I’m Atley.


For over fifteen years, I‘ve specialized in transforming companies’ business goals into creative solutions. While I’ve partnered with organizations of all sizes, my focus has been working with companies during their formative or transitional stages, helping them clarify and communicate their vision effectively.

Prior to leading the Brand Studio at Collaborative Fund, I spent time at The Athletic and served as an executive team member at The Black Tux, where I headed both the Brand and Design teams. Before moving in-house, I co-led a brandmaking studio called Outpost for early stage ventures.

@ twitter ↗ / linkedin ↗ / atley at agk.xyz ↗  

MY APPROACH

As a designer, I emphasize context: what are we making, why are we making it, who is it for, and how will it connect with them?

As a leader, I focus on operational clarity, organizational health, clear evaluation frameworks, and creating a culture of possibility.

And as a design leader, I believe that if we purposefully take care of the customer, the customer will inevitably take care of the business. 

WHAT I DO

I specialize in generalization, believe that brand and product experiences are inextricably linked, keeping a balanced eye on velocity, efficacy, and impact.

Pre-Launch: Fundraising Materials, Go-to-Market, Design & Product Strategy

Brand: Strategy, Naming, Identity, Tone and Voice, Creative and Art Direction, Packaging, Campaign and Creative Development, Experiential & Retail

Product: Editorial, Content Strategy, Web and App Design

Creative Ops: Briefing, Resource and Pipeline Management, Process and Team Building, Production



I believe brands can and should help shape a better world.

Brand building is about more than just the quality, intention, and perspective of your firm’s identity, product, or creative.

Customers understand your brand not by the colors of your logo, but through the consistency and integrity of the decisions your organization makes every day.
NON SEQUITURS

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I am based in Los Angeles.

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I am a supremely novice home baker and potter.

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I play rec league soccer twice a week. And design the kits.

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I am currently helping design a video game.

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I appreciate the subtleties of the reverse bass found in an obscure genre of electronic music called Hardstyle.

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I made my first website in 1995.

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Let’s. Go. Dodge. Ers.

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Come On You Spurs!


COLOPHON & EMOTIONS

This website is built on Cargo ↗. It is typeset in both Nitti Grotesk and Nitti. A huge thanks to Jessica and Clark of The Collaborationist ↗ for photographing my work and Roo ↗ at Cargo for the patient and sanguine technical support.

Additionally, I wanted to thank Keith Scharwath ↗ for all the work we did together at Outpost → and The Black Tux → and Zach Frechette for our perpetual collaboration.
CONTACT