Team

Julie is the co-founder and Managing Director of Second Story and with a background in visual design, art history, and the liberal arts, Julie leads the studio in shaping unique, innovative, interactive experiences that pique curiosity, spur discovery, and inspire audiences. Julie has defined and sustained an approach to interactive media design that focuses on reaching diverse audiences while pushing the limits of technological innovation. From concept through completion, Julie interacts with various industry disciplines, guiding the studio to realize holistic approaches to successful projects. Julie is a frequent speaker at various conferences and schools across the country on topics ranging from interactive design methodologies to usability and the marriage of rich content and technology. Julie graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A. in Graphic Design and Art History from the University of the Pacific. View Julie’s Projects.

As co-founder and Creative Director of Second Story, Brad leads the studio’s design of media experiences, from early strategy and planning through information, interaction, and sensory design. While an artist in the San Francisco Bay area, Brad experienced the explosion of CD-ROM-based multimedia at the height of its popularity in the early ’90s. The enchanting, personalized quality of these self-directed, rich-media experiences inspired him to cultivate a unique area of specialization, combining compelling content with innovative interactivity. Despite his foundation in the visual arts, Brad’s “inside-out” approach to interactive media creation emphasizes story, content, and functionality. Brad’s current focus is on the fusion of interaction, electronic media, and the physical world—yet his emphasis continues to be on structures that support diverse ways a story can be experienced. Brad is a regular speaker at interactive design and museum media events, as well as a judge in design competitions. Brad received his B.A. in Philosophy from Washington and Lee University. View Brad’s Projects.

Jennifer orchestrates studio processes and team members, ensuring that the studio continues to create interactive experiences that engage, inspire, and inform audiences. Prior to assuming the role of studio director, she produced a wide variety of Web sites and interactive experiences for the studio, overseeing project development and management. Jennifer started her professional career at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum as a research associate, gaining an in-depth understanding of collections management, exhibits, education, and research. Jennifer obtained her BA in Anthropology at St. Lawrence University. View Jennifer’s Projects.

Thomas provides overall leadership for the technology of the studio. He guides development of rich-media interactives, installations, and database systems and also manages internal studio software systems and information technology. With extensive experience in Web development and desktop programming, Thomas oversees all technology approaches and implementation in the studio in addition to contributing to a broad range of programming initiatives and innovations. Prior to joining Second Story, Thomas was a co-developer of Screenweaver, a product allowing interactive developers to build desktop and offline experiences using Flash. Thomas has a BE from Hogeschool van Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. View Thomas’ Projects.

Matt provides the studio with engineering leadership specific to interactive hardware, sensors, and media electronics. With a strong engineering background in robotics design and sensor integration, he offers mechanical design and software solutions to projects, enabling the studio to create unique displays and innovative interactive environments. His programming skills and expertise in 3D modeling also allow him to play a leading role in development of real time graphics displays and large data visualizations. Matt received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. View Matt’s Projects.

Elizabeth tracks and organizes assets and information, from licensing to production specifications, across studio projects. She manages content as it moves between design, development, and production, and spearheads quality assurance planning and in-house user testing. A former legal and congressional intern as well as a production assistant in independent film, Elizabeth’s background allows her to contribute to writing and research initiatives as well. Elizabeth holds a BA in English from Reed College with a focus on Postmodern Literature and Criticism. View Elizabeth’s Projects.

David specializes in the creation of database-driven Web sites and content management systems. With over ten years of experience in Web technologies, his skills include server specification and administration, database systems, Web services, server-side programming in a variety of languages, and front-end development in JavaScript and CSS. In addition to implementing Web sites, he often provides administrative consoles and data services for on-site interactives. David has a BS with honors in Computer Science from Linfield College. View David’s Projects.

As a Producer, Heather supervises projects from start to finish. She monitors schedules, facilitates communication, manages resources, and provides quality assurance. Heather’s exacting attention to detail, optimism, and talent for coordinating disparate parties ensures that each project results in a great experience for all involved. Before joining the studio, Heather worked as an interactive producer for a full-service advertising agency in Portland, where she oversaw Web site production and testing. Heather graduated magna cum laude with a BA in French and Journalism from University of Oregon and was a student in the UO Clark Honors College program. View Heather’s Projects.

Shane supports the studio principals and oversees the daily operations of the studio. She provides support to studio staff and clients on a variety of fronts, including travel, meeting arrangements, and general business communications. She also assists with business development, marketing, human resources, and accounting. Shane freelanced for three years in film and television production offices in New York City and also owned a retail business in Montpelier, Vermont. Shane has a BA with honors in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Oregon. View Shane’s Projects.

Alyssa shepherds projects through every stage of development, bringing together her passion for museums and her years of project management experience. She works closely with clients to best understand their content, collections, and the stories they wish to tell. Alyssa’s appreciation of cultural preservation, vintage design, and the diorama inspires and informs her role at the studio. Prior to joining Second Story, Alyssa spent ten years at Adobe Systems where she served as Web producer for more than forty product launches. Alyssa is completing her MA in Museum Studies at the John F. Kennedy University where she collaborated with the Walt Disney Family Museum, SFMOMA, and the California Historical Society.

Michael leads strategic development and user experience design for studio projects. He works collaboratively with the team to structure experiences, advocating the visitor's needs, considering site-specific constraints, and defining interactive requirements for usability. Michael's background in information graphics, editorial design, development, and interaction design provide a strong foundation for the experience maps, wireframes, and prototypes he creates to communicate the studio's vision. Before joining the studio, Michael worked as a graphic artist and interactive designer at VO2 Media, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and studios in Germany and Brazil. Michael received a BFA in Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. View Michael’s Projects.

As an Interactive Developer, Oliver realizes conceptual design through pragmatic and creative coding. Oliver is a specialist in Flash programming, well versed in graphics programming and application architecture, but also innovates with new and experimental technology. Leveraging his background in art and design, he works closely with the design team to build effective and memorable interactive experiences. Before joining Second Story, Oliver worked as an interactive designer and developer for a full-service marketing agency in Vermont, and spent time in San Francisco as a freelance developer. Oliver holds a BS in Finance from the University of Vermont and a BS in Multimedia and Graphic Design from Champlain College. View Oliver’s Projects.

As Production Coordinator, Michael manages content between the client and the studio team, acquires media assets, and leads project research to augment the creative vision of the interactive experience. Michael brings six years experience managing and curating media arts exhibitions at the George Eastman House to his role at Second Story. His familiarity with conducting archival research and collaborating with curators allows him to specialize in content management for studio projects. Michael holds a BA in English Textual Studies from Syracuse University, a BA in Television, Radio, and Film from S.I. Newhouse School of Communications, and studied creative writing at NYU. View Michael’s Projects.

Nina’s keen interest in mathematics coupled with her expertise in Flash programming make her a strong contributor to the development team. Nina specializes in rapid prototyping and realizing motion graphics in an interactive environment. In her free time, Nina is an electronics hobbyist and experiments with Arduino and obsolete gadgetry. Her dedication to Open Source programming and background in DIY arts inspired her studies at University of Oregon, where she received a BFA in Digital Art. View Nina’s Projects.

As a Producer at Second Story, Michael has found the perfect place to contribute his organizational, creative, and analytical skills along with his passion for design and storytelling. He serves as the primary point of contact for clients and external partners while leading studio team members along the path of each project. Prior to joining Second Story, Michael produced branding and interactive Web projects for national clients in the beauty, entertainment, technology, and transportation industries. Michael received a BA in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. View Michael’s Projects.

Donald uses his software development expertise and problem-solving skills to assist in the development of Web-based projects, content management systems, and customized software for internal organization and resource management. With experience accrued over five years in the industry, he is proficient at software design, server-side and client-side programming, server administration, and database systems. In addition, he has a strong passion for the development process and organizational culture. Donald has a BS in Mathematics from Portland State University. View Donald’s Projects.

As Junior Interaction Designer, Sara supports the creative team with contributions to visual design, user experience, and wireframing. Her love of typography and visual acumen allow her to focus on the crucial details of design production. Before joining Second Story, Sara worked as a print designer in Los Angeles and a user experience designer in San Francisco. She holds a BFA in Advertising from the Art Center College of Design and a BS in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside.

Matt’s background in illustration and his interests in many forms of visual storytelling inform his approach to information architecture and design problem solving at Second Story. Matt’s appreciation for hand-lettering, graphic novels, and expressive brushwork ground his design with a classic aesthetic. As an interaction designer, he guides the visual experience, leading the design process from initial concept through information architecture to the final production art. Before joining the studio, Matt was an interactive designer and art director in New York where he worked with a client base that ranged from fashion to the games industry. Matt has a BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design with a concentration in design. View Matt’s Projects.

Shoam strives to create work that engages audiences while allowing him to explore new mediums of design and communication. His role at Second Story is to lead the process of concepting, strategy, visual explorations, and art direction for Web sites, interactive experiences, and installations. Before becoming part of the Second Story team, Shoam worked as a design educator and designer in Portland and Southern California. His experience has shaped him to lead teams, mentor young designers and develop rigorous, thoughtful work processes. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Pacific Northwest College of Art. View Shoam’s Projects.

Kate manages projects from concept to completion, choreographing the process and ensuring that the end result is educational, intuitive, and delightful. She leads core teams and serves as the bridge between the studio, clients, and partners, to ensure that all parties are working in alignment. Her passion for creating and integrating immersive interactive experiences with the built environment guides her approach to each project. Prior to joining Second Story, Kate produced award-winning online and interactive installations at Pentagram Design in New York. She earned a BA in political science from Macalester College and studied interior design at Parsons in New York. View Kate’s Projects.

Dola spends her days at Second Story following small patches of sunlight.

Leo’s grand-niece is here to take over the responsibility of the resident Ridgeback.