Many years ago, Kristen began her creative journey. At a small table in the corner of her room, crayon in hand, she focused on drawings and learning to write. An abundance of time was spent playing dress up, creating situations and scenarios to live in. Putting on a bonnet and calico skirt she set out across the arid backyard with all she could carry in a backpack and living off mud pies dried on the rim of a sandbox.

Following her travels through many lands, she found herself at a table again. This time with a paintbrush in hand. She discovered shape, color, texture, and most importantly emotion. A mixed media piece she created her senior year in high school was awarded the Gold Key Scholastic Art Award.

Key in hand she went to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with an Artistic Honors Scholarship. There she developed a strong visual arts foundation. This foundation encourage a search for specialization. A bullet point list concluded the path of costume design, and led her in search of new programs.

After interviewing at the University of Southern California, Kristen was accepted and awarded a Presidential Scholarship. At USC she learned about theatre. Connecting all of her visual knowledge and intuition in collaboration with others to create something living, breathing and ever changing. Kristen received her BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Southern California.

In Los Angeles she was introduced to a costume designer for film and television named Isis Mussenden. Isis embraced her and introduced her to the industry- showing the nuances of designing for the medium as well as introductory jobs on movies. This was a thrilling world. During this initiatory phase, she met another mentor- Mark Bridges. Mark looked at Kristen’s portfolio one day on set, and encouraged her to go to a graduate program if she was serious about costume design.

From this incentive she applied and was accepted and awarded a Tisch Department Fellowship to began her Master’s studies at New York University. In this program she truly started forming as an artist. Constantly being challenged not only to put her skills and talents into her work, but also her heart. The art of storytelling was presented to her and there was no going back.

After finishing her Masters she returned to Los Angeles. Her education continued as an assistant designer on many great films. The scope of film was exciting and challenging, the problems to solve were equally invigorating. She would also start designing her own films. The relationship between writer, director, cinematographer, actors, and production designer deepened for her. The collaboration from script to screen felt like such a beautiful process to follow, in order to share the stories of today.

Kristen travels around the world working on projects in many locations. Her exploration into storytelling will never stop, her curiosity will never cease. The joy she has found in story will always propel her forward.