Designer first, Project Manager second. Eighteen years experience in the industry. I work and play well with others (I don't run with scissors). I'm a fairly down-to-earth guy. I don't take myself too seriously and I don't design just for the sake of design: my goal is to provide simple, intuitive, and effective solutions.
About me
I tend to wear a lot of hats. It’s part of being in the graphic design industry, but I enjoy every aspect of it because I always learn something new.
So what have I learned? I can tell you the difference between a font and a typeface (okay not really: the definition has changed alongside technology and there is no right answer), why InDesign is awesome (because it’s not Quark), why Canon is better than Nikon (and vice versa: lenses vs. sensor), why overcast skies are best for outdoor photoshoots (it's natures soft box), why I prefer the boostrap platform over skeleton (more widely adopted), when to use a database driven CMS or when to use a flat-file CMS (big sites vs. small sites), why a Cintiq might never catch up with pencil and paper yet I still recommend it for workflow reasons (it's like drawing on a mirror), and why being OCD isn't always enough to be a good project manager (sometimes you have to be pesky).
And yes I prefer using a Mac for pretty much anything, although Outlook on an Exchange server might be the best email solution out there for email clients (#sorrynotsorry).
I'm also a ham radio operator (callsign: KF5VGJ), and if you've seen my Suburban you'll know I like to get outdoors (about as much as I enjoy being indoors in front of a computer).
Check out my portfolio and my online profile.
I'm never "done." I'm always learning. During breaks between projects, I’m usually asking "what's next?"
Mike is a fantastic designer, hard-working, dependable, and all-around swell guy. He's constantly exploring, learning and sharing which is reflected in his work.
I'm not a fan of blowing my own horn, but I recognize that I need to present this kind of information.
Word It Book
A book of collected entries illustrating the interpretive power of design. I’m on page 154.
AIGA Austin
I served on the Austin board as Outreach Director from 2005-2007.
ADDY Award
A bronze awarded in 2003 for the Motorola brochure “We Own Wireless”.