Our vision is to bring a democratic approach to award-winning design.
Leadership
Jessica First
Chief Strategist
Joseph Prichard
Creative Director
Jessica First
Chief Strategist
Joseph Prichard
Creative Director
Our Process
Intake
First we listen. We interview, research, analyze, position, and report back.
Incubate
Next we define. We explore, write, highlight, design, and construct a visual language.
Ignite
Then we create. We refine, polish, align, sequence, and launch campaigns, brands, websites and publications.
Tracy Thanh Tran
Designer
Tracy Thanh Trần is our graphic designer who makes beautiful things out of wild ideas. Her favorite part of designing at Kilter is being around all sorts of different people and seeing women in charge. She also loves hip-hop and being a full-time cat mama to two (Addie + Arlo).
Tracy traveled north from San Diego to study Studio Arts at the University of California, Riverside before getting her MFA at CalArts. She loves creating things for organizations who care about people.
BA in Studio Arts, University of California, Riverside
MFA in Graphic Design, California Institute of the Arts
Visual Maven
Darren Duterte
Designer
Darren Duterte is our graphic and motion designer who draws beautiful things that move. His favorite part about being at Kilter is working with people who make a difference in the world. He also loves queer films, obscure sneakers, a good meme, and his partner, Victor.
Darren moved here from the Bay Area to study at Otis College of Art and Design. He flows comfortably from pencil to tablet to paintbrush and likes design that is playful yet makes an impact on the world.
BFA in Graphic Design, Otis College of Art and Design
UCDA Award Gold
Illustration Wizard
Armando Martinez-Celis
Art Director
Armando is our Art Director, who helps guide the design team in making things that people love and remember. His favorite part of being at Kilter is speaking through design and being there for his team. He also loves setting type, sharing books, and humming along to most songs.
Armando came to Los Angeles, by way of both old and New Mexico, and studied graphic design at CalArts. He amuses himself daily with new lessons in design, art, and the internet alongside Alise, his dog.
BFA in Graphic Design, California Institute of the Arts
Adjunct Faculty at Chaffey College and California Institute of the Arts
Typographic Mason
Joseph Prichard
Creative Director
Joe is our Creative Director who pairs strategic thinking with joyful formmaking to create work that delights & engages audiences. With more than a decade of experience working with clients in the non-profit, education, and cultural sectors Joe has a proven track record of achieving measurable, meaningful results for organizations of all sizes.
With a BFA in film from USC and an MFA in graphic design from CalArts Joe is equally at home designing for page, screen, or space. He loves big ideas, complex systems, tiny details, and happy accidents.
Recognition from Society of Publication Designers, The Print Regional Design Awards, and the UCDA
Work featured in the book Information Graphics (Taschen), Print, Monocle, and The Urbanist
Presenter/panelist for Dwell on Design and AIGA National Design Conference
Stephanie Chan
Creative Director
Stephanie Chan is our Creative Director who rallies the team and oversee the creative process through from concept to awards. Her favorite part of being at Kilter is finding creative ways to surprise people through copywriting and design. She also loves bringing in treats, playlists, close-up magic, and her dog Soda.
Stephanie arrived in Los Angeles after studying Advertising at the University of Texas at Austin. She loves working with people who do good things, which has led her to lead projects for everything from local start-ups to national museums.
Featured in i-D Magazine, Vice Magazine, LA Mag, LA Weekly
CAPIO Panelist
UCDA Award winner
JESSICA FIRST
Chief Strategist
Jess is our Chief Strategist, and a co-founder of Kilter. She takes pride in leveraging her 20 years of experience of brand building. Jessica blends classical marketing techniques with an innovative perspective to make huge waves for organizations of all sizes. She also loves traveling, scuba diving, pop-culture, media trends, live theatre, and spending time with her family.
Jessica has worked in all aspects of brand development, from new product strategy to emerging media planning. Jessica has MBA from Vanderbilt in Brand Management and Strategy. She loves partnering with organizations in every industry who have a customer to serve.