A strong interest in technology and sculpture originally drove me to study Industrial Design at Arizona State University. After I graduated, I landed my first job with a "multimedia" company in Tempe, Arizona and quickly adapted to the online world. I created a host of digital/multimedia and environmental design projects. It was a dream job.
Keep in mind, this was 1993. To have access and opportunity to design for emerging digital media was very exciting. I designed for all sorts of mediums (cd-i, edu-tainment cd-roms, 3d for video, environmental design at The Phoenix Zoo, etc.) and was able to develop a great deal of cutting edge work. It was the perfect learning ground. The experience at Communication Design launched my design career, and built the foundation my clients rely on. Today, I work with some of the most successful companies in the world creating high-end digital communications and software.
My passion for visual design has always worked in tandem with my love of music. When I took a weekend to visit Seattle several years ago, I ended up calling the Northwest home. Days after moving to Seattle, I formed Maktub, the seminal northwest heavy soul band that has recently made the leap to the national scene. A spot on National Public Radio, a video on MTV, an MSN feature, a national Associated Press article, favorable review from The Boston Globe, the release of Maktub's "Khronos" in Japan and Europe and an aggressive national tour has landed Maktub in the center of an exciting year. Radio plays of the band's single "You Can't Hide", as well as album sales, have been growing exponentially. Super hip NYC label Velour saw the growing legions of fans and signed Maktub at the beginning of 2003.
Despite all the rock star stuff and keeping busy with design jobs, I'm quite family-oriented. My best friend and wife, Kara and I spend a lot of time together in our garden and outdoors. Since we have no other relatives in the Northwest, we recognize our need to keep in touch with our family in other parts of the country. Kara and I travel a lot to see them, in addition to making a trip each winter to some new warm place out of the country, because, hey, you just have to get some sunshine if you live in Seattle's winter grey light.
Despite the inspired beauty of the line 'Seattle's winter grey light' above, I'm not really a poet. I'm one of those people who would love to read more, but I can't seem to find the time. I'm either working, writing, playing and recording music, spending precious time with Kara, or unapologetically geeking out over the newest technology.
