PBMA
Agency Branding, Visual Strategy, Workflow Design, Client Development, Creative Direction
Busy Bee's
I served as interim creative director at PBMA, shaping the agency’s brand identity, visual assets, and core workflow systems. I helped establish the agency’s voice around automation, accommodation, and authenticity while leading creative direction for multiple client projects and developing a scalable process for startup growth.
OVERVIEW
PBMA was a startup branding and automation agency launched in 2023 by Corey Thompson, a former newspaper editor and tech enthusiast with a focus on business automation and inclusive design. I joined early on as interim creative director, supporting the agency’s visual identity, internal workflow systems, and branding strategy for both PBMA and its first wave of clients.
DISCOVERY & RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT
This collaboration emerged organically through my role managing a coworking space, which served as a nexus for creatives, marketers, and tech professionals. Corey and I connected through a shared interest in neurodivergent-friendly systems and ethical branding. He had an initial concept and a rough AI-generated bee mascot, and I helped evolve that concept into a full-scale visual identity and structured service offering.
AGENCY BRANDING & IDENTITYy
I rebuilt PBMA’s brand identity around its three core values—automation, accommodation, and authenticity—and brought the bee mascot to life through vector illustration, establishing a brand aesthetic that felt warm, accessible, and inclusive. I selected a font system and color palette that balanced playful energy with credibility, and built modular brand assets for use across pitch decks, proposals, landing pages, and internal collateral.
SYSTEMS & WORKFLOW DESIGN
A large part of my role was operational: defining PBMA’s service stack, refining its workflow process, and creating templates for onboarding, contracts, and deliverables. These systems became the backbone of how PBMA managed creative direction and production timelines—many of which I still adapt for other freelance and business ventures.
CLIENT STRATEGY & DESIGN
Beyond agency branding, I played a lead creative role on several client projects under the PBMA umbrella, including:
Tesio Energy: Brand strategy and website design
Craft Party: Logo design, event branding, and merchandise templates
A-Escape: Visual identity and experience-based branding
IMPACT
Through strategic design, systems development, and visual cohesion, I helped PBMA move from concept to viable agency model. Our shared branding philosophy—centered on honoring each business’s individuality while automating and simplifying their operations—became the throughline of all creative output. The work also helped establish PBMA as a trusted agency for queer, neurodivergent, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs in its early phase.
