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Brandon Reader

Design Lead | Art Director | Design Technologist

Westminster College

CASE STUDY: Rethinking Higher Ed in Utah

Brand Elevation | UI/UX | Design Systems

Columbia Climate School

CASE STUDY: Disrupting the Climate Narrative

Brand Identity | Digital Marketing

IIRP

CASE STUDY: Restoring the Future

Brand Identity | UI/UX | Digital Marketing

DISH

CASE STUDY: DISH Digital Statement

UI/UX | Product Design | Digital Strategy | Front-End Development

DISH

CASE STUDY: DISH Packages Page

UI/UX | Product Design | Multi-Variant Testing

I am a Design Lead, Art Director, and Design Technologist driven by a simple goal: building brand experiences that matter. To me, a great experience isn't just about how it looks; it’s about the strategic "why" that connects a concept to its audience. My background in front-end development gives me the technical fluency to lead projects from high-level art direction to digital reality while keeping the creative integrity intact. I treat every project as a new frontier, bringing an artist’s eye for detail and a developer’s logic to create brand experiences that truly resonate.

In my recent role as Senior Digital Art Director at GMB (formerly Up&Up) I integrated high-end art direction with strategic intent, overseeing the design lifecycle for multi-channel brand experiences and conversion-optimized websites for large-scale institutional clients.

What I Do

Creative Direction
UI/UX & Design Systems
Brand Development
Digital Strategy
Designer and Developer Management
Technical Art Direction

Selected Work

The Vibe

What it’s actually like to have me on your team.

I had the privilege of working closely with Brandon for three years, and he is one of the best creatives I’ve collaborated with. He regularly combined sharp strategic thinking with a refined creative instinct, but what really stands out is how much thought he brings to the work and the people around him. He is the kind of person I could trust with our important projects without hesitation. No matter the timeline or how complex the challenge, he showed up steady, solutions-oriented, and fully invested.

Beyond his creative strengths, Brandon is a great collaborative partner—open to feedback, and deeply invested in the success of the team. Any organization would be fortunate to have him on their creative leadership bench.

Chris Rawls

Director of Brand Marketing and E-Commerce, Southern Tide

I've been fortunate to work with Brandon on numerous creative projects for several years. From concepting through production, he always brings fresh ideas and perspectives to elevate our work, especially in the digital space.

He is constantly learning, advancing his skills, and finding new resources to improve our processes in effectiveness and efficiency. His attention to detail and collaborative approach make him an incredible asset for any creative or digital team.

Amanda Sordelet

Strategist | Senior Copywriter, GMB

I had the pleasure of working with Brandon in both a creative and a technical capacity over several years at DISH. He brought a fresh perspective and customer-focus to every project we worked on together that I came to truly rely on.

Good UX requires real empathy for the user, which Brandon has plenty of. But what always impressed me was how Brandon coupled his understanding of web technology with that empathy to also connect with the engineering teams that helped to bring his work to life. He transformed ideas into products and did it in a way that seemed to incorporate all of the feedback and requirements effortlessly.

I would recommend Brandon to any company or client who needs a talented designer, developer, and problem-solver.

Mike Baustian

Technical Account Director, Adobe

Brandon is an exceptional teammate and designer who brings both strategic thinking and creative excellence to every project he touches. He has a rare ability to truly understand a client’s goals and challenges, then translate that insight into thoughtful, purposeful design that feels both clean and impactful.

Having worked alongside Brandon for several years and across dozens of clients, I consistently saw his commitment to quality, collaboration, and problem-solving. He cares deeply about the why behind the work, not just how it looks, and that shows in the results he delivers.

I highly recommend Brandon to any team looking for a designer who is not only talented, but also strategic, dependable, and genuinely invested in creating meaningful work.

Allison Lanier

Director of Client Engagement & Strategy, GMB

I worked closely with Brandon at GMB, where he served as the lead designer for digital advertising campaigns. He has a great eye for detail and brings a thoughtful, data-informed approach to design, with a strong understanding of how creative decisions impact performance.

Brandon consistently sought to understand how his work was performing in order to refine and improve future designs. He is highly reliable, organized, and consistent, making him great to work with and someone the team could always count on to deliver polished, well-executed creative!

Katy Nash, MBA

Digital Marketing, YMCA of Greenville

I had the privilege of working with Brandon Reader when he served as Senior Digital Art Director at GMB (formerly Up&Up) and he's the type of creative leader who not only elevated the work but elevated the team.

What set him apart at Up&Up was his ability to think as a designer with a strategic mindset, making his work both beautiful and strategic. He tackled complex brand challenges with curiosity and hard work, consistently pushing work forward without sacrificing clarity or purpose.

If you’re looking for a design leader who can see the big picture, yet get into the weeds without losing sight of the vision, and lifts up the people around him, Brandon is one of the best I’ve worked with. Highly recommended.

Adam Landrum

Founder Advisor | Former CEO at Up&Up | Founder Threshold™

Having worked with Brandon for several years, I’ve seen one trait stand out above all: his unwavering commitment to excellence.

In an industry where we are constantly balancing high-impact delivery with tight deadlines, quality is often the first thing to suffer. However, Brandon refuses to let standards slip. His relentless drive to 'do things right' and his willingness to put in the extra effort ensure that we never sacrifice integrity for speed.

Ultimately, his dedication is why our customers consistently win.

Greg Johnston

Sr. Consultant - Business Systems Architecture, DISH

Brandon is easily one of the most creative and talented people I know. His design skills and eye for detail are second to none, but what really makes him stand out is how he actually gets things across the finish line. He is a natural communicator who can lead a creative project from a rough idea to a best-in-class finished product.

Brandon is a rare talent and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for any job or freelance project.

Don Marucut

Staff Analyst, DISH

Industry Recognition

Our Washington College marketing campaign from GMB earned a Silver Award for Integrated Marketing at the 40th Annual EduWeb Awards. Leading the visual design, I collaborated with our team to develop a cohesive and impactful campaign from concept to execution, that exceeded our client's objectives.

It's an honor that the website redesign for the University of South Carolina Upstate has been recognized with a Bronze Award for Website Design at the 40th Annual EduWeb Awards. I created the UI and WordPress design system, building a cohesive and scalable foundation that established the visual language for the entire site.