Bio
While my professional creative practice dances between science illustration, graphic design, and the lettering arts, most of my client work can fit into one of two categories: expressive custom logotypes and hand lettered brand assets, or natural science imagery that employs a mix of beauty and scientific accuracy to educate and foster appreciation for our natural world.
My formal education includes the Maryland Institute, College of Art, The Cooper Union’s Type@Cooper certificate program, and the Science Illustration Certificate Program at CSUMB, as well as an internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Department of Botany. I’ve learned equally from dear friends and colleagues who have taken me under their wing to help me find my place in the field.
I have worked with esteemed clients including the California Institute of Technology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Chronicle Books, Ten Speed Press, Artisan Books, Williams-Sonoma, Lululemon Athletica, and Meta, and a botanical illustration plate of mine was recently published in Harvard Papers in Botany.
I am an East Coast native based in Monterey, California.
Photo: Ryan Chard Smith
Industry Recognition
• Communication Arts Typography Annual 2017 & 2013
• Print Regional Design Annual 2008 & 2006
• Applied Arts Design Awards 2010
• Applied Arts Photography & Illustration Awards 2010
COLOPHON
This site was created using the Squarespace theme Avenue. The Ellis nameplate is hand lettered by me.
Bio portrait by Ryan Chard Smith.
The typeface used throughout this site is Maiola by Veronika Burian and José Scaglione at TypeTogether.
Many of the documentation photographs on this site appear with credit; those without are taken by me