WTH is an Ashford?

What is a tree? What is the sky? Nobody knows.
Ok, maybe some kind of scientist could answer that. But we can all agree definitions can be tricky.
Of this much, I’m certain. I grew up in rural Missouri — an impractical, design-obsessed kid from a long line of quite practical, design-ambivalent farmers and mechanics. I watched wrestling — probably too much wrestling. And I live to solve problems, untangle knots, and make beautiful, interesting things.

For over a decade, I’ve been helping brands, large and small, navigate their own identity crises through thoughtful, empathetic, strategy-backed concepts and a maddening pursuit of perfection. I’ve led creative teams over mountains and through minefields, emerging with only minor cuts and bruises. I’ve mentored young creatives and developed long, fruitful client relationships. All in service of building brands that stand the test of time and ads that hit folks in the chest — work that makes people laugh, cry, think, or wander out into the streets questioning everything they thought they knew, like “Just what is the sky?”

If that sounds like the kind of work you aim to make, drop me a line.

Experience

2021 – 2024
Paradowski Creative
Creative Director / Creative Lead
Supervised a team of creatives on advertising campaigns for global corporations and startups alike. Mentored young creatives and cultivated trusting client relationships. Selected to the leadership team to help facilitate a culture of creativity agency-wide.

2014 – 2021
TOKY Branding + Design
Senior Designer
Created, refined, and managed dozens of brands, from start to finish, covering identity, packaging, publication, editorial, signage, apparel, environmental, and more.

2010 – 2014
The Pitch
Creative Director
Oversaw editorial design for over 150 issues of a weekly publication with a circulation of over 50,000. Delivered award-winning cover and layout design, contributed illustration, directed photoshoots, and branded events.

2009 – 2010
Firecracker Press
Assistant Printer
Worked on design and production for a variety of letterpress materials: posters, greeting cards, business cards, coasters, flyers, etc.

2008 – 2009
Seebeck Photography
Photo Editor / Assistant
Assisted in photoshoots and retouching.

Recognition

Brand New
2021 | Featured Work, Native Foods
2020 | Featured Work, STLPR

Cover Junkie
2014 | Featured Work, The Pitch

Dieline
2020 | Featured Work, Flora Packaging
2019 | Featured Work, FPB Hot Sauce

NAMA
2024 | Gold, NBM Troyer Campaign
2024 | Silver, NBM Handbook
2024 | Silver, Terrian Press Kit

Newmanology
2014 | Featured Work, The Pitch

Print Magazine
2018 | Featured Work, FPB

The Society of Illustrators
2009 | FICA Award Winner

The Society of Marketing Professionals
2014 | Best in Show, SWT Branding

The Type Directors Club
2018 | Featured Work, FPB Branding

Education

2024
Jason Bagley’s Audacious School of Astonishing Pursuits
Creative Director Megamachine

2009
Missouri State University
BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration

Gallery Exhibitions

2024 | Wallflowers II
St. Louis, Mo

2023 | Wallflowers I
St. Louis, Mo

2019 | Type Hike: Arch
St. Louis, Mo

2013 | Leedy-Voulkos Art Center
Kansas City, Mo

2011 | Koken Art Factory
St. Louis, Mo

2010 | The Society of Illustrators
New York City, Ny

Expertise

Advertising
Animation
Brand Identity
Brand Strategy
Copywriting
Creative Direction
Illustration
Packaging Design
Publication Design

Notable Clients

Bayer
Brinkman Constructors
Centene Corporation
CHA
Drury Hotels
Enterprise
Hallmark
HOK
Lavazza
LPGA
MLS
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Purina
T.Y.Lin
Verizon

* An Ashford, in the etymological sense, is a cluster of Ash trees.

Let’s talk.