At 21, I packed my life into my Honda, along with my two black cats, and drove to Boulder, Colorado, to pursue an MFA in Poetry at Naropa University.
It was here, immersed in the energy of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, that I met Anne Waldman, Bobbie Louise Hawkins, Akilah Oliver, Anselm Hollo, Reed Bye, and Jack Collom, among others.
Working with such luminaries, along with countless visiting poets, shaped me profoundly. These early years not only cemented my love for poetry, but also sparked my fascination with publishing and book design.
Boulder was where my dual passions for writing and design truly took root. Inspired by the experimental work around me and the dynamic atmosphere, I began to explore how poetry could transcend the page through typography and visual form.
That exploration led to an eventual career in book design—one that, after designing more than 350 books, still excites me today. After Naropa, I moved to New York City, where I worked as a designer in the corporate publishing world with an office in the iconic Flatiron Building. Immersed in the fast-paced energy of the city, I honed my craft while gaining invaluable insight into the larger publishing industry. This continues to inform my design approach today.
After a few years, I returned to Denver and officially launched my design studio in 2009. This vibrant city provided countless opportunities for both personal and professional growth. I earned my MBA in Business from the University of Denver and married my cherished wife, the talented writer and intuitive diviner Selah Saterstrom. Together, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, a joyful blessing who fills our lives with purpose and adventure every day.
Owning my own business has granted me the freedom to travel and work from anywhere, drawing inspiration from cultures around the world. Selah and I have been fortunate to embark on incredible journeys to places like Dharamsala, India—where we even met His Holiness the Dalai Lama! Our travels have taken us to South Africa, Qatar, Iceland, Sweden, Poland, and many other remarkable destinations.
Now, I’ve brought my family home to my roots in the Pacific Northwest.
There’s something deeply fulfilling about coming home, surrounded by the landscapes that shaped me, and it feels like the perfect setting for the creative work I do. Vashon Island’s quiet beauty serves as an ideal backdrop for both my design practice and my own writing projects.
From my home studio on Vashon Island, Washington, I collaborate with independent publishers, artists, and writers from all over the world, bringing their words to life through thoughtful design.
Over the years, my work has expanded beyond book design to encompass website design for authors and their books. It’s a natural extension of my love for books, where digital spaces now serve as platforms to amplify the voices of authors and the narratives within their works. Whether creating a book or building a digital home for it, I’m always focused on how form enhances meaning.
I'm proud to say that I’ve maintained long-standing relationships with many clients for over 15 years now, while always embracing new projects with fresh enthusiasm. My design is driven by collaboration, where I can work with writers, editors, translators, and artists to create something far greater than the sum of our parts.
Alongside my design work, I’ve published two collections of poetry: Sir (2013) and When the Bird Is Not a Human (2018). I have several other projects in the works, including a narrative nonfiction book, a collection of vignette essays, and a young adult trilogy. Every project, whether designing a book or writing one, is driven by a commitment to listen deeply—to voices, stories, and the quiet spaces between them.
With an MBA in Business from the University of Denver and an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University, I have the ability to not only approach my work creatively, but also strategically. This allows me to navigate the evolving landscape of publishing while remaining deeply rooted in timeless creative principles. Typography remains a particular love of mine—the intersection where form meets meaning, especially in this age where print and digital converge.
I also enjoy sharing my knowledge through teaching, lecturing, and curriculum development at the university level, bringing together my passions for design, literature, and learning. There's something magical about guiding others as they discover the beauty of shaping words and pages into something transformative.