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My name is

Kendal Richer

I AM: A Creative Technology Director. YOU ARE: Probably wondering what the heck that means.

 

Well, it’s someone who enjoys designing something (like this site), just as much as they enjoy developing it, implementing analytics tags and building a dashboard to measure and optimize its performance.

 

Someone who’s experienced enough to know when it’s OK to break conventions like “the page fold,” but also recognizes that just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should (Geocities, anyone?).

How, Not Who

Work Experience

Anyone can slap a bunch of logos on their site, but at the end of the day it’s the car and how you drive it that wins races – not the patches on your jacket.

 

As a hybrid creative/technologist, I’m more focused on results and performance than awards and name recognition. So instead of talking about who I’ve worked with, let’s just skip to how I do it.

What’s the problem?

My Approach

I love being part of a team and contributing to something whose sum is larger than its individual parts. Even if I’m flying solo, I take a critical first step in my approach every time: Make sure we’ve defined the problem before jumping to solutions.

 

I do this whether I’m kicking off a new project, giving feedback on an existing one, or even communicating with a client. Sometimes it feels like you can never stop running. The truth is, if you don’t stop to figure out where you’re going first, you’ll get nowhere just as quickly as if you’d walked.

 

So instead of this:

 

I do this:

 

It takes more time upfront, but starting with a clear definition of the problem means I’m teaching others to think critically, keeping my own artistic proclivities in check and empowering others to contribute effectively. To top it all off, I’ve found that we get to client approval faster, and with much less subjectivity.

The Results

Portfolio

And finally, here’s what that combination of experience, thoughtful approach and willingness to break a few rules (when you know what you’re doing) looks like in practice:

  • All
  • App Design
  • Campaign Development
  • Digital Advertising
  • Identity
  • Motion Graphics
  • Personal
  • Print
  • Social Media
  • Strategy
  • Technology
  • UI/UX
  • Video
  • Web Design

Work
Together

Drop A line

Think we’d hit it off, or want to know more about something you saw here? Even if you just wanna say hi, I’d love to hear from you!

TW

IG

IN

Awards

Rewards

OMG, I almost forgot to include the requisite section about all the awards I’ve won! Well, that’s another convention I’m gonna break. Yes, I’ve got them (check my LinkedIn, if you must), but my most prized possessions aren’t trophies – they’re the reward of seeing those I’ve mentored go on to do amazing things in their own right, long after our paths diverge.

 

Here are just a few of so many I’m proud to have coached and learned from. I’d encourage you to Google their names to see what they’ve been up to lately – I’m constantly wowed.

Thomas Nebesar

Worked together at:

designRoom Creative, American Greetings, Rosetta/Publicis

 

Currently:

Associate Creative Director, diehard cross-fitter and reigning champ of “most places worked together” award.

Jessica Paoli

Worked together at:

VividFront, Rosetta/Publicis

 

Currently:

Designer, consultant, coder, artist, internet celebrity. One of the most multi-talented people I’ve ever encountered.

Michael Jewell

Worked together at:

Global Prairie

 

Currently:

Independent Art Director with a killer eye and uniquely ironic design sensibility. And just a great guy all around.

Lisa Quine

Worked together at:

Global Prairie

 

Currently:

Hand lettering luminary with a massive Instagram following. She’s published books, given keynotes, and has been commissioned for murals globally. In other words, kind of a big deal.