People
Michael Patrick Partners is a nationally recognized design and brand development firm with offices in Portland, Oregon, and Palo Alto, California—managed by its co–founding partners Duane Michael Maidens and Daniel Patrick O’Brien. Get it?
Duane “Doo” Maidens, partner and creative director
Doo is a partner (co-founder) and a creative director and manages our Portland office. He and co-founder Daniel Patrick O’Brien launched Michael Patrick Partners in 1979. (Michael Patrick is a combination of their middle names—Doo is the Michael.) 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, Portland Advertising Federation, and Western Art Directors. He is co-chair of Easter Seals Oregon and is a former lecturer at his alma mater, San José State University. He and his wife own two crazy Weimaraners named Homer and Grace, and Doo wants to be Wayne Thiebaud when he grows up.
Dan O’Brien, partner and creative director
Dan manages our Palo Alto office and is the other co-founder—he’s the Patrick. 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 his alma mater, San José State University, and is a member of AIGA and Western Art Directors. He’s a past board member of Ronald McDonald House and 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), collects motorcycles, and is an avid tennis player. Oh, and he went skydiving once—why push it?
Eko Tjoek, senior designer
Eko is the lead designer at our Palo Alto office and a multiple recipient of the nation’s most coveted design awards. As a member of our firm, Eko 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. Prior to joining our firm, Eko was a designer at the world-renowned firm of Berman, Gomez & Partners San Francisco. Eko received a BFA in graphic design from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and a BS from the School of Business, California State University, San Bernardino. He’s a member of AIGA and Western Art Directors, and his interests include wondering if his mother sold the stamp collection of his youth to fund her recent European cruise. He also collects the midcentury modern furniture of Charles and Ray Eames, Harry Bertoia, and Norman Cherner.
Lauren Gesell, designer
Lauren is a talented designer we plucked years ago from the active Palo Alto freelance design community. We rely on Lauren to keep us up-to-date with pop culture, what’s hot, and what’s not. She lives and breathes brand identity. In her off time, she’s a card-carrying member (and all-star) of the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club. Her design credits include American Corporate Identity, AR100, GDUSA, and PRINT. She also demonstrates she’s a good environmental steward each day as she rides her bright blue cruiser to work (weather permitting). Lauren received a BA in studio art from the University of Redlands and also studied art and graphic design in Florence, Rome, and Paris. She’s a member of AIGA and LogoLounge.
Keith Pacoma, designer
And then there’s Keith. Along with design, he’s passionate about cars. Taking things apart and seeing how they work (stay away from the copier, Keith). He’s no Fred Astaire—but can cut a rug. He loves hip hop from the late 80’s and early 90’s and can’t get enough Eddie Murphy movies. Prior to joining our firm, Keith worked at the San Jose State University Associated Students Marketing and Events department, designing and supporting school communications programs. In 2009 his work received a GDUSA design award—we expect more awards to be added in the near future. He received a BFA in graphic design from SJSU and is a member of AIGA. He’s our detail oriented, quick-witted, funny guy, who’s a born kickass designer.
Debbie Koenig, designer
Debbie is a talented designer who is passionate about design and the environment. She’s our color consultant, believes simplicity is a key to a brand’s success, has an eye for details, and has sponge-like qualities—that’s a compliment. Prior to joining our firm she interned at Portland Monthly magazine and worked in the Portland State University Design Center hiring staff and developing assignments for the Portland State community. An Oregon native, Debbie can often be found knitting or taking film photographs in her spare time, and is accomplished in martial arts—don’t mess with her. She received a BA in Graphic Design from Portland State University and is a member of the Portland Advertising Federation.
Jimmy Presler, designer
Jimmy’s a rockin’ designer we plucked from the Portland freelance community. Upon reviewing his portfolio and recognizing his love for design, we knew we had better hire him before a competitor made a counter move. His love is brand identity design (he’s very fast), typography, and photo manipulation. Now if we can just wean him off that “Make the logo bigger” philosophy—he’s got a bright future. Jimmy received a BA in Graphic Design from Portland State University. During his time at PSU he was awarded the Annie Spencer Scholarship and C.H.S. Teacher’s Award. He speaks Japanese, plays guitar, and volunteers with Loaves and Fishes. He’s also a good steward of the environment and rides his very cool bike to work—weather permitting. Oh, and Jimmy claims to have the biggest t-shirt collection in Portland. We have yet to see wear the same one twice—only time will tell.
Jennifer Huang, designer
Jennifer is our newest member in the Palo Alto office, she’s cheerful, hardworking, and you can always catch her humming a tune. Jennifer has pulled many all-nighters, rocking her way to a BFA in Graphic Design from San Jose State University. She likes to design with meaning and purpose to create designs speak on multiple levels. Her favorite areas of design are identity, book design, and web design-she wants to do it all! Before joining us, she worked at an interactive design firm designing user interfaces. She also knows thing or two about photography while getting her minor in it and working as a wedding photographer. Jennifer is charmed by the office location in downtown Palo Alto and enjoys her daily commute on the train from San Jose. One of her goals is to use her creativity to impact someone’s life, even in a small way.
Mimi Pham, designer
Mimi is a designer, illustrator, and blogger and the newest edition to our Portland office. She’s incredibly talented and was hired to support our brand development programs. She’s also a paper artist—cutting paper and books to create unique illustrative designs. Mimi’s education includes studying at the Academy of Art University San Francisco and the Art Institute of Portland. This spring she will graduate with a BA in Graphic Design from Portland State University—we hand picked her from the program before she was discovered by a competitor. Mimi describes her particular design style as crafty and modern—we describe it as smart and way way cool. Along with her love for design, she also loves the art of social dance including the Cha Cha, Salsa, Waltz, and especially the Argentine tango. Go cut a rug, girl.
Barry Drake, controller
For twenty years Barry’s helped us make informed financial decisions. Under his stewardship we’ve survived three recessionary periods, the comings and goings of about one hundred employees, plus the purchase and remodel of our Palo Alto office. In each case his counsel has made our company stronger. Imagine for a moment the discipline required to keep two art guys focused on their company making money—not a pretty picture. Barry provides us with timely financial information so we can focus on what we do best. The information he provides enables us to make wise managerial decisions and to comply with the multitude of government regulations. Barry received his BA in Economics with a minor in Business Administration (emphasis in accounting) from San Jose State University. When he’s not crunching numbers, you’ll find him crushing golf balls on the links, or pitching in to raise his beautiful children.
Michelle Elles, accounting
For a design firm, we run a tight ship. We always have. Michelle’s make our daily routine a lot easier by handing all accounting and human relations processes and activities. She’s the liaison between our design teams, the clients, and the creative partners. She ensures our communication related to billing is clear and makes sense. We take a lot of pride being flexible and not forcing our procedures onto our clients. Michelle is available to talk at any time. She’s married with two great kids, spends time volunteering with local nonprofits, and loves camping in the summer, and snowmobiling in the winter. And she loves Palo Alto where she can, “ . . . shop on my lunch break!” Our question is, “What’s a break?”
Beth Anne Moore, writer
I first met Michael Patrick Partners in 1988 when Doo and I sat across the table from each other in a meeting with a mutual client. I remember the client, have forgotten the project, and ended up with the great good fortune to work on the same side of the table with Doo and Dan on projects ever since. I provide messaging and writing, and it’s my job to help our clients find their voices and tell their stories uniquely and memorably. We start with a client’s goals and strategy. We look at their competitors. We pull out their personality. And we craft the messages, words, and tone that makes them stand up, out, and above the rest. I love the fact that here, designers read copy and can show it off. Every piece of communication should build brand value. And with Michael Patrick Partners it does. I’m based on a ranch in Texas, have Texas Longhorn cattle, two horses, and am working on a photography book project in all my spare time.
