Showcase & Discover Creative Work

My traditional role is that of senior problem solver. Upper management historically brings me in to turn a business around that they just haven't been able to convert into a profitable enterprise. I typically work with one level above me in the organization and parachute into companies located in such disparate places like Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Fort Worth, Texas. Efficiency and process are the main things I deliver to various creative sports ranging from print, interactive/software design, and furniture and new building materials.

While at Hondo Group, I noticed a huge demand for a low cost, easy to use way for companies to "go green." With only one full time person assigned to the project, we managed to fit in work in downtime, and develop a fully functional software suite that is being rolled out in Canada as we speak. All interface, branding, and methodology for the software, I took the chief or dominate collaborative role.

For traditional print and interactive design, I have a high level of skill ranging from 200+ page magazine layout and output to 500+ page websites integrating a large number legacy databases across multiple platforms. I have directly managed 20 designers, in Vietnamese, and indirectly managed as many as 40 person companies. Managing larger groups I find more enjoyable as it benefits more from my organizational skills.

At Xeno Objects, my furniture designs became something of a media darling, but I take more pride in the new materials and new construction techniques that we developed. My role there included design director, manufacturing, costing, and all marketing roles. While at Xeno, my interest and skills in sustainability issues focused considerably. While there is always something to learn, I feel very comfortable speaking about these issues and recently gave a lecture to the Austin, Texas Advertising Federation about consumerism and its role in climate change.

SUMMARY
International, seasoned designer with award-winning furniture, extensive print & interactive experience & an
expanding portfolio of interior/architecture work. Tested management & technical background. Used to working
in multilingual, high stress, low resource environments. Good attitude, versatile & proactive. Open to relocation
worldwide. Read Less

2011- Nurun China Director of Design and User Experience
Internal management and development of the "Digital Utility" practice at the Shanghai office - a key Nurun differentiator. A few month stint as Interim Operations Director, my focus was on growing and directly managing a team of 20 web, UX, and interaction designers.

2011 was a year focusing on regrouping and reinvigorating the design department. The painfully high turnover in design was completely arrested, and new top notch talent was recruited, awards were won, and morale was dramatically increased. Process was slowly introduced into the team with a structure that allowed for all the personalities to exercise their individual strengths.

Clients: TAG Heuer, Chivas Regal 12, Chivas 18, Chivas J&J, Chivas 25, Martell Nobilge, Martell Cordon Bleu, FAW-VW, L'Oreal, Dukan1999- 2011 Jared Huke Design Director
Target, Remy Martin Cognac, VMC, Jane Magazine, Dollhouse Jeans, Donna Bellezza, PXP, Elanco, McCormick Company, NewWorld Products, JUCCCE
2007 - 2010 The Hondo Group Director Vice President-Creative
•Rebuilt agency after re-branding, central role in repositioning as an innovative agency
•Expanded offering to include video, 3D, web and mobile technologies
•Chief architect of the Hondo Green division, which includes the Hondo Green Assessment Tool software
and sustainability consultations
Clients: Wyffels Hybrids, StollerUSA, MuseumPlace, Fort Worth Stock Show and
Rodeo, classicshaving.com, Digital Matrix Systems, Pivot Networks, UnWired Nation
2006 DAS creative Creative Director
•Rebranded & refocused DAS including brand ID system, target market, & approach
•Reorganized, trained, & managed a 17 member design team & 8 member account services team
•Creative direction from concept to photo shoot to final artwork output
•Extensive design, process, & technical training throughout organization - in Vietnamese
Notable: Arrested budget loss by increased efficiency within 90 days, avoided closure.
Doubled margin & turned 1st profit in 15 months on reduced sales
Clients: JVC, Sanyo, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization),
Lafarge, British Petroleum, Samsung
2006 TTP, Ltd. Designer
•Lead designer for new product launch in Hong Kong
•Concept implementation & evolution matching corporate guidelines
•3 zone event with many detailed furniture pieces for each section
•Four day turn around from concept to presentation
•Re-Brand for TTP, Ltd.
Clients: Dunhill, TTP, Ltd
2006 Viet Thai International, Inc. Creative Director
•Managed re-brand of Highlands Coffee chain of 45 cafe/retail outlets
•Designed all menus, cups, signage, bags, etc. for all stores
•Trained & managed a team of 5 Vietnamese designers, production staff
•Supported architecture department with graphic wall design & color choices
Clients: Highlands Coffee, Nike
2003 - 2006 Xeno Objects Design Director
•Designer & founder of all Xeno product lines
•Sourced & developed of all materials, technologies, & processes - in Vietnamese & Thai
•Brand development & implementation
•Planning, logistics, accounting, corporate structure, & intellectual property management
•1 design patent awarded, 2 utility patents pending
2000 - 2002 Alive Interactive Media, Inc. Creative Director
•Rebranded & refocused Alive including brand ID system, target market, & approach
•Spec’ed & developed the Alive Project Management System (PMS) for managing distributed & out sourced
production online, including all business rules
•Reorganized, trained, & managed a 13 member design team - in Vietnamese
Clients: Sony, Microsoft, Showtime, Electronic Arts, Red Sky, Olsen Group
1998 - 2000 A3 Design, Ltd. Art Director
•Managed all network & IT demands for small print design firm
•Concept to output of print design work
•Built & re-branded the interactive division of A3 design
Clients: Southerland Properties, SCM, One Card
1994 - 1996 Event Horizon Software, Llc. Vice President Design
•Designed virtual reality networking software based around gestalt informational theory
• Managed 6 artist & 4 programmers
Notable: Developer for Shade 3D software, Radius Video Vision Studio Card, Seagate

EDUCATION & LANGUAGES
2002 University of Texas at Austin BFA - Design

English • French • Vietnamese • Thai • German • Spanish Read Less

2012 DECO&HOME ACCENTS magazine
2011 iResearch Award for China’s Best Brand Marketing Website
2011 Beijing International Design Triennial
2010 Communication Arts Photography Annual: art direction of Wylie Maerklien Photo
2010 KXAN: Hondo Green in the news - Interview
2010 Panel Lecture Austin Advertising Federation
2009 Design Interventions for Stimulating Bamboo Commercialization
2009 Experimental Eco-Design: Architecture / Fashion / Product
2008 Fort Worth Ad Federation - Silver Addy
2007 Dutch Design Meets Bamboo Book & Exhibit Design Process
2006 Heritage: Fashion - Vietnam Airlines Interview - Designer
2006 Design Within Reach - Floating Chair Exhibit Nung Chair
2006 Austin American-Statesman Nung Chair
2006 Austin Chronicle Nung Chair
2006 Brilliant Magazine Lake house Design
2005 Interior Design Magazine Gap and coconut board
2005 Ode Magazine Nung Chair
2005 Items Dutch- Nung Chair
2005 Hospitality Design Magazine Nung Chair
2005 Organic Style Magazine Nung Chair
2005 Voice of America: Health Interview - Sustainable design
2005 ID Magazine: New + Notable ‘05 Gap board
2005 House & Garden Magazine: New Tastemaker designer
2005 Architectural Record: Top 10 Furnishing Designers
2004 Metropolis Magazine: Next Gen Designer, ICFF Raw Exhibit
2004 Interior Design Magazine Nung chair
2004 Binyan Vediur No. 93 Israeli - Nung chair
2004 Dallas Morning News Nung Chair
2004 Detroit News Nung Chair
2004 Washington Post Nung Chair
2003 PUSH Magazine - SXSW issue Nung Chair - prototype
1998 Kelly Fearing Scholarship excellence in Fine Arts
1998 Fine Arts, Student Show, UT Austin Point-line-plane
1997 1st Place - UT Austin Student Sculpture Orange juice chair
1982 Texas Monthly Magazine Read Less