Bringing Inspired Energy and Uncompromising Commitment to Every Project.

A Renaissance Man at heart, John is a jack-of-all-trades who isn’t afraid to shake things up. Prior to founding Design At Work in 1990, John began his career as an illustrator for NASA and worked as an Art Director for both Jay Advertising and Space Industries, Inc. John is a graduate of The Art Institute of Houston, and his creative work has been published both nationally and internationally. In addition to serving as CEO, he manages Humble Donkey Studio, a gallery in Round Top, Texas. He can often be found in the studio, working on a new painting or exploring Texas with his family.

A behind-the-scenes storyteller with a visual arts background, Natalie applies design thinking to content creation. She honed her marketing and communication skills in the academic and nonprofit sectors before joining Design At Work in 2020. As a graduate of the California College of the Arts with a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts, she brings a curatorial eye and process-driven approach to creative projects and is deeply involved in the local creative community, serving as the Communications Advisor for AIGA Houston’s Board of Directors. In her free time, she can be found exploring Houston’s new restaurants, traveling and catching up on her ever-expanding reading list.

Kaitlin brings a thoughtful, analytical approach to the creative and digital marketing processes. Kaitlin attended the University of Houston where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Business Administration. Prior to joining Design At Work in 2022, she developed her marketing and copywriting skills in corporate and agency environments. When she’s not diving into data or crafting a clever marketing campaign, she can be found exploring the great outdoors or spending time with family.

A self-described “MacGyver of design,” Jessica enjoys finding creative solutions to even the most complex challenges. She attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, earning a Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design in 2010, followed by a Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design in 2012. Prior to joining Design At Work in 2023, Jessica spent over 15 years honing her skills in packaging design, product development, branding and advertising. Today, she takes pride in bringing our clients’ visions to life through inventive visual communication. When she’s not in the office, she can be found spending quality time with family, shopping for a good deal or rewatching her favorite episodes of The Office.

Quality design is like a puzzle requiring the right pieces to come together the right way — and Gaby loves a good challenge. Inspired by art from an early age, the Houston native explored drawing and fashion before discovering her true fit in graphic design. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Art Institute of Houston – North and has since built a diverse portfolio spanning invitation design, packaging, branding and marketing for a major theater company. No matter the project, Gaby’s favorite part is identifying what’s needed and bringing it to life with thoughtful design. Outside of the office, she enjoys volunteering with her church, spending time with family and her pup, and exploring brews at neighborhood coffee shops.

Passionate about design, Emily champions creative content that turns heads and moves markets. Emily is a University of Houston graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communications. Prior to joining Design At Work in 2021, she spent eight years honing her digital marketing skills at a local creative agency. Her award-winning graphic design work has received top recognition from ANA Business Marketing Houston and the American Marketing Association. When she’s not designing a campaign, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen or jamming out on the karaoke stage.

Driven by a desire to help others and do good, Courtney has a heart for service. She holds an associate degree in Business Administration from Blinn College and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Houston. Courtney joined Design At Work in 2023 and works closely with leadership to manage the office and streamline internal processes, drawing on her prior customer service, hospitality and real estate experience. She is a member of the Junior League of Houston and has volunteered extensively with the Memorial Park Conservancy and Houston Arboretum. In her free time, she can often be found with a mystery novel in hand, walking her dogs in the park or re-watching her favorite TV shows.

With a background in journalism, Allison is passionate about public relations and the written word. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Texas A&M University and spent years working for local newspapers prior to joining Design At Work in 2014. As the Director of Public Relations, she is committed to getting clients’ messages out in creative ways that bring in big results. When she’s not poring over client work, she can be found volunteering with her church, with her nose in a book or rooting on the Aggies and Houston Astros.

Danielle is committed to providing each client a true VIP experience. A graduate of the Art Institute of Houston with a background in graphic design, Danielle honed her skills at a boutique agency before joining Design At Work in 2008. People are her passion, and she leads the team with the same level of compassion, service and support that she brings to clients. When she’s not in the office, she can be found exploring Houston’s restaurant scene, traveling and sometimes even fly fishing.

Quick-witted and creative, Kelcey drives marketing campaigns that catch your attention — and keep it. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Houston. Kelcey joined Design At Work in 2006 as a Copywriter and has served as an Account Director since 2009. She was named Executive Vice President in 2021. Outside work, you’re likely to catch her exploring the city with her husband and son, winding down with a glass of wine or, if you’re lucky, killing it at karaoke.