SLWNSTDY :: Sean O’Brien :: Brand Strategy, Design & Creative Direction

The Independent
Creative Studio of Sean O’Brien

Obsessive Over-thinker
Graphic Designer
Multidisciplinary Creative
20+ Years of Experience
Irrational Believer

Delivering Brand Strategy,
Design, and Creative Direction
For Organizations Ready
To Move Forward.

Working remotely from the shores of Lake Michigan.

Creative by nature.
Designer by trade.
Driven by curiosity and craft,
balancing intuition and intention
with a relentless pursuit of better.

A little all gas, no brakes,
meets let's meditate
and walk it out.

I work best with adventurous
spirits and those who move
with courage and conviction.

A narrow stream flows between moss-covered rocky hills under a cloudy sky with distant hills visible on the horizon.

Street view of a quiet residential neighborhood with older two- and three-story houses featuring porches, utility poles with overhead power lines, a partly cloudy blue sky, and a parked car on the right side of the paved road.

Wooden boat moored between two weathered wooden docks on calm blue water during dusk, with a steering wheel visible inside.

Vintage roadside signs reading 'Tulppo's Motel,' 'Copper drift Lounge,' and 'Cafe' mounted on poles next to a sidewalk with buildings including a 'Family Restaurant' under a clear blue sky.

A cooked fish fillet on a plate with a lemon wrapped in cheesecloth nearby, a fork and knife rest on the plate, with blurred cups and a glass bottle in the background.

Narrow street with pedestrians walking near shops and a tall Gothic-style church tower with detailed stonework against a cloudy sky.

Calm river or lake shore with clear reflections of clouds and sky, bordered by green grass and trees, under a bright blue sky.

Clear turquoise river flowing through a narrow rocky gorge with large light gray rocks and some green vegetation on the sides.

HERE TO BE OF SERVICE

FROM TRUTH TO TRANSFORMATION

curiosity
courage
& conviction

With over two decades in the business of creativity and emotional connection, I’ve come to specialize in the art of identity and change. Helping organizations of all sizes start from scratch, evolve, refresh, or in some cases, burn it all down and build back up from ethos through expression.

Whether supporting a century-old legacy or a visionary founder, this high-stakes work requires respect and rigor.

There’s no one-size-fits-all manual, as no two businesses or cultures are the same. I’ve learned to walk in stupid with open ears and eyes. To work with intention, adapt, and keep things simple.

2026

Terri & Sandy

New York City

Rebrand

Brand Strategy, Identity System, Website, Swag, Etc.

2026

Confidential

Rochester, NY

Rebrand

Coming Soon

2026

Confidential

Minneapolis

Rebrand

Coming Soon

2026

In Michigan We Trust

Michigan

Non-Partisan Campaign

Strategy, Naming, Visual Identity, Creative Direction, OOH

2026

The New Wheel

San Francisco

Retail Design

Redesign of Flagship Store on Valencia

2026

New Terrain Brewing Co

Golden, CO

Website

Creative Direction, Visual Design, Platform Migration

2026

Dots

Chicago

Brand Identity

Visual Identity

2026

Axle

Minneapolis

Brand Identity

Brand Strategy, Identity, and Pitch Deck for AI Powered Fitness App

2025

Linguard Labs

San Francisco

Website

Creative Direction, Visual Design

2025

Partners & Napier

Rochester, NY

Royal Caribbean

Creative & Design Direction, Visual Identity System

2025

Traverse City

Michigan

Community Proposal

RFP & Future Vision for a Community Sauna House

2025

HDUB

Nashville

Rebrand

Brand Strategy, Identity System, Website, Swag, Etc.

2025

Huckberry

Austin, TX

Rebrand

Visual Identity for Proof

2024

Madespace

Encinitas, CA

Brand Identity

Visual Identity for AI Powered Interior Design Platform

2024

Best Buy

Minneapolis

Rebrand

Refreshed Visual Identity

2024

Confidential

San Francisco

Visual Identity

Exploratory Visual Identity for Wheel Manufacturer

2024

Confidential

Los Angeles

Future Vision

Brand Strategy, Identity System, Pitch Deck for Indoor Golf Franchise

2024

72 and Sunny

Los Angeles

Design Direction

Manage the Google Design Team

2024

Covet

Minneapolis

Brand Identity

Brand Strategy, Visual Identity System

2023

Pacific Northwest Spey

Idaho

Brand Identity

Brand Strategy, Identity System, Website, Swag, Etc.

Elderly man in a blue shirt and beige cap standing inside a dimly lit rustic room with a wooden pallet and blue tank near a window showing an outdoor view.

Art, in the barn, on set of Kikkoman Documentary, Walworth, Wisconsin.

Wide exterior view of a large antique store building with three distinct sections: a black sign with large white letters reading 'ANTIQUE HOARDERS,' white wall with black letters saying 'DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT,' and a red-accented section with a black sign that says 'Bushert's ANTIQUES.' Several cars are parked in front, and various antiques are displayed outside the building.

Antique Hoarders.

Construction site near a beach with a Bobcat loader and a yellow backhoe loader parked on sandy ground, a wooden fence separating the site from the ocean with waves, clear blue sky, and a few people walking or standing near the fence.

Daytona Beach, Florida.

Empty cracked concrete parking lot facing a white wooden fence with openings showing palm trees and ocean waves beyond under a clear blue sky.

Daytona Beach, Florida.

Rusty white metal building in overgrown field with barbed wire fence, with faded large text reading 'WHITE ORANGES'.

Former citrus farm, rural Florida backroads.

Close-up of hands holding a handful of wheat grains outdoors, with the background blurred to show a field.

Art's Hands, on set of Kikkoman Documentary, Walworth, Wisconsin.

A large mural painted on a blue building features a close-up of a woman's face with red lipstick and yellow flowers in her hair, bordered by smaller depictions of people engaging in various activities on a yellow background that covers the doors and lower walls.

Frida, Traverse City, Michigan.

Small white wooden cabin with a green metal roof and a single door centered between two windows, surrounded by green grass and autumn trees with yellow leaves, with two orange chairs on the front porch and an antenna mounted to a pole in front.

Cabin, Mouth of the Brule River, Wisconsin.

Exterior of a white metal-paneled building with rust stains on one section, featuring a red door under a red awning labeled 'Next Generation 08 Gallery' and a window with a black-and-white image of a woman, set against a clear blue sky with a tall communication tower in the background.

Art Gallery, Three Oaks, Michigan.

Black and white image of a person wearing a leather jacket and gloves riding a classic motorcycle with its front headlight on, surrounded by blurred trees in the background.

Ritter, BMW R32, Pennsylvania.

Old black car elevated on a green cylindrical pedestal with a yellow smiley face and the text 'HAVE A NICE DAY!' surrounded by green panel fence and trees under blue sky with clouds.

Have a nice day, Upper Peninsula, Michigan.

Outdoor farm market setup with large wooden crates filled with apples labeled 'Apple King' and 'Independent Foods' in front of a yellow and orange container with 'FARM MARKET' painted on it, under a cloudy sky and autumn trees.

Roadside Market, Upper Peninsula, Michigan.

An elderly man wearing a denim shirt and apron sits on a white chair inside a workshop, carefully painting a ceramic bowl with a brush, surrounded by stacked pottery and boxes.

Ceramic Artist on the island of Sifnos, Greece.

Old garage building with a brown shingled roof and faded signage reading 'AMS Machine Service 666'; various signs on the garage door and entrance door include 'Beware of the Dog,' 'No Smoking,' 'Lawnmower Authorized Dealer,' and 'Open Mar. 18th 9-5.' A red pickup truck is partially visible on the right side.

Machine Shop, Pittsburgh 2001.

Street view of a vintage men's clothing store with a faded sign reading 'DRESS UP' above the entrance, a yellow fire hydrant on the sidewalk, and a leafless tree beside a glowing streetlamp.

Dress Up, Downtown Pittsburgh 2001.

Inside a flower shop densely packed with a variety of colorful flowers and green plants on both sides of a narrow aisle, an older man stands near a counter in the center, surrounded by orchids, hydrangeas, and other blooms under fluorescent ceiling lights.

One of the many hidden worlds of NYC.

Person walking on a gravel path beside a white house with a steep roof, set against forested mountains under a cloudy, moody sky.

Hiking through Slovenia.

Dirt road leading through green grassy fields toward low, rounded hills under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Driving through the Badlands of South Dakota.

A person wearing a hat and dark clothing stands with walking sticks in a dense, foggy forest filled with tall trees and fallen branches.

Foraging through western Pennsylvania.

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summary

Life Journey

Daytona Beach Detroit Pittsburgh Miami San Francisco Portland Minneapolis Boston Nashville

Interests & Obsessions

Art
Motorcycles
Fly Fishing
Travel
Photography
Food
Cooking
Espresso
Sauna
Fitness
Architecture
Podcasts
Audio Books
Books
Poetry
Magazines

Services & Capabilities

Brand Consulting Brand Audit Brand Strategy Naming Brand Identity Design Visual Identity Systems Campaign Systems Typography Web Design Package Design Retail Design Design Direction Creative Direction Art Direction Photography Book Design Book Covers Editorial Design

Agency Experience

MullenLowe
Cutwater
FCB
BBDO
Wieden + Kennedy
EVB
Venables Bell  & Partners
Penabrand
Special US
Saatchi + Saatchi
Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Fallon
Agency 215
Carmichael Lynch
Colle McVoy
Prettybird
Gold Front
Space 150
Juxt Interactive
Mono
Mithun
Olson
M&C Saatchi
Arnold Worldwide
Goodby Silverstein + Partners

Client Experience

Google Subaru Toyota Royal Caribbean JetBlue REI reebok adidas Nike Levis Red Kap Life is Good Mount Gay Rum Angels Envy E*TRADE Century 21 Monster.com Zipcar Suffolk Construction Nuveen US Cellular Hyatt Hotels Hilton Gallo Vail Resorts Adobe Old Spice Goodwill Coraline The Movie 2K sports EA Ubisoft Potterybarn Target General Mills Kikkoman 3M Dupont Feeding America American Giant Best Buy

Awards & Recognition

Cannes Lions Sundance Wild & Scenic Film Festival The One Show D&AD Gestalten Los Logos The Effies Communication Arts Print Magazine AdWeek SXSW The Webbys The FWA AdTech Awards and More