Born and raised in the vibrant and infamous New York City, where art is a lifestyle and
design is a necessity, it was no surprise to me when I discovered my creative abilities at
the early age of 14 with the help of my grandfather John who was also a designer.
Fascinated by the software programs he used (PageMaker back in those days) and the hum
of his huge 300dpi Epson laser printer (I’m dating myself), I was inspired to design fliers for
my class trips while my classmates were busy trying out for school sports.
My creativity and passion for aesthetics truly started to develop when I entered high
school. During those four soul-searching years, I became the layout editor of the school
paper and also embarked on the role of historian for my school’s chapter of the Future
Business Leaders of America (FBLA). During my tenure in FBLA, I won 3rd place in Desktop
Publishing at the 1998 State Leadership Conference in Rochester, and then 1st place the
following year. This presented me with the honorable opportunity of representing New
York State at the national competition in Chicago.
I knew that a career in design was the obvious choice, so I continued my studies in Digital
Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where I learned and honed my skills in design
fundamentals, lettering and typography. Upon graduation, I headed back to the Big Apple
to jump start my career in design as a Graphic Designer at a downtown printing company,
which later led me down the path of becoming a Junior Designer for a marketing company
in TriBeCa.
With a strong desire and keen eye for print design, I decided to enter the world of
publishing about four years ago as an Associate Designer for Metrosource Magazine, a gay
lifestyle magazine based in Downtown Manhattan. There I learned the very important core
basics of magazine production.
Months later, I took what I had learned from that experience to the next step of my
career. I was offered the position of Art Director at Analysts In Media. I was given the task
of producing four separate B2B titles: Business Trends Quarterly, Future Healthcare, Future
Pharmaceuticals and Airport Innovation. Almost two years and 14 magazines later, it was
time for me to again move on.
I continued my publishing career as HX Magazine's Design Director until deciding to focus
all my attention as a full-time freelance designer. Publishing is my passion and if the offer
permits, I most definitely would return.
design is a necessity, it was no surprise to me when I discovered my creative abilities at
the early age of 14 with the help of my grandfather John who was also a designer.
Fascinated by the software programs he used (PageMaker back in those days) and the hum
of his huge 300dpi Epson laser printer (I’m dating myself), I was inspired to design fliers for
my class trips while my classmates were busy trying out for school sports.
My creativity and passion for aesthetics truly started to develop when I entered high
school. During those four soul-searching years, I became the layout editor of the school
paper and also embarked on the role of historian for my school’s chapter of the Future
Business Leaders of America (FBLA). During my tenure in FBLA, I won 3rd place in Desktop
Publishing at the 1998 State Leadership Conference in Rochester, and then 1st place the
following year. This presented me with the honorable opportunity of representing New
York State at the national competition in Chicago.
I knew that a career in design was the obvious choice, so I continued my studies in Digital
Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where I learned and honed my skills in design
fundamentals, lettering and typography. Upon graduation, I headed back to the Big Apple
to jump start my career in design as a Graphic Designer at a downtown printing company,
which later led me down the path of becoming a Junior Designer for a marketing company
in TriBeCa.
With a strong desire and keen eye for print design, I decided to enter the world of
publishing about four years ago as an Associate Designer for Metrosource Magazine, a gay
lifestyle magazine based in Downtown Manhattan. There I learned the very important core
basics of magazine production.
Months later, I took what I had learned from that experience to the next step of my
career. I was offered the position of Art Director at Analysts In Media. I was given the task
of producing four separate B2B titles: Business Trends Quarterly, Future Healthcare, Future
Pharmaceuticals and Airport Innovation. Almost two years and 14 magazines later, it was
time for me to again move on.
I continued my publishing career as HX Magazine's Design Director until deciding to focus
all my attention as a full-time freelance designer. Publishing is my passion and if the offer
permits, I most definitely would return.
Audi, Beth Israel Medical Center, Cisco Systems, Citrix, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Diamler-Chrysler, Edelman, Federated Department
Stores, Showbiz Expo NYC/LA, Gartner, Hewlett-Packard, HX Magazine, Jaguar Motors, Kurland, Bonica, and Associates, Metrosource
Magazine, Venice the Series, west elm, White & Case, LLP, John Wiley & Sons, and Williams-Sonoma Stores.
Stores, Showbiz Expo NYC/LA, Gartner, Hewlett-Packard, HX Magazine, Jaguar Motors, Kurland, Bonica, and Associates, Metrosource
Magazine, Venice the Series, west elm, White & Case, LLP, John Wiley & Sons, and Williams-Sonoma Stores.
"I worked closely with John during a large scale conference my company, Fete & Faire
organized. Our client was left in a lurch by a disreputable graphic designer, and John took
over as the head designer for the event materials just a few weeks before the conference.
John quickly produced a program that was not only beautiful but professional, and he
delivered the finished product with a swift turn-around. He was personable, friendly, very
reliable and I would gladly work with John again on other projects."
Marguerite Daniels
Principal Partner, Fete & Faire, LLC
"We hired John to design the Fall/Winter menu for our Day Spa. What he came back to us
with was nothing short of amazing. He not captured the essence of our spa with his design
but also elevated the look and feel of our collateral. Our entire staff (15+) loves the new
menu and we can't wait to get it in front of our customers. John offers a GREAT value for
the quality of the work that he produces. We have already asked John to help us design
the labels for our new skin care line as well as the marketing collateral for the new
products."
Ruben Guerrero
Founding Partner, Canela Spa Group
"John was able to bring great design to our clients and was very efficient with his time."
George Barbero
Vice President, Art Director, Edelman
"John has one of the most creative and innovative talents I have ever seen. The CEO of my
company was highly impressed with his skills and will not take work from anyone else.
He has a very clean and classy design style. I highly recommend him."
Chap James Day
Office Generalist, Hello World Language Center
"I hired John to design a 30+ page program book for a major business conference. John's
work was of excellent quality and received many inquiries from other students looking for
graphic designers to work on their projects. John was always on time or ahead of
schedule on deliverables. He was also very easy to work with and very forgiving of my
group's disorganization. I would highly recommend him."
Lauren Sickles
Columbia Business School Black Business Student Association
organized. Our client was left in a lurch by a disreputable graphic designer, and John took
over as the head designer for the event materials just a few weeks before the conference.
John quickly produced a program that was not only beautiful but professional, and he
delivered the finished product with a swift turn-around. He was personable, friendly, very
reliable and I would gladly work with John again on other projects."
Marguerite Daniels
Principal Partner, Fete & Faire, LLC
"We hired John to design the Fall/Winter menu for our Day Spa. What he came back to us
with was nothing short of amazing. He not captured the essence of our spa with his design
but also elevated the look and feel of our collateral. Our entire staff (15+) loves the new
menu and we can't wait to get it in front of our customers. John offers a GREAT value for
the quality of the work that he produces. We have already asked John to help us design
the labels for our new skin care line as well as the marketing collateral for the new
products."
Ruben Guerrero
Founding Partner, Canela Spa Group
"John was able to bring great design to our clients and was very efficient with his time."
George Barbero
Vice President, Art Director, Edelman
"John has one of the most creative and innovative talents I have ever seen. The CEO of my
company was highly impressed with his skills and will not take work from anyone else.
He has a very clean and classy design style. I highly recommend him."
Chap James Day
Office Generalist, Hello World Language Center
"I hired John to design a 30+ page program book for a major business conference. John's
work was of excellent quality and received many inquiries from other students looking for
graphic designers to work on their projects. John was always on time or ahead of
schedule on deliverables. He was also very easy to work with and very forgiving of my
group's disorganization. I would highly recommend him."
Lauren Sickles
Columbia Business School Black Business Student Association
