About | Rob Dunbar

I’m Rob, a brand and creative leader from the Chicago suburbs with a background that spans art direction, brand identity, graphic design, digital marketing, UI/UX, web development, and creative production. I’ve worked with startups, nonprofits, educational organizations, agencies, and global companies, but the challenge has always been pretty much the same: understand the problem, find the idea, and make the solution clear, useful, and memorable.

Early in my career, I had the opportunity to study under designers and illustrators including Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, and Bob Peak. Their approach to ideas, simplicity, and visual storytelling still influences the way I work today.

I love making things that not only look great, but actually do something — branding that tells a story, websites that feel easy to use, apps that make life simpler. I’ve worked with scrappy startups, community organizations, and big-name companies, but my favorite projects are always the ones where I get to roll up my sleeves and really dig in.

I’m comfortable working at either end of the spectrum—leading creative teams and collaborating across an organization, or rolling up my sleeves and doing the work myself. I’ve never believed creative leadership means stepping away from the creative.

Tools of the trade? Adobe Creative Cloud is second nature, I’m equally comfortable in Figma and web technologies, and I’ve developed a strange appreciation for figuring out what’s happening under the hood. Basically, if it involves design, tech, and problem-solving, I’m in.

Outside of work, I’m usually sketching ideas, tinkering with side projects, or finding new ways to blend tech and creativity. If you’ve got a vision, let’s make it happen — and let’s have some fun doing it.

Whether I’m working with emerging startups or legacy brands, I bring a deep understanding of visual storytelling and a relentless drive for excellence. I value authenticity, clarity, and creativity, and I believe that design should do more than look good. It should provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire action.

How I Work

Good creative work starts with understanding the problem. I ask questions, look for what makes the brand different, and then find the clearest visual way to communicate it. I care about the big idea, but I care just as much about the details—typography, hierarchy, color, consistency, usability, and how the work actually performs once it's out in the world.

Inspiration

Built with presence

Inspiration shows up in strange places. For me, it often comes from late-’60s American muscle cars—machines built with attitude, strong lines, and colors that were never meant to blend in. Electric blues, fiery reds and oranges, crisp whites, and deep blacks. Those cars had personality before you ever turned the key.

That same attitude influences the way I approach design. Start with a strong idea, make bold choices when they make sense, and get the details right. I like work that has character and confidence without feeling overdone.

Whether it’s a brand, website, campaign, or digital experience, I want the finished work to have presence. It should be clear, purposeful, well-built, and memorable.

1969 Ford Mustang in Grabber Blue — Grabber Blue

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 in Lime Green — Lime Green

1969 Ford Mustang in Calypso Coral — Calypso Coral

1969 Ford Mustang in Wimbledon White — Wimbledon White

How I Lead

Creative leadership with the sleeves rolled up.

Creative Leadership
Creative Judgment
Team Development
Client & Stakeholder Management
Problem-solving
Cross-functional Collaboration

My Toolbox

Branding, creative direction, design, web, UX, animation, CRM—and enough caffeine to make the pixels behave.

Design

Adobe Creative Cloud • Figma

Digital

HTML5 • CSS3 • JavaScript • WordPress

Platforms

Caspio • SQL • HubSpot

Analytics & Marketing

Google Analytics • Google Ads • Email & Social Platforms