Joseph is a recognized, multi-disciplinary leader in the design, advertising and marketing field. He is expert in branding and business strategy and in developing short-to-long form branded content. He’s also an award-winning multi-hyphenate designer / creative and executive producer working with more than 100 brands over two decades. His work has earned broad recognition including Emmys, Addys, Webbys and Tellys.

In 2001, at 20, Joseph founded Designsensory, an integrated marketing and advertising agency. As Co-CEO and CCO, he oversees teams that help brands realize their true potential. Armed with a big-picture mindset, insatiable curiosity, global connections and a maniacal attention to detail, Designsensory is redefining what can be done with brands, technology and content.

For the past 3 decades, Joseph has collaborated with grassroots to global organizations, governments, iconic destinations and celebrated brands. This includes states like Tennessee and South Carolina and South Dakota, destinations like Augusta, GA and Gatlinburg, TN and brands like The Biltmore Company, Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, Lodge Cast Iron, NASCAR, Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, The Boy Scouts of America, Petsafe, Varsity, The Congressional Medal of Honor and Regal Cinemas.

He also serves as Co-creator and Executive Producer for branded and original content including “Tennessee Uncharted” an Emmy-winning outdoor travelogue series, “Remastered” an Emmy-winning docuseries on innovators and craftspeople, “The Wild Life,” a show that goes behind-the-scenes at Zoo Knoxville and “Let Them Be Naked” a feature documentary on sustainable fashion.

Since Designsensory’s founding, Brandon has overseen the deployment of bleeding-edge internet solutions and eCommerce applications for clients of all sizes, from startup organizations to established multinational corporations. In addition to serving in his director role, Brandon remains an active member of the technical team, implementing Designsensory’s custom eCommerce engine and database architecture, as well as developing search engine optimization and online marketing strategies.

He developed his interests in entrepreneurship, engineering and science in Knoxville, starting his first business when he was 18. While running his consultancy, Brandon graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a double degree in biomedical engineering and computer science. In addition, he completed a minor in business entrepreneurship and management. While at Johns Hopkins, Brandon focused his coursework and research on emerging technologies, such as distributed databases, information retrieval and web agents and computer-integrated surgery.

Brandon is a Certified ScrumMaster and uses Agile and Scrum project development techniques across the breadth of Designsensory’s work. He also has an MBA with dual concentration in entrepreneurship and marketing from Northeastern University.

Brandon was named a 2010 Finalist for Young Entrepreneur in the Knoxville Chamber’s Pinnacle Business Awards and was named to Greater Knoxville Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list for 2015. He is an avid fencer and currently the national tournament committee chair for USA Fencing.

With his unquenchable thirst for knowledge about the “why” of human purchasing and engagement behavior, Chris has focused on his real passion–research and intelligence–for forty plus years.

Chris graduated from the University of Missouri, with his Bachelor’s in Marketing and Economics. He holds advanced research certifications and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Chris served as president of two professional organizations and has been awarded silver medals from the American Advertising Federation for his community and industry achievements.

He has dedicated thousands of investigative hours as a professional RIVA certified moderator, conducting focus groups, individual in-depth interviews and micro-focus groups. His work includes hundreds of quantitative and hybrid studies, and optimizes the latest technology to ensure quality intelligence to drive quality business decisions. His work provides vital market information to strategically-focused organizations across fields ranging from tourism to healthcare, economic development, financial services, boating, auto racing and football. 

Chris conducts extensive inclusivity-based primary research in all of the above categories. His passion drives him to be a catalyst for cultural change. It’s important to him to show how and why inclusivity and open-mindedness at every consumer touchpoint matter, through critical insights. Chris works to illuminate the impact DEI&A strategies have, lifting human and social capital, and making a difference. Committed to community service, he has served on the boards of social nonprofits, doing work for the homeless, faith-based organizations and the intellectually-disabled.

Stephan has been shaping digital experiences at Designsensory since 2011. A Philly native turned Tennessean, he combines engineering expertise with a passion for user experience, specializing in eCommerce and technical development. Beyond the office, he’s dedicated to giving back and building something lasting—whether through woodworking, house flipping, playing guitar, or spending time with his wife and son.

Kate graduated from Long Island University, in NY with a degree in art history and has since built an impressive history in high-end client service. She worked her way up to assistant manager/ business manager for Apple, at its first flagship in New York City, handling high-profile and celebrity clientele. Between Corbis and Getty Images, she dedicated 10 years to account management and developed her expertise in image and video licensing. The experience led to an offer to work with a NYC aerial production and content company. 

In its early stages, while launching the company’s licensing business, they discovered an opportunity for a different business model. They created a new arm of the brand to offer crowdsourced flights over the city, allowing people to book individual seats in a helicopter and capture their own photography. This concept was previously reserved for professional photographers and required them to charter the entire helicopter. As brand director for the startup, Kate helped drive brand growth and expansion to Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas–all within the first three years.

Chris has been with Designsensory over 10 years, and his conceptual power as a Creative Director has brought award-winning campaigns to life for Zoo Knoxville; Bristol Motor Speedway; Rock City; TNECD; Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union; Knox County Health Department; Smart Trips and others. He enjoys searching for that aha! moment during any random moment of life.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tennessee and has experience in concepting, content development, marketing and brand strategy, production and set design.

Homegrown in the beautiful state of Tennessee, Hunter graduated in 2015 with a degree in public relations from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Now, entrenched at Designsensory as a marketing generalist and social media specialist, Hunter provides high-level campaign guidance for clients or gets hands-on in day-to-day community management and content creation for tourism, government, broadcast and consumer brands. Hunter works collaboratively with the larger marketing, communications and studio teams to help with planning, production work, storytelling and more.

With a background in influencer and experiential marketing, Brad understands the importance of properly fostering relationships and creating organic “tribe members” for brand evangelism. He has extensive experience in socially integrated event activations, talent-based strategic analysis and long-term partnership development. He comes to Designsensory from Hollywood, California, where he was lucky enough to work on above-the-line integrated campaigns for Google, Pizza Hut, YouTube Music and Samsung.

Brad is a self-described Super Nerd, who enjoys a regular diet of sci-fi, fantasy, video games, and comic books.

Originally from Ohio, Michael studied at the University of Cincinnati, earning his B.S. in computer engineering. Upon graduation, he pursued a brief career in music, which led him to Knoxville, Tennessee. 

He began doing contract work with Designsensory in late 2004 and joined as a full-time developer in 2006. Michael works mainly behind the scenes, crafting the tools that enhance websites. He is often the point technician for many of the iOS and Android apps that Designsensory develops. 

Mary is a powerhouse in marketing strategy, tourism, and event planning. From leading cross-functional teams at AMG Solutions to directing client services for Knoxville Tourism, she’s crafted visitor experiences for 80,000+ guests annually. A key player in Tennessee’s Trails & Byways program, she now serves on multiple tourism boards, shaping the future of hospitality through strategy, partnerships, and innovation.

Josh came to Designsensory in October 2007, seeking to break away from the monotony of the corporate system. He spent two years in sunny Orlando, studying to receive his B.S. in digital arts and design from Full Sail Real World Education. While in Florida, Josh sought out in-depth, hands-on instruction in numerous fields of design.

Josh has a firm and expanding knowledge of web and interactive design, print media and web typography. His passion is building simple, elegant, user-friendly web applications that sustain a positive user experience.

Madelyn’s career spans broadcast, production, and storytelling. She got her start at Discovery’s Travel Channel, where she gained deep expertise in programming before expanding into project management and account strategy. Now at Designsensory, she leads the development of premium unscripted and branded content, securing partnerships with HGTV, Food Network, Magnolia, and more. With a sharp eye for ambitious formats and untapped talent, she crafts compelling stories across food, home, and lifestyle.

Marketing was a natural fit for her interests. As a “90s kid,” she quickly realized the rising value and growing opportunities of the digital marketplace, and loved the excitement of working in a brand-new world.

With a degree from Georgia Southern University as well as professional certifications in Google Analytics, Google Ads and Facebook Blueprint Digital Marketing, she has extensive experience in e-Commerce and all aspects of digital marketing. As a senior media analyst, she focused on helping new, mission-focused brands take off. She has also worked as marketing director at a startup agency, helping clients across many verticals like tourism, hospitality and higher education. Her coolest project to date: a collaboration with Mented Cosmetics x Ashley Blaine Ferguson, coinciding a product launch with the Season 3 premiere of the Netflix shows “Dear White People.”

Named for an Allman Brothers song, and once identified by Julia Roberts as being “very diligent,” Jessica has a variety of interests outside of work, including gardening and all things flowers, cooking, hiking, music, ancestry research and traveling with her husband. A member of Creative Mornings Asheville, and an Instagram promoter of her Asheville, NC, Airbnb and all things Asheville, she loves connecting and learning from other local professional creatives.

With over 15 years in advertising, Katie has shaped brands, built campaigns, and created impact beyond what fits on a wall. Specializing in illustration, branding, and experiential marketing, she’s worked across tourism, food & beverage, and toys—earning recognition from AIGA and AAF. She thrives on making people stop mid-scroll and truly connect. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her exploring the Smokies, riding her motorcycle, or tracking down the perfect brunch spot.

Ben graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee in May of 2016 with a B.F.A in graphic design. Among the many disciplines of design, both 2D and 3D motion design is where his passion lies. Ben brings a motion-oriented perspective to the creative team with several years of keyframing and curve-bending under his belt.

When Ben isn’t dwelling over a VFX shot frame-by-frame, he can be found soaking up everything nerdy that he can get his hands on and thinking about how awesome space is.

Erik graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 2017 with a B.F.A in Graphic design where his first adventure with Designsensory began. After a brief hiatus, he returns to DS, bringing his focus in branding, illustration, animation and environmental design. Prioritizing collaboration, Erik aims to push brands in new and exciting directions through a variety of media and platforms. To help develop memorable and impactful campaigns in collaboration with multiple teams diverse talents. 

Rooted in a passion for problem-solving and art, Erik’s affinity for design traces back to his childhood, where he adorned every available surface with doodles. His artistic journey evolved through college, transitioning from a love of art to a fascination with typography and design. Completing the circle, Erik was invited by the University of Tennessee School of Design to co-teach Advanced Typography alongside a close friend and fellow alumnus.

Erik can be found bouldering at the Obed with his wife Nicole, spending time with his three devilish cats, listening to audiobooks and crafting strange and delightful 3D renders.

When Susan joined Designsensory in January 2007, she brought along years of storytelling experience as a writer, editor and project manager for marketing and publishing companies.

A film buff, sports fan and lover of barbecue and all kinds of music (especially blues), she has won multiple advertising awards as well as recognition from the Tennessee Press Association, North Carolina Public Radio and various regional marketing organizations. Susan is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and has edited regional and national publications, covering everything from knitwear to banking to aging.

Susan has planned many fundraising events, developed historic preservation plans and served on the boards of several community organizations. She has been a reporter, a Ruby Falls tour guide and a department store window dresser.

Yes, that is University of Georgia paraphernalia on her desk; no, she won’t wear orange on football Fridays; and if you can’t find her, she’s gone to the beach.

Curious to his core, Ryan obsesses over the “why?”—from message craft to brand strategy. With a B.A. in advertising and an M.A. in brand/media strategy from ETSU, he’s an award-winning copywriter and strategist. His master’s thesis on presidential speech messaging earned top honors. When not optimizing brands, he’s sipping budget bourbon, exploring South Knoxville, or binging Stuff You Should Know.

Barry’s journey into the world of technology began at an astonishingly young age. At just two years old, he received an old Apple IIe as a gift, igniting a lifelong fascination with computers. His earliest memories involve tinkering with the Apple IIe, setting the stage for a future filled with coding, innovation, and an insatiable curiosity.

Combining self-taught expertise with formal education, Barry’s programming journey began when he started programming games on his TI-83 calculator at the age of 12. His programming prowess started with TI-BASIC and expanded to encompass a diverse range of languages. Over the years, he’s become proficient in PHP and Javascript, among other languages, forging a versatile skill set that empowers him to tackle a multitude of technical challenges.

Barry has achieved remarkable growth with nearly five years of invaluable experience at Designsensory. Starting as a Senior Developer and now serving as the Technical Development Manager, he leads and drives the technical aspects of projects. His contributions have been pivotal to the company’s success, as he’s played a significant role in building and managing websites for esteemed clients such as USA Triathlon, NASCAR Speed Park, USA Fencing, Covenant Health, the Tennessee COVID-19 Information Hub, the Knoxville Zoo, and the TN State Parks Mobile App.

Courtney has worked with websites for over a decade, starting with design and SEO and moving to focus heavily on information architecture, user experience, and accessibility. As the content expert on Designsensory’s Interactive team, she works with a wide variety of clients and projects. Courtney moved to Knoxville in 2010 and completed a master’s in Communications from University of Tennessee in 2012.

When Colby is not working, you can find him with his family—building lego structures with his seven-year-old, playing with toy cars with his one-year-old and defeating his wife at Scrabble (don’t tell her he said that, though).

This creative drive helped Colby find his passion for development, as it satisfies his need to build and make and allows him to practice his problem solving skills.

After graduating from Pellissippi in 2014, Colby immediately went to work in his field at a small marketing firm in Maryville, Tennessee, where he stayed for 5 years. Passionate for good design and craftsmanship, Colby joined Designsensory. Here, he hopes to hone his development skills, grow his professional relationships and work on interesting projects.

As a computer science student at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and long-time developer at a nearby studio, Chris picked up an array of skills including PHP, WordPress, jQuery, Javascript, CSS/SASS, HTML, LAMP and LEMP stacks, React, CraftCMS and Symfony.

In his former position, Chris developed full-time alongside training new hires, managing servers and handling client-team relations. During his time as a developer, Chris has built scalable platforms and systems, including an e-commerce and platform management tool and trip planner.

A Knoxville native, TJ Buckner is a graduate of Pellissippi’s CSIT program. Interested in technology at an early age, TJ decided on web development (over graphic design) when a friend began programming.

After completing his capstone project with Designsensory in his final semester, TJ is now a Designsensory web developer and hopes to make his mark here. His proficiencies include HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP.

TJ enjoys camping with his wife Diana. Among their favorite spots for communing in the great outdoors are Big Ridge State Park and House Mountain. He enjoys playing video games (think Splatoon and Super Smash Bros.), drawing and painting, playing the guitar and reading older sci-fi novels.

After earning her Public Relations degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Caroline built a dynamic marketing career across entertainment, manufacturing, and nonprofits. Now at Designsensory, she thrives on managing diverse clients and solving complex challenges. She’s certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) ®, and continues sharpening her PM expertise.

Beyond work, Caroline embraces creativity—catching live music, exploring craft breweries, and shaping pottery in the studio.

Chelsea comes to Designsensory after several years as senior show planner for a multi-digital home shopping network. There, she worked with on-air talent and sales and merchandise teams to manage promotional and sales strategies, budgeting, new customer acquisition and sales analysis.

Detail-oriented and highly analytical, Chelsea loves a challenge, both at work and at home. Her role as project manager calls on her communication skills and her ability to develop strong working relationships with cross-functional teams. Chelsea’s strengths include strategic planning and brand management, as well as an ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment.

Her role as a wife and mom to three kiddos keeps her equally busy at home. In her “not so spare time,” she is a cheer coach and PTA board member at her children’s school. She’s an aficionado of running, hot yoga, and binge watching reality TV (Bravoholic), and her favorite family vacation spot is Hilton Head. Chelsea is a Knoxville native and a Tennessee Volunteer, with a degree in public relations.

With 7+ years of experience in SEO, digital marketing, and growth strategies, she turns challenges into opportunities that push brands forward. A University of Tennessee alum with a PR degree and Project Management Certification, she keeps projects running seamlessly. When she’s not optimizing workflows, she’s traveling, tackling home projects, or cheering on the Vols.

After earning degrees in marketing and finance in 2018, Abby began a career in the marketing world with a passion for the creative world and hopes to be able to solve problems across different departments. She didn’t know what she was getting into when she accepted a project manager position with a small full-service agency back in 2019 but found she had a passion for creating processes, helping others succeed and being involved in the agency life. Now at Designsensory, she’s thankful to have both the support of a bigger team and the opportunity to work with larger clients. Abby continues to grow professionally by pursuing her PMP certification.

A Philadelphian turned Floridian, Lisa moved from the Northeast to the Southeast to attend Flagler College in St. Augustine, and promptly joined an agency in nearby Jacksonville upon graduation. There she quickly gained experience working with clients like the Wounded Warrior Project and Johnson & Johnson. She changed her “-ian” to Knoxvillian, joining Designsensory with the goal of deepening her experience with various media, tackling a new book of clients and learning different skills.

Lisa is always in the pursuit of improving her art—wanting to learn from coworkers, the larger professional community and the world around her. But it all began with a simple CD collection. Her early design inspiration came from the album artwork of her favorite artists, the booklets packaged into those CDs and the visuals that danced through her mind as she listened to the songs. It’s fitting that, as she dove into the world of design, she also kept up her love for music; she’s a classically trained singer and was a member of the choir and an all-female a cappella group in college, and danced for more than 15 years. 

Although it sounds like she’s always had a plan (which might make sense with an Enneagram of 6w5), Lisa has also learned that, when it comes to art, you can’t always have a plan—it requires adaptability and openness, which we think will serve her quite well on her artistic journey. 

Beyond designing, dancing and singing, you’ll just as quickly find Lisa with her nose in a book, writing, searching for the best food in town, focusing on fitness, or even just watching ice hockey or the Gilmore Girls (for what might be the 26th time).

Ilana graduated from the University of Tennessee with her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Electronic Media. While earning her degree, she worked in live production and content creation, as Associate Producer for VFL Films. The athletic broadcasting role led to a freelance position for ESPN and the SEC Network. A natural creator and communicator, Ilana developed her craft by working with small businesses and influencers. Her role developing content strategy and designing media to help establish brands, prepared her for her current position at Designsensory. The balanced atmosphere, fostering collaboration and creative autonomy inspired Ilana to join our team in 2022. As Social Media Specialist, she hopes to master the art of viral content. 

The content creation doesn’t stop when Ilana leaves the office, she crafts short films and practices comedy writing in her free time. Ilana also enjoys traveling, competitively playing Just Dance, trying new recipes and catching up on her favorite shows. If you want to challenge her social media expertise, ask her to see her 40 slide presentation on the history and evolution of memes.

Tisha’s love for numbers and brands led her to advertising after a high school career day made it clear—she was meant for media, not accounting. A University of Tennessee advertising graduate, she started as a traditional media buyer before digital was even a thing. With over 20 years of experience across agencies, startups, and client-side roles, she now leads DS’s media department, ensuring every paid media plan is precise, strategic, and built for impact.

Bonnie brings a sharp, strategic mindset to influencer and experiential marketing. A University of Tennessee graduate in Advertising with a Business Administration minor, she first cut her teeth at Regal, managing social strategy and paid media for major film promotions. Since joining Designsensory in 2022, she’s evolved into Influencer & Experiential Marketing Manager, crafting campaigns that don’t just reach audiences—they resonate. A certified pro in Snapchat, Google Ads, and more, she thrives in the world of digital and live brand experiences.

Lindsay, a University of Tennessee grad and 2022 Volunteer of Distinction, discovered her skills in communications and business development at the Knoxville Chamber and Omega Technical Services where she was named a 2023 Oak Ridge Young Professional of the Year finalist. As our Market Development Lead, she coordinates business growth and strategic partnerships. When she’s not building connections, she’s handbuilding pottery, enjoying lake days with family, or getting lost in a good book.

Isabella, a University of Tennessee graduate, is a results-driven Media Manager with a passion for both digital and traditional media. She found her stride in automotive digital marketing, where her attention to detail and data-driven mindset set her apart. Drawn to Designsensory for its dynamic culture and growth opportunities, she thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments. Always leveling up, she stays ahead of industry trends through ongoing research and certifications.

Miranda’s love for marketing started early, managing her family’s small business. After earning a double major in Business Management and Marketing from Eastern University, she built her career in brand management and internal communications, promoting virtual care solutions at TeamHealth. Now at Designsensory, she’s expanding her expertise in media management and analytics. When she’s not crafting strategies, she’s coaching volleyball, watching sports with her family, or planning her next beach trip.