Chris Atkins

Available for hire fromNegotiable

Contracts

Transformative branding and design for nonprofits and changemakers.

I’m on a mission to partner with purpose-driven businesses, agencies, and nonprofits to make an impact. I’m a freelance brand designer and creative director based in Austin, Texas. With over 19 years of experience across a wide variety of industries, business sizes, agencies, and in-house roles—I’m now focused on delivering exceptional value through independent brand identity, web design, and graphic design services.

Projects

Designing an Identity to Fight Hunger and Reduce Waste

This project is part of a conceptual series, where I envision brand identities and design work for fictional nonprofit organizations and social impact businesses. My goal here is to freely explore creative ideas while sharpening my skills with the same level of quality, problem-solving, and passion I provide my clients. Introducing Good Basket, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing hunger and food waste within local communities. For this project, I challenged myself to develop a comprehensive visual brand identity from scratch with the creation of several deliverables highlighting Good Basket’s mission of feeding communities, reducing food waste, and fostering local partnerships. I aimed to show how a unified, thoughtful approach to design can amplify a nonprofit’s message and impact.See More

Brand & Web Design for Compassionate Therapy Practice

Caroline Roesel Behavioral Health offers compassionate, specialized care through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for individuals of all ages. Led by Caroline Roesel, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, the practice is committed to helping clients overcome life’s challenges with evidence-based, personalized support. To embody Caroline’s values and expertise, we crafted a welcoming visual brand identity that aligns with her approach. We selected a warm, calming color palette and organic shapes to create a sense of comfort, complemented by understated typography and custom icons that subtly reinforce clarity and trust. The result is a design that feels both approachable and professional, reflecting the therapeutic nature of her work. Building on this foundation, we designed and developed a user-friendly website that facilitates exploration of Caroline’s services and insights into her practice. The responsive layout, coupled with thoughtful navigation and interactive elements, ensures a welcoming experience for anyone seeking mental health support. By integrating a new brand identity, content strategy, SEO, and user-centered design, we’ve helped Caroline Roesel Behavioral Health establish a credible and inviting presence that reflects the quality of care clients can expect.See More

Logo Design Simplicity Amongst Mental Health Complexity

PsychTrac is a technology solution for mental health care providers that improves coordination and communication between caregivers and patients. I was brought on board to develop the visual brand identity system of logo design, color palette, and typography. Our aim? To create a welcoming identity amidst the complexity of mental healthcare. Through the brand discovery and design process, we developed an inviting identity that communicates simplicity for what is typically a very complex process for health care providers. The end result is a visual identity that resonates with both caregivers and patients, embodying PsychTrac's commitment to seamless mental healthcare.See More

A Nonprofit Brand & Web Design Sprint for Trans Rights

FUTR: Families United for Trans Rights—is a grassroots nonprofit founded by the families and parents of trans children. This important organization advocates for the rights of trans Americans by supporting candidates who will fight for those rights. In recent years, there has been a heightened national focus and legislative battle on matters concerning the transgender community. This has led to a significant increase in anti-trans and transphobic discrimination in our legislature, healthcare system, workforce, public spaces, and even in our homes and families. FUTR’s work is more urgent than ever. They are committed to electing qualified transgender candidates and trans allies at all levels of state and federal office—ensuring that the voices and needs of the trans community are represented, heard, and catalyzed into action. This nonprofit branding and web design project was a pro bono collaboration with Studio Malagon's Ernesto Morales serving as the creative director. We worked rapidly, in a one-day branding sprint, to craft the logo and visual identity for FUTR. The logo and identity represent a prism of light refracting through the visual elements, shooting upwards, towards hope and transformation. Once the visual system was in place, we designed and developed FUTR’s website, where people can learn about the organization and donate directly to the supported candidates.See More

Designing La Chispa’s Desert-Inspired Logo and Identity

La Chispa is a primitive camping and stargazing destination located on 10.5 acres in the beautiful southwest region of Texas, near Terlingua and Big Bend. Working directly with the property owners, I helped craft a logo design and brand identity that captures the essence of the landscape and region, using cultural and historical influences of Mexican folk art, the American west, and cosmic wonder. The typography and design style is textured, rustic, and welcoming to all explorers. The brand colors are inspired by the Chihuahuan Desert landscape, flora, and sunset hues. The use of stars, moons, and celestial symbols are references to the amazing stargazing views at the property and to “chispa”, which translates to “spark” from Spanish. Additionally, I developed web design references, merch designs, and social media mockups to better envision the full potential of the visual identity.See More

Modern Web Design for a Leading Magazine Design Studio

October Custom Publishing is an established magazine and publication design studio based in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of history, success, and growth, the company’s website was falling behind the current needs and goals of the expanding business. A fresh, modern, and professional online strategy and web presence were needed to attract bigger clients and boost the business to its next chapter of growth. Working closely with the Owner and Creative Director, we collaborated to create a new website that better reflects the remarkable portfolio, work, and brand promise of the studio. I led the market research, web planning, content strategy, web design, web development, and SEO process—all in-house—and delivered a modern, responsive, and dynamic website that should serve the studio for years to come. Based on strategic research and planning, we landed on a design direction that is geared towards magazine owners, publishers, and editorial staff as a gallery exhibition and celebration of magazine design. It is inspired by bold and dynamic magazine designs and editorial spreads. The large sans serif headlines, oversized imagery, structured grid layouts, and strategic use of white space put the studio's client work and focus on magazine design center stage.See More

Work History

Creative Director & Owner

Chris Atkins DesignChris Atkins Design is an independent, freelance design studio—focused on helping nonprofits and mission-driven businesses make a bigger impact through expert brand identity, web design, and graphic design services. Responsibilities include providing art direction and design services, developing and managing the creative process, managing business aspects, and collaborating with diverse teams.

Creative Director

Bloom CommunicationsApr 2020 - Jan 2023 • 2 yrs 10 mosBloom Communications is a marketing and PR agency focused on serving nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations. Responsibilities included managing and leading creative client projects, developing the agency's branding and marketing, and planning and managing the creative department.

Creative Director, Sr. Creative Designer, Team Lead, Creative Designer

QuantumDigital, Inc.Jan 2007 - Nov 2016 • 9 yrs 11 mosQuantumDigital is a national direct marketing provider. Responsibilities included leading marketing and creative services, strategic planning and development of marketing communications, managing a marketing team, assisting with project management, and providing graphic design solutions.

Education

Texas Tech University

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Design Communication2000 - 2005

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