un·der·sto·ry
/ˈəndərˌstôrē/
An understory is a layer within a forest between the forest floor and the mature canopy. It promotes diversity, often having more plant species than the canopy, and tends to be warm, damp, and sheltered. The environment is complex and layered to provide the specific needs of the living things that call it home—an array of plants, lichen, funguses, insects, birds, and animals.
Like the understory, every design project requires the correct combination of variables to flourish. Understanding the minute details, while also considering the entire environment helps me create a curated solution for each client's story. Creative ideas must be nurtured thoughtfully to grow into successful and resilient solutions.
At Understory Art and Design, I believe that every piece of art tells a story. I strive to create bespoke solutions that resonate with each client and their audience, ensuring that every project is as unique as the individuals I work with.
After working for most of my career as a senior-level designer at a global consumer packaged goods (CPG) company, I decided to launch my own art and design business. While my corporate experience afforded me many opportunities to learn, I found the limitations to my creativity, lack of autonomy, and absence of effective strategy to be counterproductive. Over the years, I have enjoyed collaborating with diverse clients, finding the wide range of projects both fulfilling and valuable opportunity to learn.
In addition to being an artist and designer, I am also an avid writer. My husband and I have three children, ages 10, 8, and 5. We live in a charming small town in Wisconsin in a 1904 Victorian house, which we share with a few too many rescued pets and houseplants. As a family, we spend a lot of time outdoors in nature and also love to garden. Nature is truly my muse, and I am so happy to be raising my kids with an appreciation for the natural world.
I AM PROUD TO BE:
WOMAN-OWNED
Like many women, I have encountered gender discrimination throughout my career. This experience has fueled my passion for advocating for a more equitable society. I am dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion while also striving to be a strong female role model for my daughters.
SERVING CLIENTS BIG + SMALL
I work flexibly with my clients' budgets to ensure they can receive the best quality services. Whether a small start-up company with a limited amount of money for branding, or a well-established business looking to improve their consumer touch points, I offer clients of all sizes design solutions that best fit their needs.
GIVING BACK
Each year I participate in pro bono design work for causes that are near and dear to my heart. This includes our local food pantry Sunrise Reach, various environmental causes, animal rescues and public education. I believe that philanthropy is should be part of every business plan.