How did you first learn about The One Club?

I saw the ad for ONE School on Linkedin and it felt like the portfolio program came at the perfect time in my life. I applied, got in, and have been thankful to The One Club ever since. I was part of the first One School LA cohort — though I was in Chicago at the time. By day, I worked at the PR agency, and at night, I attended One School and built my portfolio. I graduated as an honors student — the first time I’d ever been one — and I knew my life was about to change.

Tell me more about your ONE School experience – What were some of the highlights from the program?

It’s not an exaggeration to say ONE School changed my life. When I started, I was working on the account side in PR. By the time it ended, I had an art director offer from 160over90 to work on Reebok. My background in production, filmmaking, and photography helped, but ONE School showed me how to translate that vision into art direction.

The highlights of the program for me were learning from Ez Blaine and the incredible speakers he brought in every week. They had the kinds of jobs that I didn't even know existed. I learned how to turn my passions and artistic POV into real value for brands and agencies.

“The highlights of the program for me were learning from Ez Blaine and the incredible speakers he brought in every week. They had the kinds of jobs that I didn't even know existed.”

Before ONE School, I was lost career wise. It was peak Covid, I was stuck in the house, and I had no idea what was next. The big revelation was realizing I could go all in on a creative career. I didn’t grow up knowing that creative direction was even a career option – one of my parents is a lawyer, and the other a banker, but I quit my job mid session and bet on myself. It paid off. By graduation, I had multiple offers on the table.

I still keep in touch with a few people from my year, and connect with other One Schoolers now and then. Honestly, most of the Black folks I know in the industry are connected to ONE School in some way. Jeriel Allison, from my class, ended up being my creative partner at 160. We still send each other ideas and things we spot in culture. He recently sent me Cardi B’s bodega pop up, which was wild because we had pitched a similar idea years back. Also shoutout to Barbara Polanco, who just linked me with another One Schooler visiting Chicago.

How has your career changed since graduating from ONE School?

Soon after, 160over90 hired me as an Art Director for Reebok. I moved from Chicago to Harlem and immersed myself in the art world. That experience sparked my interest in painting and collecting. While in NYC, I participated in my first art exhibitions, curated immersive art events, and traveled for projects. For Reebok, I worked on a spoken word pop-up in Brooklyn, the Pieces of Us shoot in LA, and a Juke Joint party in New Orleans.

Then BSSP came calling. It was a more traditional agency experience, but since it was remote, I embraced the digital nomad lifestyle. My favorite project there was working on the Blue Shield of California campaign, where Malik Sayeed directed our spots. That was a full-circle moment – back in ONE School, I had pitched a Patagonia documentary idea and envisioned him shooting it.

Then I did mostly freelancing, which gave me the space to focus on my art. That led to my second solo exhibition, plus several group shows. I worked on a documentary with Hyde Park Art Center, curated art for commercial properties, and collaborated with an arts nonprofit that supports Black artists on the South Side of Chicago.

It’s been a journey, but every step has shaped how I approach creativity, storytelling, and community impact.

I owe a lot to that experience. It completely expanded how I think about my career and the kind of work I want to do. Since then, I’ve worked on campaigns for Reebok, Blue Shield of California, ESPN, Lowe’s, The San Francisco Ballet, and The Mill Valley Film Festival. And that’s just the work that actually saw the light of day.

ONE School also strengthened my ideas muscle. Ez drilled into us the importance of thinking big and conceptually while still staying on brief. Those lessons have stuck with me.

What does being a part of an innovative community mean to you?

Being part of a creative community is about showing up and supporting those around you. I’m not a fan of traditional “networking” — it often feels transactional. I resonate with Issa Rae’s idea of networking across — connecting and collaborating with those at your level, in your vicinity. When you meet like-minded creatives, it’s not just about exchanging contacts, it’s about sharing knowledge, building together, and finding ways to create something meaningful in collaboration.

What motivates you to create daily?

Knowing where my family came from gives me perspective. Creativity is a privilege. Not everyone gets to wake up and bring ideas to life for a living. I don’t take it for granted, so I make sure I’m always pushing forward, experimenting, and creating.

“Creativity is a privilege. Not everyone gets to wake up and bring ideas to life for a living.”

How do you measure the success of your work?

Likes and awards don’t matter to me. I care about the work having an impact.

What is your favorite project you have worked on?

The Reebok Pieces of Us project stands out as my favorite. It was a pivotal experience that pushed me to grow creatively. I had the chance to collaborate with the talented fashion designer Justin Mensinger and director Anisha Sisodia, who have since become good friends. I’ve always been interested in production, but this project deepened my appreciation for the process and dedication it requires.

Who is someone in the industry that you admire and why?

Joe Freshgoods is one of my biggest creative inspirations. Beyond the fact that he’s designed half the clothes in my closet, I admire how he blends streetwear with storytelling and community impact. His ability to create culturally resonant work while staying true to his roots has been a major influence on me.

“I admire how he blends streetwear with storytelling and community impact.”

Is there a place, music, or environment that fuels your creativity?

A coffee shop anywhere in the world or at my art studio. Jazz, house, and soul. My current rotation includes Kokoroko, Yussef Dayes, Berlioz, and Sault. Surrounded by art and other creatives.

What is your go-to Spotify playlist when you need to focus and get work done?

My Jazzy Tings Spotify Playlist.

What were your creative outlets when you were a kid?

Photography and watching movies were my creative outlets as a kid. My first memory is taking a photo of my mom and her friends. Kid me definitely wasn’t a fan of homework because I just wanted to run home from school to watch movies.

If we came to visit you in Chicago, where are you taking us?

I’d take you to get a jerk chicken or salmon wrap from Ain’t She Sweet Cafe. Then we’d go next door to Sip and Savor for some Black owned coffee. Then we could slide over to Promontory Point and relax by Lake Michigan.

In what ways do you incorporate AI into your work?

I regularly experiment with AI tools, though I find them both fascinating and unsettling. The ethical dilemmas are real.

I use ChatGPT and Perplexity for research and prompt engineering, while Midjourney helps me quickly visualize ideas, especially in spatial design - an area that was once much harder for me to explore. I’ve incorporated Midjourney into two brand projects: The Mill Valley Film Festival and The San Francisco Ballet. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with Runway, Sora, and Google Veo 2.

AI is set to disrupt the creative industry in profound ways. One of the more positive shifts is how it democratizes creativity, making once inaccessible tools available to more people. For instance, a director could use AI to create a spec film to pitch for funding or pre-visualize a scene that might have otherwise been too expensive or complex to produce.

“For instance, a director could use AI to create a spec film to pitch for funding or pre-visualize a scene that might have otherwise been too expensive or complex to produce.”

What is one thing you want to learn this year?

Production design.

When you’re not working, what are you doing?

Reading, attending gallery and museum shows, watching movies, biking, listening to records, traveling, and resting.

What are you up to now?

Right now, I’m based in Chicago working as an Associate Creative Director at Golin. Outside of agency life, I keep pushing my art. I’ve had two solo exhibitions in the past few years, been part of several group shows, and I’ll be in an upcoming exhibition in Pittsburgh called Sacred Threads showing my photography for the first time in years. I’m also developing my filmmaking practice, especially documentaries and short artistic films.

I’m constantly studying and experimenting with AI. I’ve been using Midjourney for years, but now there’s a new tool dropping every week. Staying on top of that is part of my job and my curiosity. Right now, I’m really into Claude, Runway, Veo, and ChatGPT, and I’m planning to experiment with Weavy next.