COGNITION STUDIO - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Lead Designer, Brand Interactive
Amanda Grage holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Academy of Art University, San Francisco. She embraces the entire range of visual communication, recognizing that design is a cultural force that spans consumer, commerce, and social causes. Excelling at conceptual problem solving, innovation, critical thinking and formal design as well as branding and marketing strategies.
Amanda is an award winning designer, bringing her skills and expertise in brand platform development, iconography systems, digital communication strategies and magazine/book design to Cognition Studio. She has a deep focus on App and tablet based interactions for medical education, medical products and clinical trials, as well as digital animation for global health.
In the past year, Amanda has helped many clients build relevant and meaningful brand connections, learn about health related issues through the power of illustrative storytelling, and drive business sales through design strategies.
Brandon Keehner holds a Master of Science in Medical illustration from Augusta University and a B.A. in Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration from Iowa State University. He is proud to be an award-winning professional member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
Brandon brings nearly a decade of experience to Cognition, having created work previously for numerous pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. From 2D and 3D medical animations to medical models and illustrations, he enjoys working with various software and subject matter to communicate important and complex ideas alongside the talented team at Cognition.
Job Titles:
- Design Director
- Director of Design
Dan is a seasoned design director with deep experience inventing consumer brands-from their existential beginnings to formidable launches-and reinventing brands with a new story to tell. Dan spent serious time leading creative teams in-house at NBBJ Architecture, Starbucks, Experience Music Project (MoPoP), Giftcertificates.com, Realogics, Chateau Ste. Michelle and-on the agency side-a decade working directly with incredible clients, from global to local, at Tether, a design and branding firm in Seattle.
Dan also has a passion for fostering international connections between designers. He organized a series of poster exhibitions for Bumbershoot, Seattle's biggest music and arts festival, culminating with The Seattle-Havana-Tehran Poster Show in 2015. Through this self-initiated, city-to-city exchange project, Dan mounted ten total exhibitions, gave talks at universities from Beirut to Boise, and made innumerable friends around the world.
Dan joins Cognition to bring his big brand, human connection, and impact thinking to a new sector-science, innovation, and medicine. Dan leads large and small brand development projects and brand campaigns, guiding cross-functional teams of strategists, writers, designers, and visual storytellers to new heights.
Job Titles:
- Lead Science & Medical Writer
Liz is a unique hybrid: data scientist with a research background in molecular biology and professional experience as a science communicator. She is passionate about data-driven discovery and sharing those discoveries with the world. That makes her a perfect fit for Cognition!
In her day to day, she helps our science storytelling team understand and translate complex science efficiently, as well as help our global health initiatives achieve optimal success with clear communications. She loves to stretch her skills to biotech and pharma through disease awareness and educational materials that translate complex MOA/MOD's into each to teach concepts.
And with juggling all of that, she also has programming and machine learning skills!
Job Titles:
- Content Designer and Strategist
Erin is a writer, designer, editor, and content strategist. She works to align business coals with end users' experience and works squarely at the intersection of user-centered design and content development.
As a user experience writer, she collaborates with clients to plan an overall approach to content initiatives. She also analyzes and maps out the microcopy in apps, websites, and other digital products to ensure clarity of expectations and support tracking and metrics.
Henry is a graduate from Western Washington University with a Computer Science degree and a minor in Entrepreneurship. He is a self described jack of all trades developer.
Henry is a technically-sophisticated information technology professional possessing demonstrated proficiency with web design and development. With a deep understanding of the most relevant programming languages, tools, and concepts in the software development industry.
Henry is a highly-skilled communicator with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with others and provide team leadership and training. He joins Cognition to grow his team skills and contribute impactful work.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Medical Illustrator
Inessa Stanishevskaya is a board certified medical illustrator and holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.), Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Cum Laude, Biomedical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Medical Illustrator
Job Titles:
- Designer, Presentation Specialist
Jenn graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor's in Graphic Design with continuing education at the School for Visual Concepts for User Experience and coding.
Jenn brings a deep background in corporate presentation design that aims to inspire and engage audiences through well-crafted, clear, and compelling narratives driven by thoughtful design and animation.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager / Technical Project Manager
Jon is a seasoned and certified scrum master with 10+ years of solid project management. Utilizing agile methodology web development and waterfall project management methods, Jon has a proven track record of guiding projects from start to finish and ensuring precision information and client experience throughout the process.
A native of Seattle, Washington, Jon holds a B.A. in communication from Florida Atlantic University. What Jon enjoys most about project management is building relationships with clients and helping them identify opportunities to move their brand forward. When he's not focused on delivering client satisfaction, Jon spends his days chasing his three sons and rescue dog, Pingo.
Josep Blas is a seasoned production designer who supports the work of other designers, content creators and program managers-from initial design to final execution. He digs into the components of the project to truly understand what is needed to get the work done.
Josh Bird holds a Master of Science, Medical Illustration from Augusta University, formerly the Medical College of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Science, Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration, from Iowa State University. He is an active member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
Josh's combined educational and professional experience, including being a board certified medical illustrator, enables him to effectively generate a broad range of scientific and medical illustrations and animations. He strives to create visuals that convey complex information accurately and clearly while engaging a broad target audience in a meaningful and purposeful way.
Job Titles:
- Medical Illustrator and Project Manager
- Project Manager of Science Storytelling
Julie is a medical illustrator and project manager with a passion for communicating science and doing her part to improve the world. She believes things can progress when we cross-collaborate and that intentional communication gives us the opportunity to connect. This fuels her enthusiasm for working as a project manager with the Science Storytelling team at Cognition.
Julie's history includes creating custom medical illustrations for the scientific community, researching how we process visual information as it relates to biopsychology and cognitive psychology, and volunteering with local communities that can benefit the most. When she's not focused on her incredible team and new insights into the science communication world, Julie dedicates her time to her fur babies and holistically gardening natives alongside vegetables in her small urban plot.
Job Titles:
- Designer, Brand Interactive
Karlie is a graduate from the University of Washington's School of Art, Division of Design, with a BDes in Visual Communication Design where she was educated and trained as a designer to create and develop concepts that optimize the function, value, and appearance of communications, products and systems for the benefit of both industry and society.
She joins Cognition to hone the craft of design, learning from and being mentored by everyone at Cognition. She excels at applying critical thinking to technology, digital publishing, editorial design as well as user interface design, and mobile platforms. She is passionate about learning, having fun, and making a rewarding experience with her team.
Job Titles:
- Medical Animator Illustrator
As the child of two technical theater artists (scenic and lighting design), Katie really had no choice but also to become an artist. After a brief foray into natural sciences, when she obtained a BS in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester, she returned to the fold and earned an MS in Biomedical Visualization from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Katie delights in the challenge of distilling the essential meaning from a scientific story and then communicating that meaning with captivating visuals. She brings not only her experience in fast-paced medical communications agency work but also her boundless enthusiasm to the Cognition team. During her time in graduate school, Katie served as the President of the Student Association of Medical Artists, the BVIS program Anatomy Tutor, and a research assistant for the Saxena Lab. She was the recipient of the 2021 Joyce McGill award from the Vesalius Trust and is currently an active and award-winning member of the Association of Medical Illustrators. She is a lifelong learner and creative problem solver, valuing above all the power of collaboration.
Kristin is a veteran designer who comes to Cognition with a breadth of experience in branding and print design. Whether creating the identity of a fledgling company or designing multi-venue signage for a global event, Kristin delivers innovative solutions that make an impact.
Kristin also brings a background in the nonprofit and education sectors. Her time as a communications manager and marketing director gave her valuable strategy, leadership, and project management experience. Her strong writing and editing skills enhance her critical eye for (pixel-perfect) detail across projects.
Kristin's passion for design that makes a difference aligns with the studio's vision that "design can change the world". She is excited to grow in her craft alongside an exceptional creative team.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Executive Director
- Co - Founder, Executive Director of Design, Chief Strategist
Kristine Johnson holds a BFA in BioCommunications, a Master of Associated Medical Science and several years of post-graduate study in visual communication design focused on the science of visual cognition.
Her role is one of aggregator/filter/editor/curator within any particular client engagement. A constant awareness of the complex considerations inherent in working with scientifically inclined clients keeps her engaged; a thirst for constant learning keeps her asking the right questions. She sees her role to be one of outside advocate for the intended audience.
Kristine brings her natural talent for design strategy, whole systems thinking, brand communication design and knowledge transfer to the studio. Focusing heavily on client engagement, problem solving, brand systems design, and thought leadership-she leads her team to solve complex problems with highly successful results.
A top award winning designer and lecturer, Kristine is an active volunteer and a leader within several design-related organizations. Previously served both the local Seattle Chapter and the national organization of AIGA, the Professional Association for Design, and currently serving on the leadership team for the AIGA LINK Program.
Job Titles:
- Designer, Brand Interactive
Lindsey is a graduate from the University of Washington with a bachelor degree in Communication and Media Studies. She pursued visual communication design, earning a degree from the Seattle Central Creative Academy and joins Cognition to marry her two passions of communication + design and apply her talent for global good.
She is also an illustrator, storyteller, crafter, creator, and caretaker who ceaselessly gravitates toward the new and novel. She never stops moving and pursuing opportunities for creative expression and collaboration.
Liz has a BA in psychology from the University of Delaware and is a hardworking, effective and upbeat team leader with 15+ of project management with focused experience pharma, consumer
products, and healthcare. She has experience in early stage biotech start up, commercial development (NDA through FDA approval), and mature commercial product management (post-FDA approval). Liz adds her talents to our team of creatives and ensure we deliver amazing results for clients.
Liz works with clients and the creative delivery teams communicating and managing tasks, listening and supporting all members of the team. She has extensive experience with online marketing strategy and social media campaigns.
Working with Liz is fluid, fun and focused. She brings process, tools and information together to ensure the delivery of projects afford for a high level of craft, precision, and meet budget/time criteria. Most importantly, she ensures a cohesive culture is maintained throughout the project experience.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Science Storytelling
Jared Travnicek holds a Master of Art in Medical and Biological Illustration from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has experience in a variety of fields, including surgery, medical devices, molecular imaging, and life sciences.
Jared brings his skills and expertise in motion graphics, 3D, and vector-based animation to Cognition Studio. His knowledge of human anatomy coupled with an innate storytelling capability provides visual solutions needed in complex animations.
Jared is a Board Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI) and an award-winning member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
Job Titles:
- Designer, Brand Interactive
Rachel is a graduate of Western Washington's School of Design, with a double major in design. She has worked at top firms in Seattle, cutting her teeth on forwarding thinking technology projects and helping build strong brands that will stand the test of time.
Regina Milner holds a Master of Science in Medical Illustration from Augusta University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Magna Cum Laude, Scientific Illustration from the University of Georgia. She is an active member of the Association of Medical Illustrators.
Regina brings her experience in the health sciences industry as a medical illustrator, storyboard artist, and animator to Cognition. She thrives on telling compelling stories about science and health through visual media. Regina excels at depicting anatomy dynamically and uses her drawing skills to maintain a human element in the work. She is an avid learner and seeks new challenges and opportunities to collaborate with the Cognition team and clients.
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical Animator Illustrator
- Certified Medical Illustrator
Val is a certified medical illustrator holding a degree in Medical Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She comes to Cognition from the journal Science, where she was a Senior Scientific Illustrator. For almost a decade, she helped bring clarity and awareness to diverse topics, from viruses to climate change. She believes that speaking the languages of both scientists and artists is the key to the successful visualization of complex science in any medium.
Job Titles:
- Lead Information Designer