Discovery Channel & the producers of MythBusters created a TV series that brought subject matter experts together to design and prototype wild ideas. The goal was to closely tie a television series to the emerging Maker movement.

I was brought on to help with ideation efforts and to act as the “connective tissue” across the different subject matter experts and the production team.

I facilitated co-creation workshops to explore predetermined episode topics with the goal of creating a shared vision across the groups, regardless of their specific areas of expertise.

Ideas and illustrations were used as high-level storyboards for the production team to assess show sequence and the episode storyline.

Sketches, renderings, CAD and even a few reluctant appearances of yours truly found their way into the final episodes to help round-out the story and illustrate the process for the viewer.

While the majority of the early ideas were purely for illustrative purposes, I did create more detailed CAD files and schematics used to inform prototype/build production.

The image above was my favorite build. It’s an infinite waterslide! A gigantic rotating wheel full of water, pivoting on a gimbal, with a projection of your choice on a falling rain-screen. You can chute the Nile or any waterslide in the world without leaving your… ehhhh…. warehouse.

I stood-up and led a creative team within MassMutual’s MMFA Marketing organization. Working with leadership we introduced Agile methodologies and embedded Art Directors, Designers, Copywriters, Design Strategists and Storytellers into 8 squads across the marketing org. This allowed the squads to rapidly develop and evaluate concepts real-time.

Creative asset development for field-facing (Agencies & Agents) campaigns.

Print, Digital, Experiential

Creative campaign asset development for customers & prospects to be distributed via Agencies & Agents.

Print & Digital

Campaigns created to attract & retain Agents.

Print, Digital, Experiential

Assets, tools & processes built to help Agencies & Agents in the field rapidly respond to changes in their business due to the Covid pandemic.

Training materials, turn-key toolkits & quick start guides to help Agencies & Agents easily deploy new offerings and improve the customer experience.

Guides and templates to inform, and aid in, the proper use of partner logos and branding by Agencies & Agents.

Developed new process of developing printed assets that allow for quick and easy rebranding based on the Agency or Agent branding preferences.

Introduced new methods for developing digital assets that allow all Agencies & Agents to leverage digital marketing campaigns regardless of the Agency or Agent’s branding preferences.

Sales tools that go beyond brochures. Creation of turn-key value-add offerings that allow an Agency or Agent to put their best foot forward…. with the support and resources to make it easy to implement.

I partnered with the leadership team at the Peabody Essex Museum to envision and build-out their first Maker Space, serving two residencies as their first Resident Maker.

The goal of the exhibit was to educate patrons on the iterative processes of Industrial Design & Product Development with a focus on User-Centered Design & Design Thinking methodologies. We introduced the additional perimeters of “Wearable Technology” as our main theme.

The exhibit was designed to work as a one-time experience or a repetitive one. After-school programs would participate in multiple sessions to dive deeper and evolve ideas from initial concepts to final solutions.

The best way to build on ideas is to, well, actually build your ideas. Holding a prototype in your hands allows you to test them and iterate with greater confidence. We created multiple prototyping stations where guests could move ideas from sketch to prototype using various materials and methods.

Our guests chose which problems to solve, what concepts moved forward, solution approach, features / functions and even the look and feel of the final solution. I was always at hand to answer questions, help the process flow and aid in tools like CAD, rendering and 3D printing.

Some groups scheduled weekly sessions, allowing them the opportunity to iteratively solve problems from initial idea through final design.

The concept above was the result of multiple workshops where students could test, learn and iterate. By the time the group visited for their final session we had not only identified a problem to solve and created a solution, but also built final aesthetic prototypes, designed the retail packaging and worked on ideas for branding.

I partner with product, engineering and marketing teams to explore and develop packaging concepts that not only protect, but showcase their product in new ways.

I work with manufacturers and product teams to explore and experiment with new opportunities presented by advancements &/or discoveries in materials, manufacturing techniques & technologies.

I help teams evolve initial ideas into tools for building consensus and drive decision making through concept refinement exercises.

I’ve worked with marketing teams to explore opportunities with packaging’s cousin, the promotional item.

My work in this space is not solely focused on primary packaging. I have worked with organizations and manufacturers on secondary and tertiary packaging.

Sketches are great, renderings tell a better story, but prototypes are king. I quickly move from initial idea to rapid prototyping to assess solution potential, identify barriers and create a shared vision of the final goal.

Leveraging learnings from prototyping and/or vendor supplied templates I create production files for communicating intent with manufacturing vendors.

To verify production assets for accuracy, I create refined prototypes to final dimensions and approved artwork & copy in order to limit liability.

Experienced working with product teams and vendors to supply refinements and revisions based on early samples in order to establish golden samples and gear-up mass production.

As part of our approach to testing our financial wellness hypothesis we needed to build a stage for our full-scale living prototype. We designed a retail environment for testing and evolving our solution as well as a studio for the team to work. I was given the keys, a credit card and 6 weeks.

Due to timing, our brand and our retail space had to evolve at the same time. I used trend boards to evolve the physical space to match the work I was doing on the branded offerings. Due to timing this approach was more directional and required more real-time trouble shooting during the build-out.

Not only were we hosting events, running financial wellness workshops and conducting testing out of this space… we also planned to use it for our development studio. I created designated “zones” within the space to help create some level of structure while maintaining an open and inviting space for our guests and my teams.

A major part of this effort was working with the neighborhood committees, the land lord and town hall to secure all necessary paperwork, permits and approvals needed to stand up a retail store. I also managed the needs of the physical studio and worked with vendors to assure we had a fully functioning (and safe) space for guests and employees.

Creating an open and welcoming environment was certainly top of mind when designing the space. We created an intuitive flow through the space using architectural elements and visual queues ,helping guide guests through the experience.

Upon entering our establishment you were greeted and checked-in at our bar. Yes, we had a bar. As we waited for guests to arrive and workshops to start, our guests would enjoy a beverage and mingle with staff, the financial instructor teaching the workshop and other guests.

In addition to the bar we had a lounge area where guest could kick-back in a more casual environment. This space was an excellent way to break the ice and get conversations flowing before the workshop.

Our space was designed to feel open and inviting, even when spaces were partitioned off for events and workshops. We gave guests easy line-of-sight into neighboring spaces in order to help properly set expectations and put them at ease. Materials, technology and overall layout were designed to managing the acoustics in order to protect personal conversations and prevent audible-overload.

Plant walls, potted plants, hanging plants, plant installations, we definitely went overboard on greenery in the space. We harnessed nature's inherent powers to put guests at ease by decorating our space with lush greenery. Many studies have shown that the presence of plant life indoors can improve people's moods and increase human energy levels.

Careful consideration was given to the many different ways we might need the space to work. Sliding doors, collapsable furniture, storage solutions, etc. Our space was as capable of hosting a 70 person networking event as it was at running an intimate workshop for 6 thanks to some clever design features.

Everything in our space evolved around the classroom. Designed to be reconfigured in many ways based on guest or topic needs. Clean, simple designs allowed for guests to truly focus on whats important… building financial confidence. Microphones, projectors, music, etc. were all hidden and redundancies were integrated to assure there were no interruptions to our guests and their experience.

We went to great lengths to assure we thought of every detail. From the temperature, smell and lighting of the space to the touch-points, finishings and artwork throughout. Every detail was intentionally selected in order to provide an exceptional learning experience for our guests and a inspiring studio for my team.

Commissioned artwork above was created using pennies with different patina. Artist: Evan Wondolowski

Talking about personal finance can be difficult and at times, emotional. As part of the design we included more private areas designed for smaller more intimate conversations.

The picture above is one of those spaces- the Advisor Lounge. Where guests could have more open and candid conversations about their unique circumstances with a financial professional.

IGC’s Financial Wellness Workshops can draw a crowd. One of our employer partners saw so much interest from their employees that they gave us a space to set up camp for an extended stay (shown above). Needless to say, it wasn’t welcoming or anywhere close to “on-brand”.

Rather than view the barren space as a setback I leveraged my experience building props, set construction and my love for carpentry to build a pop-up version of the IGC retail space. This installation helped attract guests (almost doubling initial estimates) as well as helped draw guests to our retail location.

Integrating prominent architectural features from our retail space with the functional requirements of this new space allowed us to establish an accessible and on-brand storefront experience at our partner’s HQ.

Leveraging similar materials, colors and finishes found in our retail space helped connect this experience to our brand and create consistency.

Words of encouragement and affirmation set the tone as guests made their way into the main classroom. This not only helped guests to switch their mindset from work to personal success but also presented an opportunity to echo our brands approach, mission and aspirations.

The classroom was designed to be an open and inviting space where guests can work on self-reflection activities or collaborate in tabletop activities as a group.

Aside from leveraging this space based on our immediate need, this extra effort helped us illustrate our strong commitment and unique approach to delivering a top-tier service to our partner and their community. This engagement led to over 100 workshops in two locations with this employer in San Diego & Boston.

I love making… anything… at any scale… in any medium. From making signs and prototypes, to props for videos and architectural installations… you can usually find me tinkering in my shop.

Image above is a “Wilson-like” prop for a promotion video. I created 4 versions to allow the production crew to show a realistic progression of deterioration throughout the video.

Hands-down, the best day of the year! Since I was a kid I would create elaborate pranks. As I transitioned into my professional career it’s only gotten worse.

Image above was our retail storefront/studio turned into a sushi bar. Custom back-lit signage, giant wall graphics, tables set and even menus left the neighborhood abuzz with the idea of a new sushi restaurant.

As kids we all had those “when I’m a grown up” moments. Now that I’m mostly grown up I take every chance I get to build those things I dreamt of as a child.

Image above is of our backyard ice rink. With multiple skaters in the family I can justify it by calling it an investment. Year after year it gets bigger.

Having a creative partner means theres’ not much we can’t build and we have plenty of wild ideas with little to hold us back.

Image above is a mural (WIP) of the Mandalorian my wife and I designed and painted in our son’s room. This is the way.

I’m as comfortable on a job-site swinging a hammer as I am slinging post-it notes in the board room. I’ve built throughout my life and have found a partner that is as interested and capable as I am.

When we’re not knocking down walls at our own house, we have a small design & build company where we help our clients envision and build the home of their dreams.

Throughout my career I have been listed as an inventor on over 60 patents (Domestic & International, Ornamental & Utility). My work with intellectual property goes beyond securing it to include protecting it. I have been retained as a design expert witness developing effective litigation strategies and legal arguments for multiple brands.