People
Michael Patrick Partners is a nationally recognized design and brand development firm with offices in Portland, Oregon, and Menlo Park, California—managed by its co–founding partners Duane Michael Maidens and Daniel Patrick O’Brien. Get it?
Duane “Doo” Maidens, partner and creative director
Duane Michael Maidens is co-founder and manages our Portland office. He and co-founder Daniel Patrick O’Brien launched Michael Patrick Partners in 1979. As an art director, creative director, and designer, Doo has received awards from ADDY, American Corporate Identity, AR100, CASE, Communication Arts (CA), Creativity Books, Graphic Design usa (GDUSA), Graphis, New York Art Directors, PRINT, Rosey Awards, San Francisco Adverting Association, Simpson Paper Company, and The West Coast Show, among others. He’s a member of AIGA. He and his wife own two crazy Weimaraners, and he has multiple cowboy hats but no horse.
Dan O’Brien, partner and creative director
Daniel Patrick O’Brien is co-founder, creative director, and manages our Menlo Park office. His work as a designer, art director, and creative director has received awards from ADDY, American Corporate Identity, Black Book’s AR100, CA, Creativity Books, GDUSA, Graphis, LogoLounge, Mead Annual Report Show, New York Art Directors, PRINT, Potlatch Annual Report Show, San Francisco Advertising Association, The West Coast Show, and a bunch more. Dan has taught advanced design at San José State University, a member of AIGA and Western Art Directors Clubs. He is a current board member of Rebuilding Together Peninsula, a past board member of Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his efforts, including the “Ronnie Award” for Outstanding Community Volunteer from the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Dan is a world champion domino player (in his dreams), rides motorcycles, and is an avid tennis player. Oh, and he went skydiving once—why push it?
Eko Tjoek, senior designer
Eko is a multiple recipient of the nation’s most coveted design awards and has received recognition from American Corporate Identity, AR100, CA, CA Exhibit Online, Creativity Books, GDUSA, Graphis, HOW magazine, Potlatch Annual Report Show, Rosey Awards, SAPPI Annual Report Show, The West Coast Show, and more—we’ll send a complete list to interested parties. He’s a member of AIGA. He also collects the midcentury modern furniture of Charles and Ray Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Norman Cherner. He’s concerned that his mother sold the stamp collection of his youth to fund her recent European cruise.
Lauren Brooks, designer
We rely on Lauren to keep us up-to-date with what’s hot and what’s not in pop culture. Did you know Psy is old news? She lives and breathes identity design and is one of our brand development team leaders. In her off time, she’s a card-carrying member (and all-star) of the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club. She demonstrates she’s a good environmental steward each day by riding her bright blue cruiser to work. She’s also studied art and graphic design in Florence, Paris, and Rome. She’s a member of AIGA. Lauren’s favorite color is plaid and holds the record for being the tallest woman at our firm.
Keith Pacoma, digital designer
Keith kicks cyber ass. As a leader of our digital design team, Keith directs mobile application and website design assignments and is passionate about helping clients understand how to take their digital brand to the next level. Keith goes way beyond client expectations—he’s our detail oriented, make-it-better, test-it-at-maximum-capacity guy. And he loves cars—taking them apart and seeing how they work (he’s not allowed near the copier). And while he’s no Fred Astaire, he can cut a rug. Look for Keith’s dance videos on YouTube. Psy’s out—Keith’s in.
Debbie Koenig, designer
Debbie is a brand development team leader. Her skill set helps separate our work from the competition. She puts into practice a brand development philosophy that says design must be grounded in strategy—without a strategy design is simply decoration. For all assignments, clarity and simplicity is a key to a brand’s success. Debbie has an eye for details and sponge-like qualities—that’s a compliment. Her work is elegant, relevant, and sophisticated. An Oregon native, Debbie can often be seen taking old-school film photographs in her spare time. And she’s a member of AIGA. She’s also accomplished in martial arts. Debbie is a master of the minimal—the only thing on her desk is her elbows and a computer.
Jennifer Tang, digital designer
Jennifer is a digital team leader. Website design is her passion and specialty, and she believes design plays a significant role in a company’s institutional culture. Jennifer’s job is to analyze and stay in tune with current digital design trends and practices. Her view is that design influences everyone on multiple levels and she follows the old adage that form follows function. She wants to help people get the information they need quickly—avoiding the temptation to decorate. It’s an approach where content dictates design—to solve communication problems elegantly and honestly. In her spare time Jennifer is an avid photographer. Does anyone know where to get film for a Brownie Target Six-16?
Jocelyn Wu, operations manager
Designers don’t do math, so Jocelyn’s job is to make sure everything adds up. Along with financial responsibilities she handles our social media activities. It’s a perfect left and right brain fit for us—she loves marketing and numbers. Since she’s on the front line of client contact, Jocelyn helps to ensure clients understand exactly how and what we’re charging. She’s a San Francisco Bay Area native with a sweet tooth—we’ve discovered she’ll drive almost anywhere for a tasty dessert. And when she’s not eating pink macaroons, she loves to shop online or read the latest New York Times bestseller on her Kindle. Jocelyn is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and has a conversational command of Japanese. “One cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked.”
John Davis, digital producer
John leads our digital design teams and serves as client liaison—his expertise and resources bring innovative digital solutions to life. He’s at his best leading teams to deliver outcomes that track back to our brand development strategies. When looking for a firm that placed brand strategy and messaging before design—John rang our bell. John’s expertise includes CMS solutions, content marketing, digital strategy, mobile first, policy and quality assurance, social media strategy, social and mobile applications, user interface design, website development live cycle management, plus website and mobile applications. He’s also very tall.
Lizzie Thompson, lucky intern
Each year we select a young wide-eyed idealistic designer to be our slave. This year’s victim is Lizzie Thompson. She can be heard mumbling phrases such as, “They didn’t mention this in design school.” “This is a really stupid idea?” And our favorite, “Do you mean by 5:00 today?” We tell all design students it’s never too late to change your major. So far she hasn’t cost us any money or clients.
Barry Drake, controller
For 20 years, Barry’s helped us make informed financial decisions. Under his stewardship we’ve survived four recessionary periods and the comings and goings of employees. In each case, his counsel has made our company stronger. Imagine for a moment the discipline required to keep two art guys focused on making money—not a pretty picture. When he’s not crunching numbers, you’ll find him crushing golf balls on the links or pitching in to raise his beautiful children. Barry also loves his SF Giants—two World Series Championships in three years? Humm Baby.
Beth Anne Moore, brand strategist and writer
Beth’s been our brand strategist and writer for 25 years. She helps our clients develop relevant positioning, articulate honest brand attributes, and deliver a story in an engaging and memorably voice. Her job is to create a solid brand platform that an organization can evolve thoughout its lifecycle. She analyzes the competitive landscape and crafts the messages, words, and tone that make them stand up, out, and above the rest. Beth is based in Texas, has Texas Longhorn cattle, two horses, chickens and a cat that thinks it’s a dog. For her, relaxation involves a tractor and chain saw.
