Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, I remember a story I wrote and illustrated in kindergarten about a girl who made an unexpected friendship with a talking tree who would later shelter her from the night. I began life as a young storyteller, armed with a pen and paintbrush. I adored these tools and the universes they allowed me to create. I devoured books, in awe at the worlds people brought to life on the pages. I drew and wrote on whatever surface I could: the margins of already-filled notebooks, the backs of napkins, the spaces in brochures offered in offices. Bringing this spirit with me, I moved to Ann Arbor for college to study creative writing, literature, and (later) graphic design.
Initially, I felt like an oddball now in a new home that contrasted from where I grew up. Contrast has always been interesting to me. It shows how things that don’t make sense together, can actually bring harmony. This attraction to contrast would follow me in my writing and design work. I often work with a minimal color palette to cut costs of printing, and doing so has given my work a striking, distinct feel. I’m also attracted to stories about people overcoming adversity, or figuring out their way in a place where they feel they don’t belong.
As I continued to evolve as a writer and artist, I became more interested in stories and how they impact community. Working for the Ann Arbor Observer has helped cultivate my love for local organizations, businesses, creators. I enjoy engaging locals in creative ways to hear underrepresented voices. While discovering this, I’ve embraced Ann Arbor as home, while still appreciating my Flint roots.
Currently, I constantly explore design as a tool to encourage dialogue about the spaces in which we live. Much of my graphic design career has been spent on helping businesses develop and maintain their identity. These have been rich learning experiences. I have learned much about the print process and publication, about consumer trends, and relating to a diverse range of people. I continue to explore the different ways in which we can tell stories, share experiences, raise questions, and inspire change. We can create art and tell stories with tools as simple to use and as inexpensive as chalk and a stencil.