I'm a designer and brand strategist.
I operate as a one-man creative department for companies that need the whole thing handled: brand, design, web, marketing, creative direction, without the fuss and overhead of staffing a whole internal team. Nimble, easy-to-work with, efficient.
My background runs across a pretty wide range of practices: social justice and public advocacy firms, traditional advertising and marketing agencies, digital brand shops, and a lot of territory in between. I studied interior architecture and design in college and spent the early part of my career in that world, and that foundation has quietly informed everything I've done since. Alongside all of it I've run my own independent practice, taking on whatever the work called for. That breadth is the whole point. I can move across disciplines because I've actually worked in most of them and gotten good at finding solutions to common problems. I can probably help.
If this sounds like a potential fit for what you’re needing, let’s talk.
Here’s a thing a former client had to say about me that I thought was nice; might be relevant:
“While working on the Nike North America Marketing team my group hired Russ and his partners to manage all the creative for large, complex community relations initiatives that were introduced simultaneously in multiple major markets. Russ is a skilled creative mind and an extraordinarily organized person; his skill in this area was often vital to our success. At all times, Russ demonstrated strong conceptual abilities, flexibility and an enviable work ethic. To be clear, most of Nike’s projects involve many moving pieces in many markets at the same time. The degree of difficulty is extremely high and so is the bar. Nike demands perfection. We were pleased with our results from Russ and hired his team repeatedly. Any company would benefit greatly to have Russ as part of the team.”
— Michelle Lacy Community Relations Manager, Nike, Inc
A few other client / colleague testimonials
“Russ is a truly multifaceted individual, a rare thing in a time of increased niche focus and specialization. He can manage and drive large, complex projects one day, and then turn around and write witty, moving short-form video treatments the next. He has an innate comfort with changing technologies and mediums, and is always looking for new ways to bring them together. Oh yeah, he’s also a badass designer with an incredible eye for both 2D and 3D layouts and environments.”
— Otis Rubottom Writing Director, Dropbox
“Russ gets it. He digs deep to understand the ‘what’ the ‘how’ and, most importantly, the ‘why’ of each client and their digital needs. He uses process to get feedback and better understand the vision, culture and stakeholders of each client. He develops solutions that strive for simplicity and flexibility. He is great to work with, a straight shooter who says it like it is, a team player invested in everyone’s success and a passionate champion for people and place.”
— Eric Friedenwald-Fishman Founder, Metropolitan Group
“Russ Lowe is the creative multi-tool that any organization would love to have in its pocket; he exudes and ensures competence and agility in every stage of the creative process – including and especially communication and execution. His ability to see and engage holistically with a project is deeply valuable, and his dedication to craft is of the sort that makes others eager to interact with him and elevate their own game. Russ gets it done – successfully.”
— Shannon Holt Founder, Eso Esto