My Story
I grew up in Boise, Idaho (and no, I have never seen a potato farm). All I have ever wanted to do since I was old enough to hold a crayon is make art. Thankfully, I had a family who nurtured my artistic abilities as well as exposed me to the splendors of nature.
After graduating as a valedictorian from Bishop Kelly High School, I came to the University of Idaho to study Graphic and Interface Design. I immediately fell in love with my chosen field. Design gave me the opportunity to create art with a purpose and communicate with people. Throughout college I became very interested in particular in activist, political, social, and environmentally-conscious design. My political outlook and my views inform much of my work, and I strive to make a difference and change minds through communication and design.
I graduated from the University of Idaho in May 2005 with a BFA in Graphic & Interface Design. After completing an internship at a local non-profit I began working for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as a web designer in September 2005. In addition to my work for PETA, I take on a variety of freelance web and graphic design projects. I am always looking for new projects, and I especially enjoy doing work for small independent businesses, non-profit organizations, and activist organizations, especially those focused on issues I care about: the environment and sustainability, human and animal rights, peace, and progressive change. I currently live on the beautiful Mendocino coast in Northern California with my boyfriend and our "fur children".
My goals for the future include living as simply and sustainably as possible, working for myself full-time on design projects that have a positive impact on the world, and owning a little chunk of wilderness where my partner and I can build a sustainable home, grow our own food, and produce our own renewable energy.
My Interests
Other than design, I love doing anything involving the outdoors: hiking, backpacking, camping, snowboarding, mountain biking (or attempting to anyway), or just walking my dog on the beach. I love to read and I am always reading several books and magazines at once. I am an activist involved in environmental, peace, human rights, animal rights, and other related movements, both through my design work and my participation in protests, demonstrations, and events. All my years spent doing crafts in my Girl Scout days rubbed off on me and I continue to enjoy making things with my hands. I make gemstone and hemp jewelry, herbal products such as soap and massage oil and collages. I also love to cook and experiment with new vegetarian recipes. When I manage to find some spare time, I enjoy just relaxing with my boyfriend and our friends, usually over a cold organic microbrew.
For more about me, visit my MySpace page, take a look at my photos on flickr, read about the adventures of my boyfriend and I in our waste-veggie-oil-powered VW van, check out what issues and news I'm concerned about on my unplug blog, or just explore my site!