With over 25 years of experience in all aspects of design, I’m passionate about using my creativity to lead and craft designs that inspire fellow designers. My career has evolved from graphic designer to creative director, immersing me in digital design across various mediums, including illustration, graphic design, video production, photography, 3D design, and animation. I have a proven track record of leading design and development teams, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget while optimizing workflows to increase production without sacrificing quality. I’m skilled at adapting styles and techniques to suit diverse projects. As a creative director, I excel at bridging the gap between developers and designers, fostering collaboration and driving innovation. My experience and passion for design enable me to elevate the quality and efficiency of any creative department.
Grom Social Enterprises, Inc.
Creative Director
2015 - 2024
While contracting under Swellguided, LLC, I collaborated with a 12-year-old client to build a social networking website for kids. The project quickly gained traction, attracting a large user base and securing investment from the client's family and private investors. As the brand grew, I took on the role of managing the development team’s sprint cycles, overseeing all aspects of the brand’s design, and eventually developing a mobile application. I also authored policies and ensured full COPPA compliance by working closely with compliance companies. Over the past two years, we completely revamped the app, successfully rebranding it with support from an in-house engineer and content manager. I expanded my skills by learning new software such as Figma, Webflow, Blender, and AutoDesk’s Maya, mastering 3D character design, rigging, and animation to introduce an innovative feature to the app.
Swellguided, LLC. -
Redington Shores, FL
Owner
2012 - Present
Swellguided LLC is a dynamic design company specializing in surf-inspired collections that capture the essence of coastal life. Founded by Dan Putnam, Swellguided LLC offers bespoke freelance contract design services, bringing a unique blend of creativity and expertise to each project. From branding and visual identities to product design and marketing materials, Swellguided LLC merges Dan's passion for surfing with his extensive design experience to create compelling and immersive designs that resonate with clients and audiences alike. Whether you're looking to infuse your brand with a touch of the surf lifestyle or need a creative partner for your next project, Swellguided LLC is dedicated to delivering innovative and impactful design solutions.
Eastern Surf Magazine -
Melbourne Beach, FL
Art Director
2008 - 2012
Spearheaded a comprehensive restructuring of the art department, optimizing workflows and introducing cost-effective strategies that improved both efficiency and product quality. I directed all layout design for the magazine and internal print materials, developed in-house and client ads, launched campaigns, and led the redesign and ongoing management of the company website. I consistently meet tight daily deadlines for the website while ensuring the print magazine is published on time every six weeks.
Clearchannel Outdoor -
Largo, FL
Senior Artist
2006 - 2008
Designed billboard layouts and creative outdoor campaigns, collaborating closely with sales, marketing, and clients to brainstorm innovative ideas. Led the introduction of digital media into the outdoor market, developing marketing campaigns to attract new clients and creating extended billboard designs to elevate upscale brands.
DirectCity Media, Inc.
(The Neighborhood Guide), New York, NY
Freelance Graphic Designer
2005 - 2006
Creation of advertisements for information magazine. Successfully created new layout of magazine (ie covers, table of contents and calendars).
Cox Target Media (Valpak), St. Petersburg, FL
Graphic Designer
2003 - 2006
Provided leadership in developing Spec ads for Sales Reps in the field, effectively managing a high volume of work with biweekly and monthly deadlines. Proficient in all aspects of InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Streamline, Fetch, and database software.
Cox Target Media (Valpak), Largo, FL
Graphic Designer
1998 - 2003
Reported to the Graphic Supervisor, responsible for ad layouts and art creation. Leveraged extensive knowledge of QuarkXPress, Illustrator, Photoshop, and database software. Played a key role in the design and launch of Spec Ads. My design skills were recognized, leading to advancement within the company’s graphics department.
Adobe Creative Suite
Extensive Knowledge
Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Indesign, After Effects, Premiere, Media Encoder, Demensions, Bridge
Web Design / Development
Fundimental Knowledge
WebFlow, Wordpress, Joomla, HTML, CSS, Figma, Sketch, GitHub, Jira, Confluence, SCRUM
3D Design
Working Knowledge
Blender, Maya, Adobe Reality Converter, Xcode, Rokoko, Spline
Animation
Working Knowledge
Flash, Blender, Adobe Character Animate, Rive
Other
Fundimental Knowledge
G-Suite, Microsoft Office, Airtable, Mailchimp,
I live in Florida with my wife and three wonderful children. In my free time, I enjoy painting, surfing, fishing, and spending time with my family. Both my wife and I are artists, so our home is brimming with creativity.
