Since September 2024, I’ve been employed at Columbia Sportswear, as Accessories Graphic Designer. My role is centered around creating graphics for headwear, accessories, and bags. However, I’m proud to say I do wear a lot of hats at CSC (pun intended) and my designs often inform apparel graphics, and vice versa. This is a selection of headwear and apparel graphics for the main Columbia brand, and Columbia Performance Fishing Gear (PFG).

Some things to know about Ace Hardware… Despite being a widely known brand, each Ace store is independently owned. Quite often they’re owned by a single family, maybe on the 2nd or 3rd generation. The culture of Ace - almost all Ace stores - is one of complete and total helpfulness and care. And, each one is unique and fun in its own way. I began a project to approach Ace stores and offer to design merch for them, to celebrate their uniqueness and hometown flair that separates them from stuffy big-box chains. Beginning at Buck Electric Ace Hardware in Ocean Shores WA, and spreading across the US to many other stores and 5 states, I became connected with wonderful owners and their stores, and helped bring some memorable fun in the format of apparel graphics, social media graphics, and more.

I interviewed each store owner, identifying what made their stores unique and attractive, and what made each community special and close-to-the-hearts of the folks that live there. For Kopetsky’s Ace in Yankton SD, this was the watersport and mountain biking culture of the area. For Thatcher’s Ace in Ontario OR, this was the on-the-border identity of the Oregon + Idaho locals, and potatoes - the major money-maker in the local economy. The common thread throughout each of these interviews was a desire to remind customers that each Ace store has EXACTLY what they need, and they don’t need to make the drive to a larger chain where they may not get that wholesome small-town help that so many Ace stores are known for. “Try us first, we have that!”

“In Dec 2023, BnR Tackle based in Olympia WA, reached out to me to create a new series of merchandise graphics, to be used on apparel. Here’s a collection of various lock-ups and designs I created.”