I am a creative director, designer, illustrator, and type designer with more than 12 years of experience shaping brand identities that resonate. As a creative director and principal designer, I have led work for NIKE, NASCAR, the NBA, MLB, the KBO League, and the European League of Football. I work closely with individuals and organizations to craft visual systems that connect deeply with audiences and elevate the brands they serve. I blend strategic clarity with artistic craft, weaving storytelling, illustration, and custom typography into identities built to resonate and endure.
Services & Expertise
💡 Brand Identity Strategy & Design
I craft brand identity systems through a holistic process that begins with uncovering the deeper truths of a brand. Every project starts with brand strategy where I work closely with clients to define their vision, values, and voice. From there, I conduct thorough brand audits to understand how they are currently perceived and where opportunities exist for growth and alignment. With this foundation, I move into building a complete visual identity including logos, typography, color systems, illustration styles, and supporting design elements, all designed to work together as a unified language.
🎬 Creative & Art Direction
I lead creative projects from concept to completion, shaping every visual decision to ensure clarity, cohesion, and impact. This includes guiding brand identity development, directing photography styling, crafting video storyboards, overseeing on-set production, and driving art direction for campaigns of any scale. From the first spark of an idea to the final execution, I ensure every element works together to tell a compelling and consistent story.
I create custom typography and illustration that capture the essence of a brand with personality and character. I utilize these elements to express the unique qualities each individual organization possesses. Each type system and illustration is crafted to be distinctive, memorable, and deeply aligned with the brand’s story, ensuring it stands apart with authenticity and impact.
📖 Design Systems & Guidelines
I develop comprehensive brand guidelines that serve as both a blueprint and a playbook for expressing a brand with clarity, purpose, and consistency. These guides go beyond showing how a brand looks; they articulate its philosophy, voice, and core values, then translate those ideas into precise visual standards for every platform and medium. The result is an essential tool that empowers clients to execute their brand confidently, ensuring every expression feels intentional, cohesive, and true to its identity.
Testimonials
"Ethan is a dream to collaborate with, his design sensibility is top notch. Would highly recommend!"
- Lara Leavoy | VP of Content, RTR Media
"His versatility shined through when he was asked to create a large-scale mural design for a 4-story brick building in downtown San Francisco. The request came directly from our company’s CEO and COO, and they were overjoyed with the product Ethan delivered. His personality and willingness to help out on projects large and small improved the culture and communication within our team, and everyone always loved working with him."
- Tommy Pesavento | Creative Director & Brand Strategist, Meta, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Publicis Sapient
"What I appreciate most about Ethan is his collaborative nature and how he can incorporate feedback with ease, ensuring the seamless execution of design projects (as well as being a total joy to work alongside). His dedication, creativity, and leadership make him an invaluable asset to any design team. I wholeheartedly recommend him for roles that demand a blend of design expertise, strategic thinking, and exceptional execution, as he is well-equipped to drive innovation and success in the ever-evolving design landscape."
- Bethany Byrd | Senior Staff Product Manager, Intuit
Let's Work Together
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