004
- Founded progressive rock band Dreams to be Bulletproof, recruited additional band members, co-wrote and recorded songs, and performed live
- How to recruit and audition potential band members.
- How to create a recording with no budget whatsoever.
- How to write music as a drummer.
- How to deal with a frequently changing band lineup.
- Music Production
- Music Composition
- Music Performance
- Business
- Communication
- Digital and Physical Arts
Direct Action
- Arizona 1996 - 1999
- Joined my first band Direct Action, wrote songs on guitar and taught them to the band, recorded, and performed live
- Created band artwork.
- How to write music on guitar with no formal training.
- What it is like to record an album.
- How to collaborate with bandmates.
- How to kick out band members that aren’t fitting.
- What it is like to perform live in a band.
- How to make DIY band merchandise.
- Music Composition
- Music Performance
- Business
- Communication
- Physical Arts
Red Cloud
- Eugene Based Band 2019 - 2021
- Joined Eugene based rock band Red Cloud, wrote drum parts, helped demo and develop songs, produced an album with the band, and performed live.
- It’s best to get agreements between members in advance (this turned out to be a loosing endeavor for me).
- How to plan a recording project in alignment with a budget.
- How to negotiate timelines with a “client” (the band).
- How to add my own “flare” to songs I didn’t write.
- Music Production
- Business
- Communication
- Music performance
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* This is a video I made to demonstrate a drumming iPhone app I designed and built with a friend as a personal project.
