OctoCog – Branding, Package Design, Apparel, Web, Marketing

For years, I owned and operated OctoCog, a design and marketing agency where I wore multiple hats—creative director, graphic designer, marketing coordinator, and web developer. Balancing these roles while leading a growing business was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career. Despite the complexities, we successfully scaled OctoCog into a $500K+ agency, consistently delivering work that both our team and clients were proud of.

As the creative lead, I directed a talented in-house team of designers, web developers, and marketers, while collaborating with illustrators, videographers, photographers, and additional designers. Our goal was simple but impactful: provide clients with exceptional creative solutions backed by unmatched customer service. I positioned OctoCog as a customer-first design business, ensuring that we weren’t just delivering top-tier creative work but were also always available when clients needed us. Staying ahead of evolving design trends, marketing shifts, and social media dynamics was crucial to maintaining our edge and growing the business.

One of our most defining moments came during the pandemic, when our primary client base—hospitality and food & beverage—was hit hard. We worked closely with these businesses to pivot their strategies, helping several not only survive the uncertain market but also become more profitable. This period highlighted our ability to adapt, problem-solve, and deliver creative solutions that drove real impact when it mattered most.