I love Jesus, my wife, and design. I do my best to keep them in that order, too. I’ve been designing since 2002 (give or take). Within that span of time, my personal definition of ‘design’ has changed dramatically. What used to be a means to make something that simply looked cool, has changed to a much more effective and satisfying out-look. I believe that a designers first and foremost responsibility is to listen. Being able to listen carefully to your clients needs, then analyze and interpret them into a feasible solution.

Design is more than simply being creative (though it is part of it). Design is about understanding people and how they react in certain scenarios. Design is conveying a message and making a blatant statement while you’re doing so. Design is about finding order and following process. Design is smart. That’s where I’m at now. I’m guessing that I’ll have a different opinion in 5 years from now though.

About Me

I’ve been married to my wife Jen since 2006. She means the world to me. She’s an artist (and lifestyle/fashion blogger) herself and is a constant inspiration to me. We also have a little girl named Rowan who I’m very much in love with. I’m pretty sure she’s also going to be a designer someday. Mostly because I plan on forcing her into it… along with hockey, surfing, skating, snowboarding, piano/guitar and a few other things I know she’ll thank me for later.

In 2010 I decided to make a drastic change in my career. Rather than working to fulfill someone else’s vision, I decided it was time to start fulfilling mine. I co-founded Iron to Iron, a small web design and development company. Since our doors have opened we’ve had the great pleasure of working with some really amazing clients while creating work that has encouraged us to stretch our abilities and philosophies. We’ve had a great run so far and I’m excited to see where the future takes us.

About the Site

This site has been around since 2006 and has been through 4 variations since. It started as a portfolio site to help me land a job when we moved to Hawaii and again when we moved to New York. On the version prior to this I incorporated a blog as an after thought. I posted to it sporadically, but always felt that it didn’t support the text as well as it needed to. So now I’m here. I’ve recognized the importance of writing about design rather than simply posting my work to a portfolio. It keeps me in check and allows me to contribute to the design community, which is something I feel strongly about.

The format of this site was inspired by one main concept, ‘design explanation’. I love looking at and creating great work, but understanding the reasoning behind the work is even more satisfying to me. So I decided to put a strong focus on it. Along with Design Explanation, I’ve also put a focus on Design Practice & Photography. These are the three categories in which I’m most interested in writing about, so why not plant a flag and get to work.

If you’re interested in learning more about me or this site, you should follow me on twitter, or dribbble. You should also feel free to shoot me a note; even if it’s just to say hi: encrg.others [at] gmail [dot] com

 
  1. Design Explanation

    All Angles Covered: From Brand to Web.

    Designing an effective website goes far beyond a general understanding of the Web but requires a much broader perspective on design theory and branding in general.

    January 17, 2013

  2. Design Practice

    Having Motivation at Your Disposal

    It turns out that motivation isn’t as mysterious as we like to think it is. It can actually be harnessed and used at your disposal once you’ve learned how to effectively trigger it.

    November 9, 2012

  3. Design Practice

    Circles Conference: Life Like a Movie

    I had the extreme honor of speaking at Circles Conference 2012 in Dallas, TX last week and I walked away from the conference with so much more than I originally anticipated.

    September 24, 2012

  4. Design Explanation

    Rebrand, Relaunch and Refresh

    Working with Terra Nova to create a well rounded, clean, new look that compliments their core value of expressing ancient truths in a culturally meaningful way.

    September 10, 2012

  5. Design Practice

    So Long, Design Rut Blues.

    Removing design related anxiety and replacing it with planning. A simple process revision that helps gain momentum while alleviating the struggle between key project phases.

    July 19, 2012

  6. Design Explanation

    Honor & Integrity: The Tomb Guards

    A strong web presence in itself is not going to be what determines the success of an organization, rather, the organization’s ability to live up to their word through honor and integrity.

    May 15, 2012

  7. Design Explanation

    Our World Becoming Smaller

    It’s been one full year since disaster struck Japan. While the headlines have been overridden with more recent news, we’ve decided to put another spotlight on this worthy cause.

    April 2, 2012

  8. Design Practice

    Achieving Creative Satisfaction

    Is it possible to feel creatively satisfied, or is this concept we’re all chasing after some sort of intangible myth that is bound to leave us feeling empty and discouraged?

    February 13, 2012

  9. Design Practice

    1 Year Deep: Growth By Endurance

    One year ago I woke up feeling both excitement and anxiety. This morning, exactly one year later, I woke up having my excitement coupled with confidence and motivation.

    November 1, 2011

  10. Design Practice

    Show & Tell: Finding a Balance

    Prompted by our growth, we’ve decided to make a fully public-facing portfolio, rather than keeping it private as it has been. Finding the proper balance to this addition was key.

    August 4, 2011

  11. Photography

    Paris: Bright Lights & Dark Skies

    I couldn’t help but to feel completely inspired while exploring the streets of Paris. As soon as dusk hit, my camera and tripod were out capturing the stillness and energy of the city.

    June 23, 2011

  12. Design Practice

    6 Months In: The Refining Process

    Six months ago I opened a new chapter in my life. I went from an employee at a company, to co-owning a business. Through 6 months of refinement we’re begging to take our shape.

    May 18, 2011

  13. Design Explanation

    Design with Trust as Your Foundation

    Gaining the trust of your client is a key ingredient when creating great work. This was the driving factor which fueled the complete overhaul of EEHarbor, the EE add-on storefront.

    April 6, 2011

  14. Design Explanation

    Life. Place. Meaning.

    A full campaign based on a few simple principles. How one graphic element works as the foundation for many design projects – each with their own unique, but very cohesive visual identity.

    February 4, 2011

  15. Design Explanation

    Print’s Not Dead… Quite Yet.

    In the battle between print and web, print is losing badly. However, it’s not down for the count. When executed properly, printed material can hold enough weight to go a long way.

    January 5, 2011

  16. Design Explanation

    Closed Windows & Open Doors

    Taking more risks, digging deeper, trusting God and giving it everything I’ve got. It’s about time for me to buckle down and test the waters to see how far I can really make it in this world.

    October 21, 2010

  17. Photography

    We Were Two. Now, We Are Three.

    Hands down, the most significant collection of photos in my life, to date. These photos are a weekly documentation of the pregnancy of our first child; Rowan Winter.

    September 29, 2010

  18. Photography

    Quiet Moments & Long Exposures.

    A collection of my all-time favorite photos. I’m not sure if it’s the memories or aesthetic which make me love these shots, but either way, these photos will never grow old to me.

    September 9, 2010

  19. Design Practice

    The Vicious Cycle of Careless Praise.

    When popularity weighs more heavily than design theory itself, we run the risk of dangerously giving birth to trends that are focused more on politics, than solid foundations.

    August 16, 2010

  20. Design Explanation

    Why suggest it, When you can say it?

    Why show someone something when you can just tell them? An entire campaign based around cleverly written copy, beautiful typography and monochromatic colors.

    July 21, 2010

  21. Design Practice

    Design & Present with Passion

    Creating a beautiful design that fulfills your clients needs is only half the battle. Without rationale, your designs critique will consist of nothing more than personal opinion.

    July 2, 2010

  22. Design Practice

    I used to play hockey. Now I Dribbble.

    The latest and greatest asset to your designer tool box. Beyond being a show & tell for designers, Dribbble has proved to help me focus on the details within all of my design solutions.

    June 21, 2010

  23. Design Explanation

    This is a real headline, indeed.

    A detailed explanation covering the purpose and reason behind this site and it’s design; the fourth version of ENCRGothers. Focused on textual content, and a clean interface.

    April 24, 2010

  24. Design Practice

    Rules to Live By

    I think it’s in our nature to overlook thinking before taking actions. But, without strategic planning (or in my case, common sense) we’ll just end up back where we started, or worse.

    December 17, 2009

  25. Design Practice

    With Risk Comes Reward

    I’m personally a huge advocate of taking risks and seeking adventure, but not without strategy and purpose. Taking a completely random risk can be down right foolish.

    November 16, 2009

  26. Design Practice

    Typography: Part 2

    Content should be re-evaluated at each stage of design in order to be as cohesive and visually appealing as it can be. Lets be honest though, this is hardly ever the case.

    October 11, 2009

  27. Design Explanation

    Art & Advertising in One

    I find myself fascinated with simple vector illustrations that posses a bit of irony. This isn’t the only style of illustration I like, but it’s certainly the style I like best.

    September 12, 2009

  28. Design Practice

    Two fields, One Career.

    Is it safe to assume that my skill set will be obsolete in the near future? Am I destined to be a one-trick-pony who has no place in the progression of the modern world?

    August 22, 2009

  29. Design Practice

    Typography: Part 1

    More often than not, I notice that strategic typography is one of the first elements of design to be overlooked when dealing with a small budget or a tight timeline.

    August 11, 2009

  30. Design Practice

    The Budget Battle

    Finding a client in whom you can build a lasting and fruitful relationship is hard to come by. Like any relationship, it’s common that everything seems ideal in the beginning stages.

    June 30, 2009

  31. Design Practice

    What Makes a Good Design?

    There are many roles within the design industry. Each person within these different roles will have an opinion on what good design is, regarding their specific area.

    May 31, 2009

  32. Photography

    Tradition at it’s Best

    It’s not common to hear about a company whose product hasn’t changed in over a century. From product design to the process of creation, the original blueprints remain.

    May 14, 2009

  33. Design Practice

    Not So Constructive Criticism

    If you can’t logically back up any criticism regarding a design, then there’s a good chance that your opinion is exclusively based on personal preference; which may not be relevant.

    April 21, 2009

  34. Design Practice

    Reason Before Rhyme

    When you take the time to follow an organized process that includes research and planning, your odds are much higher to not only create better results, but hit all of your marks.

    April 7, 2009

  35. Design Practice

    Stand by Your Title

    Maybe I have to wait for my ego to shrink before I feel resolution with this issue, but I’m looking forward to the day where I can proudly state, “I am a graphic designer!”

    March 30, 2009

  36. Design Practice

    The Start of a New Chapter

    This site will serve as a place for me to vocalize and document the every day challenges that I face as a designer as well as the solutions that keep me moving forward.

    March 24, 2009

  37. Design Practice

    Almost There

    I’m thrilled that you were so inclined to actually attempt to read one of my articles. Unfortunately, there’s still 1.5 seasons of ‘Lost’ left, so I won’t be getting around to this until spring 2010.

    March 18, 2009