Human-centered Design Thinker
Solution-focused Design Strategist
Curiosity-driven Creative Producer
Caffeine-powered Working Mother
Horse-obsessed Amateur Equestrian
Empathy-based Mental Health Advocate
I'm Brooke.
I develop ideas, people, and partnerships,
using all of the parts that make me "me"
(not necessarily in that order...)
Who I Am & What I Love
Residing in central Connecticut with my lumberjack-engineer-gamer husband & our zany young son, I equally enjoy both the loud, momentous occasions & the quiet, meaningful moments that life has to offer. We fully embrace the leisure activities of all four seasons of New England, though I could personally do without the sub-freezing temperatures of winter.
Everyone who knows me is aware of my passion (read: obsession) for horses; I strive to be not only a skilled horseman, but also a dedicated volunteer & mentor within my equestrian community. Winning titles and trophies is exciting of course, but nothing has brought me more joy than creating new horsey memories with my son over the last few years.
I consider myself to be a warm and enthusiastic person who truly cares about the people in my life. Improving the lives of those I love gives me the most satisfaction; I enjoy helping people and organizations think creatively and to dream outside of their norms. I love to make folks laugh, but also enjoy giving my family & friends a shoulder to lean on when they need it.
What I Do & What I Don't Do
I am currently working full-time at the University of Connecticut's Greenhouse Studios where I have an exciting and ever-evolving role as a Design Strategist, i.e. creative director, design-thinker, brand manager, and mentor of emerging professionals. Our studio has given me the opportunity to try on many different hats, and above all else I deeply value being part of a community which values flattened hierarchies, true collaboration & creativity, and supporting one another on a human level.
I have been fortunate to have had opportunities for teaching & leading in several capacities through this position, which I always thoroughly enjoy! Recently, I have co-taught a course that takes principles from life design theory and applies them to the challenges & opportunities presented to first-year honors students. I am currently a course designer and faculty member of NetWorkLab, an NEH-funded international institute for remote collaboration.
Outside of my "day job," I take on piece work with my stepfather's multimedia production studio, Seymour Media, and contract photography for a select handful of equestrian events with National Horseman Publishing.
At this time, I am booking a very limited number of design & photography opportunities. I am also open to exploring new contract or freelance opportunities & collaborations that can be completed outside of traditional business hours (EST).
I am not currently available for visual design- or design thinking-specific partnerships in the scholarly communications, digital humanities, library, or academic fields as per my contract at UConn. I am also not currently accepting clients in the capacities of wedding photography and general portraiture; feel free to ask me for my list of *super* talented wedding & portrait photographers!
Get in Touch
I'm always interested in meeting new people and hearing about your ideas–let's connect!