Hello! My name is Christian
I'm a friendly easy-going type who embraces the ongoing venture of what I can push myself to create.
I specialize in highly collaborative logo and brand design with a passion for communicating complex messages through simple, relatable visuals.
What is “Woah Neat” ?
It is my brand name—the spirit of what I want to bring to people with my content…whether it’s a breathtaking view, a thought provoking article, a clever design, or a fun piece of entertainment. Whatever it is you say in a moment of inspiration, surprise, and delight—I hope you find yourself saying that here!
Woah: used to express surprise, interest, alarm; to command attention.
Neat: great, wonderful; simple pleasing appearance, style, design, etc.
Who I am
Mountain explorer
I am a keen hiker who loves to conquer mountains—taking photos along the way—and apparently has an obsession with waterfalls. I enjoy leading groups on adventures going on hikes and exploring beautiful places.
FRIENDLY PEOPLE PERSON
One of my superpowers is the ability to love people instantaneously; I seem to have a pre-established and yet individualized connection with complete strangers. Having been a part of several families of friends, I strive to create an inviting environment wherever I go.
Battle Hardened Gamer
Team-carrying soldier, story completionist, couch co-oper, indie connoisseur, and family boardgamer. Grew up playing with my two brothers starting with the Nintendo 64's classics and have been following this exciting industry ever since.
My Adventure Map
This map is a personal record of all the trails, swimming spots, sights to see, little pieces I want to remember, and routes I have wandered in the world. With that said, there may be some valuable info for you as well; If you have questions about a certain place I’ve been—I’m happy to answer questions and give advice!
Want to start your own? It’s never too late to start jotting down your own adventures! This map was created with Google My Maps. …And just because I get asked this a lot: I don’t use any type of GPS device to mark my hiking trails on here—I simply go to the map and painstakingly re-trace that day’s wanderings.
Map Legend
Pins
Green Pins: Natural Landmarks
Orange Pins: Hike Notes
Light Blue Pins: Swimming Spots
Dark Blue Pins: Man-made Landmarks
Lines
Orange Lines: Hike Trails
Blue Lines: Water Routes
Tan Lines: Beach Walks
Other
Blue Diamonds: To Do List (usually off)
White Squares: Places stayed
White Circles: Memorable Events
Education
Academy of Art University
Master of Arts Degree in Visual Development
Graduated 2018
Had an awesome experience living in San Francisco getting a Master's Degree in Visual Development. I am trained in professional production art including environments, props, and characters.
California State Univ. Sacramento
Bachelor’s in Graphic Design
Graduated 2016
I was 1 of 40 people selected to go through the gruelling design program at California State University Sacramento—one of the most highly sought after graphic design programs in California—surviving through to graduation in Spring 2016.
The year 2019 was the year my life’s story took an unexpected turn. It started with a desire for self discovery and ended with a declaration of who I am in the choices I made.
What better way to discover oneself than to set out on your own far removed from everything and everyone you’ve known? On January 24th, I had left home with a one way ticket to South East Asia—alone and with no clear idea of when I might come back. My very first day in this new world—I met an amazing woman; We traveled together from Thailand through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and back into Thailand.
Then one morning on an island, sitting on the doorstep of a beachfront hut, news which changed everything came. Ania—that amazing woman I had met on my first day—was pregnant. The sudden loss of freedom was devastating. A short boat ride and a bus later, we were back in Bangkok where we had first met not too long ago. I had decided to return with her to her home in Poland. We both got a job and prepared for our baby’s arrival.
Though it has been very difficult, I have adapted to the challenges of a foreign culture where English is the unspoken third language and learning to accept being away from my friends and family back home. My new family here welcomed me into theirs from the very first day and have loved me increasingly as their own.
Meanwhile…
the love Ania and I had for each other grew to become the love I had always dreamed of having. Our adventures continued as we went to our first wedding together up in Finland and climbed the stairs of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The time eventually came for us to meet Amelia—our little one who had been growing in Ania’s beautiful belly. I stayed by My Love’s side through the whole process; Cutting the cord myself—on December 14th—I became a father!
That is my life’s story for the year of 2019.
It had been an adventurous journey from start to finish in the far away places I had gone, the emotional ups and downs endured, and especially the new people I’ve met along the way…including the little one who sleeps in my arms as I write this. Rather than finding a place I belong, I found a woman that I am joined to. On the anniversary of the day we met, I presented this visual summary of the year to her. Once she spotted the ring hidden among the images here, I pulled it from my pocket and asked Ania to marry me! Our shared story continues…now with our beautiful baby girl.