Harbinger of things to come? Age 7, 1st Place, Best Design
I remember when it clicked. I was 6 years old in my parents' station wagon, looking through the window of the two-ton tailgate, and there it was... Lord & Taylor... with it's original script logo that looked like it was written by a conductor's wand midway through a Stravinsky concerto. They've since homogenized it, of course, to a lifeless version that could just as easily represent an accounting firm, but that was my watershed moment, when I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. It wasn't just the visual, (I'll admit I wasn't entirely sure what it said– that last "r" was a little iffy), it was the combination of the sweeping flourishes and the rhythm and meaning of the words themselves. It all added up to something to be attained; something stylish, prestigious, and most likely expensive. I'm sure I'd seen half a dozen JCPenneys on the same trip prior to that, but those didn't land. The Lord & Taylor storefront grabbed me, and informed me that with the right combination of elements, ideas could be communicated in an instant . Many years, courses, critiques, and clients later, here we are, and I've loved every minute.
My professional career comprises over twenty years of in-house, agency and freelance experience. I spent over twelve years as a Graphic Designer, Packaging Designer and Art Director in various departments of the Walt Disney Company in Los Angeles where I not only learned a great deal about design, but also about management and navigating the corporate culture. When I relocated to the Bay Area I continued my role as an Art Director and eventual Creative Director of Wild Planet Toys in San Francisco where I led teams in the design and development of toy brands and products. Upon Wild Planet's sale to Spinmaster in 2012, I opened my own firm in San Francisco, Dean Rath Creative Marketing, where I served as the Creative Partner serving a wide range of clients since 2016.
I'm a soup-to-nuts, hands-on Designer, Art Director, and Creative Director who can handle every step of the branding and design process from conception to execution and implementation. I specialize in building new or refreshing existing brands from the ground up and my skills include graphics, illustration, photography, copywriting, video direction and production, even music composition and production.
When I'm not busy with work, chances are I'm living life to the fullest at home in Mill Valley, CA or crossing another travel destination off the list.
