Who I am -
I am a multi-disciplinary designer, drummer, and ex-skateboarder born and raised in Boston. In my 15 years in the industry, I have led the creative process from conception to implementation, operating in a range of fields including marketing, graphic design, video production, and experiential design. I find the challenge of communicating brand strategy in clear and engaging ways with creative solutions to be incredibly rewarding. My goal is to help brands develop emotional connections with their consumers.
A little history -
Upon graduating from UMASS in 2006 with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Photography, I started working in the User Experience Design world at the start of the iPhone craze. I set a goal of understanding how this new device affected our world and the role design plays within our daily routines - the iPhone promised to do everything, including control the systems in our homes and businesses, and I focused on designing UI's that delivered on that promise with the added benefit of being simple and enjoyable.
After that job dried up due to the '08 recession, I started playing in bands and designing and illustrating album artwork, flyers, and posters for bands in Boston and LA. I spent 4 years as a freelance designer while performing around the country. While on tour in 2012, I received an offer to start working for a commercial interior design firm. This opportunity opened my eyes to a whole new world of the built environment as we developed meaningful physical spaces and experiences. I fell in love with the idea that a space can become part of a person's life - a restaurant where you celebrate every anniversary, a room where you can find calm and refuge, or a simple shop where you can discover a product that positively impacts your life.
In 2015, I made a switch again, this time to the fashion industry, originally as a marketing designer for ’47, a Boston-based headwear and apparel company. It was with '47 that my previous skills and experiences all came together. I focused on merging graphic design, interior design, and storytelling into the offerings of the internal agency I built over my 4-year tenure.
After that job dried up due to the '08 recession, I started playing in bands and designing and illustrating album artwork, flyers, and posters for bands in Boston and LA. I spent 4 years as a freelance designer while performing around the country. While on tour in 2012, I received an offer to start working for a commercial interior design firm. This opportunity opened my eyes to a whole new world of the built environment as we developed meaningful physical spaces and experiences. I fell in love with the idea that a space can become part of a person's life - a restaurant where you celebrate every anniversary, a room where you can find calm and refuge, or a simple shop where you can discover a product that positively impacts your life.
In 2015, I made a switch again, this time to the fashion industry, originally as a marketing designer for ’47, a Boston-based headwear and apparel company. It was with '47 that my previous skills and experiences all came together. I focused on merging graphic design, interior design, and storytelling into the offerings of the internal agency I built over my 4-year tenure.
I think life is about exploring, trying new things, and stretching what we believe we're capable of; I think having a curious mind is critical for a designer and that curiosity has led me to some fantastic places. But regardless of the industry I’m working in, I’m always trying to tell the story of a brand, product, or even a place. I endeavor to understand people through research and curiosity and let insights guide design solutions.
I believe it is critical to embrace change as a creative professional. Working solely in disciplines and industries we are comfortable with can prevent us from unlocking new insights and skills within ourselves. With this in mind, I moved to the start-up space in 2019 and joined the team at Gradifi, a company working to combat the student debt crisis.
But sometimes change comes fast - in late 2019 Gradifi was purchased by E*TRADE, which was then purchased by Morgan Stanley where I am now Vice President of Creative Solutions. As part of the leadership team of The Creative Studio, I work with a talented team who develops creative solutions to complex business problems within the world of global finance.
The nutshell -
I am an end-to-end creative who can develop creative strategies but has the knowledge and experience to bring them to life independently or as part of a team. Whether I am designing a concert series at SXSW including stage design, artist management, and run of show, or developing a seasonal campaign inclusive of video, digital, and print deliverables while guiding agency partners throughout execution, I am always ready with an idea, a helping hand, and a focus on clear brand messaging. I have been fortunate to oversee the work of wildly talented teams of designers who contributed to some of the work seen here.
If you’d like to discuss working together I encourage you to connect through my contact page, or simply email me at
davebatesdesign@gmail.com