Hello.

I’m Craig. I like dogs, swimming, my nieces, air conditioning, college football, rainy days, long walks on the beach, and games of all kinds.

I design memorable brands, build ideas into appealing objects, and help people solve all manner of creative problems. From big picture strategies to the subtle details of finished products, I love making stuff. Here’s a few more things you should know about me and the way I work:

• I don’t believe in shortcuts. I also don’t believe in process just for the sake of process. I approach every engagement with the fresh and deliberate attention that it deserves. Embracing the unique challenges of any given problem is always step one. Steps two and beyond are rarely alike.

• I believe that great work is built on trust, and I take pride in building genuine relationships. I prefer to treat clients like partners, not patrons.

• I’m self-motivated, but I also play nicely with others. Whether I’m in charge or at the bottom of the org chart, I believe that I work for my team and that accountability is a two-way street. My responsibility is to make everyone’s job easier by: fostering an environment of trust and support; identifying or creating the proper tools for each challenge; and establishing effective, forward-thinking procedures. In my experience, these steps ultimately lead to more successful outcomes and happier teams.

Inspiration doesn’t always strike on-demand, so creativity is often a 24-7 endeavor. With that in mind, everyday, I aspire to view the world with a sense of wonder. I strive to meet discoveries—large or small—with intentional curiosity and seek understanding through thoughtful skepticism. Lastly, I do my best to preserve a balance of empathy and humor through it all, which (usually, I hope) makes being around me a bit more fun.

If you need some perspective from someone who thinks the way I do, consider saying “hello.”

Images

1 - Photo of Craig by Matt Rainwaters. Taken at the 2009 World Beard & Mustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska. Get BEARD the book here.

2 - Photo of young Augie Goldstein by Jessie Barnes.

3 - Photo of young Craig by Louise Steckbeck (hi, Mom!), circa 1986.

4 - Photo of Craig by Matt Rainwaters.

5 - Photo of groomed Craig (with photo of bearded Craig by Dave Mead) by Todd Van Horne. Taken at the Magnificent Specimens show opening in the Chelsea Market, New York City.