Before moving back to my home state of Connecticut in 2020, I lived in Philadelphia for 11 years. It was there, in the throws of the service industry, that I grew my communication arts skills and aligned my passions. The hospitality world offered endless opportunities that far exceeded dreaded brunch shifts. I began providing my creative services in design and photography to local bars, restaurants and spirits brands in need of extracurricular help - a last minute social media graphic, an updated spring menu, a special event flyer. As a restaurant-bar employee myself, I was appreciated for my keen eye and deep understanding of how a menu should read, both textually and visually. Because I was a bartender, I knew how to make an appetizing cocktail, but also how to properly style one for a photo. From there, my creative work and client list grew.

Now, I work closely with clients to design a logo they've always dreamed of, re-work a brand that needs new life, and craft engaging marketing events that build business. I support bars, restaurants and food & bev product brands specifically because I understand more than most how positive, unique brand experiences define success. They can happen while someone sits at your bar, or sits on their couch scrolling Instagram. It’s incredibly important for a business in the hospitality-service industry to have a clear message, cohesive visuals and a curated environment- because all of those touchpoints amass your overall brand image and identity. It is who you are, what you offer and how you offer it, but also how others perceive those things. It affects your customers' decisions, it makes you standout from competitors, and it builds community advocacy and loyalty - imperative for bars and restaurants that serve wholly.

I believe this is the key to successful design for food and drink brands, and it is how I approach all my projects.