New Wave album covers of the ’80s made me love design. Anton Corbijn’s bold, moody visuals shaped the identity of countless British bands, making it feel like one photographer was defining an entire genre. His raw black-and-white photography, punctuated with rare flashes of color, was effortlessly cool. Who knew if the music was any good? I wanted that album first. Listening came second. Would any of us have found those obscure titles with hidden gems of era-defining music without the art prompting us to pull out the albums and look deeper? That’s when I realized that solid design can make audiences give great content the chance it deserves. We're judgmental people in that way.
But instead of London’s recording studios, my career led me to the Minnesota State Capitol and into the intelligence world of Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. As a senior consultant writer for Booz Allen Hamilton, a top defense and national security contractor, I honed my craft on high-stakes proposals, on-time customer deliverables, and after-action reports. Later, in the graphics and internal publishing group, I received a Commendation Award from a Director of Intelligence for my groundbreaking communication pieces that shuttled my client's efficiency into new, more responsive ground.
Yet, a personal challenge was looming—my entire portfolio was classified. While holding a Top Secret/SCI clearance, I had built an impressive body of work in that arena, but when I stepped away to raise my children, I had nothing to show future employers when I wanted to return. So, I started from scratch. I poured my skills into helping my church, family, and friends with their businesses and projects, designing for free or simply for the price of a coffee date. Work through inMode is my third act, if you will, in the 27+ years I've been in this field. Coming alongside short- and long-term special projects as an independent collaborator allows me to choose meaningful work with even better people.
Whether it's a brand initiative, a personal passion project, or a global ministry, great editing and design do more than make things look good. They extinguish errors and rightly amplify your important content, ensuring it stands out with the clarity and credibility it deserves.
