What's All This, Then?
Smoke-n-Pixels is where my professional work and personal interests inevitably collide. Design, branding, web development, photography, woodworking, homebrewing, tabletop games, slow-smoked barbecue—at first glance they don't seem to have much in common. To me, they're all different ways of exploring the same question: How could this work better? This site is a collection of those projects, experiments, and the occasional rabbit hole that seemed too interesting not to follow.
Yes, But Who Am I?
I've spent more than twenty years working as a designer, art director, and web developer, helping nonprofits, educational institutions, museums, performing arts organizations, and businesses communicate more clearly. Along the way I've also taught graphic design, built WordPress plugins, led creative teams, and discovered that I enjoy asking questions at least as much as finding answers. It isn't enough to make things look good. Why they work, who they serve, and how they could work better has always been the part that fascinates me most.
And Now?
These days you'll usually find me designing something, building something, or learning how something works. Sometimes that's a website or a brand identity. Sometimes it's a piece of furniture, a pint of homebrew, a painted miniature, or an eighteen-hour brisket. I've found that stepping away from the screen often makes me a better designer when I come back. No matter the medium, the goal is the same: stay curious, make thoughtful things, and leave them a little better than I found them.