It's a wonderful life
making beautiful things...
People know me for costume and production design plus film projects and events management.
I levitate logistics, budgets and crews in preproduction and on set. By training and decades of practice, I'm a fast designer, cutter-draper-patternmaker, tailor and fabricator.
People also know me as an alpha reader and content editor. I research unusual topics, read and respond to scripts, make résumés and websites for friends, and I periodically engage in journalism. My interests converge all over the place and everything is fascinating.
Life is definitely best when I get to work with other creatives on exciting content and design. Work graces me with awesome flow states plus terrific colleagues, clients, students and friends.
WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS
SCHEDULE ONE
FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR ACADEMIC GROUP
(801) 913-6762
I can perform as a public intellectual when asked.
And I have my own laser pointer!
Other topics you and your group might enjoy hearing about are here.
ETHICAL WORK
When Designers Need to Put Down Their Tools and Walk Away.
This is a workshop full of historic and contemporary examples about bad design and bad decisions. Fortunately, not too many of these come from the entertainment industries, but instead sadly come from situations and professional fields where the stakes have actually been high. This is also a workshop about strategies for how to stand your ground if YOU are being pressured to create work that's just plain bad for people or the planet.
We cover counter moves for creatives and designers who've had enough, who need practical solutions and reminders about why it's important as citizens and designers that we have a moral compass.
If you wish, think of this workshop as coaching. It can be one-on-one personal coaching if you like. I love helping other creatives. Hit me up. I'll put the coffee on.
MASCOTS DEMYSTIFIED
Sweet Successes and Funny Failures Throughout History
My shop partners and I have made MANY mascots over the years, I've gone down some fun rabbit holes in researching this fascinating subject.
I've constructed a visual and interactive workshop addressing mascot theories, histories, anthropology, character ideas, designs, psychology, focus groups, dollars spent and ad-reach for some of the most memorable (as well as most forgettable) campaigns ever.
This is a presentation especially for marketing creatives - the people who need to make critical decisions which send the right messages.
HOW TO HIRE
What Your Business Needs to Know About Contracting and Working With Designers.
I've operated a strange niche business in leased commercial space for more than 20 years and have survived several economic downturns- plus most of my team's work been as subcontractors! As a student, my university programs never required me to take business classes. This is a challenge for many. Along my path, I've studied and cultivated everything I could find about running a business within gig economy realities, and I have some hot tips for you, whether you're a contractor or a contractee.
As freelance designers or subcontractors, we must navigate particular challenges. But we also live in a fantastic economy full of opportunities for strategic alliances and ways to leverage our creative work.
Ultimately, businesses and designers need to develop common languages as well as sets of best practices to flourish together. We also need clear, legally binding contracts for managing project expectations and outcomes. If you're a fellow creative or a business seeking to subcontract one, I explain how to do all these things so your processes and products shine, and everyone wins!
CREATIVE WORK
My colleagues and I make amazing things.
My production and costume design operation is called McGrew Studios.
STRONG IDEAS- MODERATELY HELD
Mostly I keep my most incendiary ideas to myself.
But there's a bit of verbage in this blog.
LET'S TALK
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- Costumes and environments for your next film, presentation or performance-
- Your narrative. Show me your scripts, proposals and book drafts-
- Cultural and artistic issues-
- Costumes and environments for your next film, presentation or performance-
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