I’m a storyteller.
I am currently Creative Director with Foundry360 where I collaborate with a diverse collection of clients (Bank of America, Home Depot, Capital One Travel, Regions Financial Corporation, and Mars, to name a handful) while art-directing, designing and managing digital and interactive projects, motion graphics, custom-published magazines and other collateral.
Prior to my current venture, I was Art Director of the Exchange section of the Wall Street Journal where I worked with the editorial team to determine the best way to tell stories visually and prioritize how to display stories each week. I produced creative layouts, commissioned illustrations and photo-illustrations while deciding and maintaining overall styles and design.
I also enjoyed my time as the Art Director for Chess Life and US Chess Federation, where I directed and designed the monthly publication for the nonprofit organization. I led the redesign of the publication and designed the Annual Report, as well as marketing materials and social media graphics for all channels.
I was Digital Design Lead in charge of the creation, production and distribution of design solutions for the Hearst Enthusiast Group, which is made up of three distinct brands: Popular Mechanics, Bicycling and Runner’s World.
Before that, I have led the art departments of a few other very well known, beloved brands. Entertainment Weekly. Runner’s World. Spin. And while these are the three brands where I was Design Director, that work is but a small sampling of what I’ve accomplished over my career. There are more brands (and therefore, much more work) to consider. Rolling Stone. Sports Illustrated. People. Discover. American Kennel Club.
Before going pro, I attended and graduated from Parsons School of Design in NYC, majoring in Communication Design (with an unofficial minor in Philosophy). It was during this time that (along with my creative partner-in-crime) I wrote, directed, produced, and acted in an Off-Off-Broadway performance piece called "Big Cheesecake," complete with originally choreographed dance sequences.
(text continues after photos)
On the set of "Sons of Anarchy" during a break in the Entertainment Weekly cover shoot. For those SOA fans out there, yes, that is Jax Teller's bike. (Photograph by Art Strieber). Above: Official invitation design for Parsons Communication Design Senior Show, April 1994.
I’m an energetic team leader and collaborative team member, with expertise in the creative direction and design of brands across all platforms and channels. I'm a hands-on builder of creative teams who inspires innovative problem solving, clean, bold visuals, engaging content and efficient results, always with a clear understanding of audience, and always on time and on budget.
I've mentored graduate students and run workshops at Columbia University, and have conducted design lectures at NYU, as well as University of the Arts. I've instructed Computer Graphics at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA, focusing on Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, as well as foundational graphic design principles.
I was one of the seven Design Directors on the panel for the sold-out Society of Publication Designers (SPD) Speaker Series "For the Love of Entertainment Weekly," and I most recently was chosen to participate in "The Art of Rolling Stone," a one-day conference devoted to the design, typography and photography of Rolling Stone. I have received numerous awards from SPD, American Society of Magazine Editors, Society of Illustrators, and American Illustration.
I'm also a scrappy entrepreneur. As much a lifestyle change as it was a fresh challenge, I took a planned-pause from the "known" to try my hand at the "unknown." I dove into entrepeneurship and launched my own BYOB painting party business in the Lehigh Valley, PA. After three action-packed years of managing, marketing, instructing, funding, building and learning, my studio was acquired by Painting with a Twist (the industry leader), which long story short, now means that I can again focus 100% on what I love and do best. Design.
On a personal note, I live with my wife, two sons and two cats (Vincent and Jules). I practice Transcendental Meditation and Kickboxing, I collect all things pop culture, I follow Philly sports, and love zipping around town in my Mini Countryman. But most of all, I just love solving problems.
Thanks for looking. Now let's start talking!
Kory
Kory
"My Pop Life" Popular Mechanics, July/August 2020.
Bonus Track
Check out a little Q&A I did with Creative Interviews a short while ago. Good fun!