D&AD New Blood Shift: Meet Dane

My parents are from the island of Trinidad. Its culture is a big part of who I am and the way I tell a story - the patterns, the colors, the sweet sounds of the steel pan. Of course, having immigrant parents also means I had few career choices: doctor, lawyer, engineer. In college, I pursued a degree in both architecture and engineering, but discovered late in the game I didn't have a passion for either. With an entrepreneurial-spirit and a drive to find what would truly inspire me day-to-day, I first joined a construction management company as their lead designer, creating 3D visualizations, an interactive website (RIP Flash), and all marketing materials. I later moved to lead the design team at a commercial sign production shop, and got to see my work move from my computer screen to large-scale installations in a week's time.

I'm currently the Founder of DAP Creative Works, an NYC-based consultancy with a focus on visual branding and design direction. I've had the opportunity to do work for amazing companies like Trip Advisor, Sheraton, Goodwill, and Coca-Cola. My bread and butter is logo development, custom website builds, and marketing collateral. But with 8 years of freelance experience under my belt, the hustle genes are strong; art direction, music production, video editing, and 3D visualization are all skills I've developed along the way, and help me tell a complete story for clients big and small.

That said, Shift has imparted new wisdom, experience, and partnerships, and I'm learning that nothing great is created in a vacuum. With the new year, I aim to bring my unique story and perspective as a solopreneur, a first-generation Caribbean-American, a black man living in America, and a lover of all things creative to new collaborations and full-time agency opportunities.

In tl;dr speak: I'm a vibe-maker. 2020 was a tough year for all of us, so in 2021 I'm throwing all of my energy towards making incredible work for good with talented creatives in and out of the industry.

Our Shifters have been honing their craft, pushing and polishing their work and now they are ready to take their talent further. Explore more:​
www.dap.works