Griffin McCabe / Work Index

Third employee in the club’s 80-year history. Joined an organization running on outdated systems and rebuilt its programs, governance, and commercial model.

Ran the club as a two-person team with the Executive Director, building the structure and systems behind every cross-club initiative, and served as liaison to the TDC Advisory Board. Rewrote bylaws unchanged since 2019 and recruited three new board members.

Developed and programmed Type Drives Commerce, TDC’s first in-person conference in six years, with conference chair Jolene Delisle and The Working Assembly across program, campaign, and spatial experience. Sold out to 300+ tickets and bundles; sponsorship made up 49% of revenue.

Brokered the first partner-publisher deal (Slanted) for The World’s Best Typography® annual; credited editor and writer of volumes 46 and 47. Ran the TDC71 and TDC72 international competitions across 60+ countries, with juries from Uncommon, Coca-Cola, CENTER, Ford, Landor, and JKR leadership. Entries grew 20% and entry-fee revenue 15%.

Brought in Slanted, Glyphs, Adobe, Pentagram, and The Working Assembly as sponsors and corporate members, growing corporate membership 60%. Curated panels connecting design with music, entertainment, and contemporary culture to reach new and existing audiences, including Brent David Freaney’s first-ever public talk on Charli XCX’s BRAT campaign, TDC’s best-selling single event.

Sony Hall — Art Director

Aug 2022–Sep 2023 / Manhattan

Designed the exterior marquee and signage and oversaw production and installation, from sketch to install in one month within Manhattan’s approval process. Built a flexible type system that absorbed changing artists and billing while keeping the venue recognizable.

Developed show identities and campaigns across social, print, digital displays, and on-site signage for artists including Yasiin Bey, Talib Kweli, GZA, George Clinton, and Seun Kuti. A QR system lifted scans and click-through 60%.

Opera Ghost Management — Artist Manager, Creative Director

Aug 2015–Jul 2022 / London

Discovered emerging artists and built them into international touring acts with distinct brand identities, routing tours with CAA and WME around release cycles, including a U.S. tour supporting Mitski. Paired artists with collaborators such as Grammy-winning engineer John Greenham (Billie Eilish) and producer Tom Biller (Fiona Apple, Beck), curating the right environment for creative collaboration and output.

Negotiated IP licensing and sync deals (HBO, CBS, Hulu) across a 10+ artist roster with Warner, Sony, Beggars Group, and Universal, including directly with Pearl Jam co-founder Stone Gossard’s label, Loosegroove. Led and mentored a 20+ person team across Scandinavia, GAS, Benelux, and Japan, building a bespoke team around each artist’s vision.

Founded BLAME Recordings and delivered a #1 independent album, a Grammy shortlisting, a best-packaging award, and #5 on U.S. alternative radio.

American Media (Muscle & Fitness) — Staff Designer

2019–2020 / New York

Worked as one of two designers, with the Creative Director, on a 200+ page monthly, crafting lifestyle editorial on health, exercise, and diet.

Velvet Hammer Music Management — Junior Manager & Designer

2011–2014 / Los Angeles

Designed newsletters and social campaigns reaching 1M+ subscribers for System of a Down, Deftones, Alice in Chains, and AFI; designed branding for XTRMST (Davey Havok and Jade Puget of AFI); signed Code Orange (later Grammy-nominated).

Selected freelance

Apple Arcade · Uber Eats · Sony Music · The Vestry · Independent Brands

Identity, packaging, web and UI, outdoor, and editorial photography.