rescuesquad.design
St. Louis, MO United States
Cris Edwards
rescuesquad.designAbout me
I'm a jack of all trades with a Masters in Fine Arts. My background is in theatre, and that opened me up to a whole world of creative endeavors. From directing, to playwriting, to sewing, and even welding. Outside of working in theatre I enjoy creative writing, graphic design, and book publishing. Outside of my creative work, I also run soQuiet, a nonprofit organization for misophonia advocacy. What is misophonia, you ask?
I love making the impossible possible, so if you have a project that needs a creative mind, I'd be happy to lend you mine.
My first job ever was demonstrating magic tricks at a magic shop. It's been a whirlwind ever since.
My roles and specialties
Creative Writer
Books, Plays, Publishing
Graphic Designer
Brand Identity, Drawing, Layout
Theatre
Directing, Technical Director, Theatrical Design
What is your primary focus as an independent professional?
Writing is my main focus, and I also love the tactile nature of creating printed books. Give me a project that involves print publishing or design and I'm in my element. Once the pandemic is finally under control, I'll probably focus on performance and theatre projects again.
What makes you uniquely special?
I have the ability to combine the tech world and the art world in a really unique way. Using tech to give something a handmade quality, or personal touch, is what I thrive on.
How do you keep the creative fires burning?
Giving myself room to breathe and create has been key. I prefer to take on fewer clients at a time so that I can give each one the attention they deserve. This also gives me the ability to focus on personal creative projects, too.
Who inspires you?
I find inspiration all around me and from many people including Walt Whitman and Carl Sagan. I'm an avid reader and draw visual inspiration from design and architecture books.
Why do you love doing what you do?
I believe everyone is creative, and I feel fortunate that I've been able to carve out a living in the creative space. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is when I get to reveal a creation to the world and watch it connect with others.
Have you always been independent? What has your career trajectory been?
I've always done some type of independent work over the years, though what exactly that is changes all the time. Independent work suits my personality well.
Who are some of the clients you have worked with?
I really enjoy finding ways to help people with a project, whether big or small. I've worked for a number of large corporations, including Apple, and also loved helping my local Mediterranean restaurant launch a website. Free falafel for the win.
What is the most significant (to you) project you have worked on?
What stands out to me are the many short performance pieces I have written, directed, and produced over the years for FronteraFest, a fringe theatre festival, in Austin. One piece in particular (a One-Woman play I created) was very personal and allowed me to grow a lot as a person.
What kinds of projects are you open to?
I love any and all projects that challenge me to think in new ways. If you have a task or project that you just can't figure out how to execute, let me help. If it happens to be in the theatre world, or involves design, even better.