Graphic Designer — 2023-Present

Create animated GIFs for stickers and Giphy for social media
Create and maintain templates for future designer use in Figma
Utilize basic HTML & CSS to curate website themes via Wordpress
Design and order printed merchandise including pins, business cards, posters, stickers, hats and t-shirts
Maintain a clear brand identity when creating new assets
Design daily editorial suites for web publication in a variety of use cases
Create video and photography content of restaurants, social events, music festivals, and concerts
Brainstorm and contribute to editorial content for website
Contribute to website health and usability - recommending events and interacting with website comments

Co-founder & Creative Director — 2020-2023

Designed brand identity, implementing print, packaging, social media, and in-store signage, with a package design feature on Sprudge.
Built an organic following of 10k on Instagram using brand identity guidelines and voice, F1 Driver Valteri Bottas cited Try Hard as ”the best coffee in Austin”
Managed brick-and-mortar cafe, overseeing daily cafe operations including employees, finance reconciliation, recipe development, training, etc…
Collaborated with other brands to create cohesive marketing and products for special events including: Minor Figures, Oatly, K Tonic Kombucha and Kin Euphorics, boosting overall brand awareness
Hosted a SXSW 2022 showcase in partnership with Minor Figures resulting in a $28k buyout for the weekend, establishing ongoing sponsorship with Minor Figures for music festival-related events

Curated menu items and increased beverage quality resulting in top-line revenue growth of 25% from 2017-2018
Created in-house culinary program saving company $25,000 annually
Facilitated specialty coffee relationships to increase standards and reduced wholesale costs by 10%
Managed P&L sheets and COGS for all coffee-related transactions and purchases, maintaining a COGS of 30% or lower from 2016-2019
Interviewed and hired employees, 75% of which have remained employed for 2+ years
Designed and implemented a training program for new hires, allowing for fewer re-training scenarios and higher employee retention
Created and carried out an ongoing evaluation and education plan for a team of 45 baristas
Designed, managed, and assisted in the opening of 2 new locations in 2018, operating within a designated budget and communicating with general contractors