About Me

"You can turn off your brain and still use the product like a pro."
- Me
Hey! Thanks for stopping by. This site showcases a few highlights from my 20+ year career as a product design leader. I currently run my own design studio, Storyarc, where we combine storytelling and tech to empower global brands to create unique identities around their products. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the biggest entertainment brands in the world—DC, Harry Potter, Warner Bros., Paris Hilton, People, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Bravo, Food Network, HGTV, and more. That amazing list of brands is only surpassed by the incredibly talented colleagues I’ve been fortunate to mentor and guide—who have made me look good! I am forever in their debt, and they’ve made me a much better leader.
I’ve worked on just about every project imaginable—apps, websites, magic smart wands, original video production, subscription services, SVOD platforms, motion graphics, Snapchat animations, print, branding, TV set creation, design systems, soft drinks, podcasts, live events, comic cons—you name it! But the challenge of transforming large legacy brands into successful digital businesses has been my sweet spot. So, take a look at some of my work and send me a note…maybe we’ll get to work together!​​​​​​​
— D. 
MY CLIENTS
MY CAREER
Storyarc
Founder / Head of Design
Present
Storyarc is my design studio focused on big brands and even bigger storytelling. It’s a collective of the industry’s top designers. We don’t just design—we create ideas that resonate. We ensure your brand’s story is not only told but remembered. Our recent brands include Adweek and Paris Hilton. Paris saw huge growth this past year with a combined audience of 76M+ and 1.2B+ video views!
http://www.storyarcinc.com

Warner Bros. Discovery + WarnerMedia 
VP, Product Design for Global Brands, Franchises & Experiences
Aug 2018 - Sept 2024
I ran the internal design agency which handled the UX/UI, visual, motion graphics, print, live events, marketing, social, and experiential design for our global brands—including; Harry Potter, DC, CNN, HBO, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, and Bleacher Report. We launched many award-winning multi-platform products including DC Universe, WB Screeners, DC Fandome, and the Harry Potter Magic Caster Wand. The limited edition magic wand sold out in 19 seconds during the initial offer and DC Fandome reached an astonishing 66 million global viewers!

General Assembly
Board Member, Global Design Standards
Mar 2019 - Present
I’m a member of the team responsible for setting standards in hiring designers across the globe. We’re providing clarity in what it means to be a designer while also providing clear career pathways for the industry. The goal is to eliminate the fragmentation of the design industry that has exploded over the past decade.

Time Inc.
VP, Digital Design
Nov 2017 - Aug 2018
I ran the digital design department of 40 people across five cities. I coordinated with Product, Editorial, Dev, and Business to handle all the UX/UI needs for every brand. We also created all marketing, Snapchat, video, franchise, and other graphics for the entire company. Our top brands included; People, Entertainment Weekly, All Recipes, Time, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, InStyle, Sports Illustrated, Food and Wine, Travel & Leisure, and many more.

PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly
Executive Creative Director
Sep 2015 - Nov 2017
For over two years, I was in charge of the visual, product, and video design for the largest entertainment sites in the world. I also managed the Snapchat channels and all the video graphics for the OTT channel, PeopleTV.

NBCUniversal
Creative Director, Bravo & Oxygen
May 2013 - Sep 2015
I led the team responsible for the UX/UI of all products, including the responsive websites, Real Housewives Awards, mobile apps, smart tv app, on-air live voting system, and social commercials. I’m excited to report our team won two prestigious Emmy Awards for Top Chef and The Singles Project!

Fuse
Creative Director
Dec 2011 - Apr 2013
I ran the creative efforts for the Marketing, Programming, and Content teams to create the best experience online and ensure we showcased a unified voice and vision of the network. I also worked with the On-Air team and Loyal Kaspar to completely rethink the branding of the network from the ground up.

Bonnier
Creative Director
Aug  2006 - Dec 2011
I led the centralized, internal design team that handled all digital media for every Bonnier brand—from websites, apps, to sales mocks. I successfully redesigned and launched award-winning websites for Saveur, Popular Science, Parenting, Field & Stream, Garden Design, Outdoor Life, Popular Photography, Sound+Vision, Transworld, Ski, Skiing, Working Mother, and many others.  Before that, I was hired to bring strategic and creative vision to their Time4Media division. In my first few months, I focused on the websites for This Old House and Health magazines. Time4Media was soon purchased by the Swedish Company, Bonnier, and I was merged into their new American Corporation.

Scripps Networks
Creative Director
Aug 2005 - Aug 2006
As Creative Director at Scripps Networks, I had a strong focus on emerging technologies and video production. Along with my team, we developed new ways to view video programming on websites and built innovative, interactive experiences, including Dave Does and Tyler Florence’s Holiday Planner. We also created a new system for cataloging and retrieving streaming videos through an in-house database that could be deployed on any Scripps site through a customizable player.

Food Network
Director, New Media
July 2002 - Aug 2005

During these three years, I had the unique experience of running Food Network’s website. I was promoted to Director, in charge of the editorial, production, and sales initiatives for the entire site. I worked to produce many franchise programs that are still successful today. My main goal was to build out our online presence by creating a cohesive experience with the on-air network. We created a cyclical structure that drove traffic to the on-air programming, which in turn pushed people back to the website. It was enormously successful and grew page views into the hundreds of millions.
AWARDS
Webby Award, People’s Choice—DC Universe
Emmy Award, Outstanding Achievement in Interactive Media, Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen—Bravotv.com
Emmy Award, Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media, The Singles Project—Bravotv.com
Cynopsis Model D Awards, Best Digital Team—Bravotv.com
Cynopsis Model D Awards, Best New Web Series: Reality—Top Chef: Battle of the Sous Chefs—Bravotv.com
People’s Telly Awards, Top Chef Masters’ Battle of the Sous Chefs, Last Chance Kitchen—Bravotv.com
CableFAX Digital and Tech Award, Play Live Experience—Bravotv.com
Shorty Awards Finalist, Play Live Experience, Top Chef Home Edition—Bravotv.com
Pearl Awards, Gold Recognition for Best Overall Digital Strategy—Bravotv.com
Realscreen Award, Top Chef: Last Chance Kitchen—Bravotv.com
ASME Nomination, General Excellence—FieldandStream.com
Webby Awards—FoodNetwork.com, Parenting.com
Min Awards—Saveur.com, Parenting.com, FieldandStream.com
James Beard Nomination—Saveur.com
Folio Award, Best Sports Site—FieldandStream.com
One Show Interactive, Silver Pencil—Jack Kerouac Interactive Project
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