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About Us
Sean Oakes Studios, Inc. is a boutique graphic design firm specializing in online branding and design for a variety of clientele. From comprehensive identity design to cutting-edge Flash animation, we are dedicated to creating successful communication solutions that deliver results.
Our portfolio reflects a rich background developing easy-to-use, informative interactive experiences because that’s the kind of work we do best. From our work for charitable organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to prominent local universities like Columbia, we’ve built our business on transforming substantive content into usable interactive solutions that make a difference.
People
Sean Oakes has over 15 years of interactive design and project management experience. As principal of Sean Oakes Studios, Inc., he has created award-winning work for a broad range of clientele, from NYC non-profit institutions like the American Museum of Natural History to education giants like Scholastic. Before opening his own studio in 2000, Mr. Oakes was the Art Director for the children’s educational media company, MaMaMedia for five years. There he created the comprehensive look and feel for everything from online games to a quarterly print magazine. He hired and managed a 13-person design/illustration department. He also provided senior level art direction of online products including site-wide interface design, advertising and games. Prior to MaMaMedia, Mr. Oakes worked for Icon/Nicholson and on AT&T’s Interactive Television trial as an interface designer. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts, The Webby Awards, Business Week, The Smithsonian, and Apple. Sean is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.
After graduating from Harvard University with honors in Mathematics, Sam Nelson worked as the computer coordinator for the Casablanca American School. Returning to the United States, he became the Senior Software Engineer at Small World Software, a startup Web development company, and helped it grow from three employees to more than 50. He then became the Director of Software Development at The New York Times Electronic Media Company, where he managed a team of 30 Java developers, database managers, and Solaris system administrators maintaining and developing applications for the Times’ online properties. He left the Times to become an independent consultant and developer, primarily providing open-source content management and publishing solutions to companies like Condé Nast and non-profit organizations, like the National Center for Children in Poverty.
Lani Offen has sixteen years of experience as a database programmer and Information Architect. Recent work includes developing a Drupal-powered site for the City of Beacon, as well as providing IA work for many SOS projects. Prior to her work with SOS, she was a project manager with Civic Actions, where she managed Drupal development projects on behalf of MIT and the ACLU. Before that, she served as a senior producer with Team Articulate supporting Conde Nast titles including House and Garden, Bon Appetit, Jane, Golf Digest, and GQ; a partner at Mathematicus Labs, a software development firm providing custom solutions to financial services corporations; a senior project manager at Pedestal Capital, an online exchange for mortgage-backed securities; the technical director for Innovative USA, a children’s publisher and educational toy importer; and the Director of Operations at Hamilton-Stone Consulting, a small technology consulting firm. Lani studied engineering at The Cooper Union and received her BA in Political Science from CUNY.
As a Senior Designer at SOS, Miriam brings a stylistic breadth of experience from non-profits, small businesses, museums, and the health care industry. She is passionate about effecting positive change through smart, multidisciplinary design. She enjoys responding to diverse client needs with interactive design solutions, exacting typography, and making things look remarkably pretty.
Miriam was born in Denmark, and has degrees from Oberlin College and Parsons The New School of Design. She lives in Brooklyn, plays well with others, and takes pleasure seriously, just like Charles Eames said.
In addition to knowing all of our jobs backwards and forwards, Courtney is most skilled at keeping projects on-time and under budget. Her keen eye for detail, poise under pressure, and unique talent for pep-talks ensures the team at SOS is always on task. A typical Virgo, she’s at her best when she’s organizing daily schedules and multi-tasking between many different projects. Previously, Courtney was the Director of Production and Client Relations for Freestyle Releasing, where she managed complex advertising and feature post-production projects. Courtney has a degree in English Literature from California State University, Northridge.
Her rescue mutt, Roxie, is a calming office accessory that seems as dedicated as Courtney to making the world a better place.
Joshua Bloomberg has been writing copy for the last fourteen years, bringing award-winning ideas to such clients as Lexus, FIJI Water, Teleflora, Hyundai, and Disney, just to name a few. Josh's copy has found its way into every medium imaginable, from the tiniest Internet banner ads, to Super Bowl commercials, to the linings on the inside of toupées (yes, that's true). When he's not brainstorming ideas with Sean, Josh enjoys singing, playing guitar, and chasing his three cats around with a lint roller.