If you’re looking for a Designer that has no quit, that works until the job gets done, then you found your guy. I absolutely love the world of digital fabrication and Computer Aided Design. I love all facets of design in fact. When I started my artistic journey at the University of Georgia, I aspired to be a graphic designer and follow in the footsteps of Massimo Vignelli or Michael Beirut. I saw myself working for a design firm like Pentagram in New York City and shaping the direction of the world’s largest brands.
My first job out of college did indeed have the title of ‘Graphic Designer’ at the modest yet well known sign shop, AKO Signs, in Athens, Georgia. Though not long after my start with the company did the owner approach me about manning their newly purchased AXYZ CNC router down on the production floor.
I was holding my own as a designer, but the fellow that I was hired to replace decided to stay, and his experience was hard to beat. I swallowed my pride, and accepted the invitation to go downstairs where the magic was happening. That decision was one of the best in my life, as it introduced me to the world of digital fabrication and the career I have today.
For the next year, I spent everyday developing their CNC router capabilities for their shop, mostly cutting out aluminum panels and eventually creating 2.5D and even 3D HDU signage for clients. My highlight job was creating the Barberitos Corporate Office Monument sign featuring a 3D ‘Pepe’ mascot, a project I was able to design and produce myself.
I became fascinated in the possibilities that CNC machines created for the shop. All it took was a working understanding of the machine, the materials you were using, and imagination to make just about anything. I thought about how designs could be elevated from the basic to something more elevated.
About a year after I had been running the CNC in Athens, I got a call from a good friend of mine in Atlanta that was working in the film industry. He knew I was working with CNC routers, and he was working as a carpenter for production companies’ construction departments; building the studio sets for large blockbuster feature films in the city. Atlanta was exploding for this industry at the time, around 2017. He said he didn’t have a spot for me on a show, but he said if I moved to Atlanta, he would get me into the Union and advocate for me to get on the next one he worked. He said that CNC routers were used extensively to build the custom, often out-of-this-world set scenery required for these types of films.
I decided that the film industry offered some exciting work, despite the risk of not having an actual job secured, and made the move to the big city. My friend did come through for me on his promise, and I made my first credit on the multi-million dollar budget film Godzilla: King of the Monsters for Legendary Pictures. My initial role on the film, that got me in the door, was a utility laborer. I helped the carpenters with anything they needed, and swept up the floors around the sets and the studio. Eventually, I was able to rub elbows with the CNC department and they asked me to join them as an operator about halfway through the production. They had gone to 24 hour runtimes to keep up with the deadlines for some sets, and needed extra operators for the night shifts. From there I was on the CNC team the rest of the film.
From there, I was able to work on some incredible productions, including the Emmy winning Watchmen on HBO, DC Comic’s Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, and Amazon Prime’s Citadel. While working for the same crew after Godzilla, I was able to make an impact on the way they operated in a major way, by using a digital first mindset to construction. Before, they were still using sets of 2D construction drawings to develop plans for builds, and also using large armies of carpenters to handle the world that the CNC obviously outperform with precision, repeatability, and efficiency. Wit the digital first mindset, builds were executed with much more effectiveness, and with more ease for the art departments we were working for.
While the movie industry was indeed exciting and was almost a gold rush type of environment during the last five years. Eventually the well dried up in 2022 and into 2023. I had felt the changing winds, and had started a company with 3 others, aiming to produce work for the corporate event industry and experiential marketing clients. Trying to pivot into this industry proved to be too much and eventually I had to make a change.
In June of 2023 I received an offer from Delta Airlines to go work as a Robot/CNC programmer in their Delta TechOps Atlanta headquarters, which is where I spend my days. The work has proved to be very rewarding, working for a top notch company with an incredible reputation and work culture. I enjoy working for a team at large and contributing in a dedicated role.
While I do have a day job, I eat, sleep, and live digital fabrication. My time in the movie industry forged me into one of the best 3D modelers and CNC programmers for routers in the custom fabrication space. The speed of which I model things and bring ideas to life, even to construction level resolution, is how I am able to satisfy my clients, even while working in the evenings.
My ability to communicate quickly, and use today’s asynchronous tools to keep clients in the loop is one of my leading benefits of working with me. If you need work done quickly, professionally, and without worry, then you found the right guy. Book a Zoom call with me today, and we’ll get started on your next big project together.