About Me | Joseph Smallwood

Hello. My name is Joseph Smallwood, and my calling is simple: to inspire, challenge, and make belief.

I'm a strategist, story designer, and executive director living in The District. My canvas? Organizations of every shape and size, where I use innovative ideas, designs, and solutions to bring visions to life, from concept to belief.

With nearly 20 years in brand, strategy, communications, design, and content, I'm a seasoned leader with a creative twist. I thrive on telling stories that spark change and add value—setting the bar for great work with a dash of fun along the way.

Life, to me, is an energy waiting to be harnessed—a vast purpose that pushes us to our limits.

From tight spots to novel ideas, I'm the ultimate go-to resource, bringing together talent and sparking creativity. Trust and collaboration are my cornerstones, paving the way for creations that make our world better, because they were designed to.

Beyond work, my heart lies with family, learning, language, and the joys of gaming and gardening. I find solace in the mysteries of space and the mind, alongside classic cars, good music, and the simple pleasure of street tacos.

Sound like fun? You bet it is!

How the HLL Do I do that?*

Research

I take the guesswork out of the creative process by structuring the work around quantitative data and commonsense insights

Integrated Marketing

Providing actionable direction and purpose for all activities, sustained engagement, and measurable success

Strategy

A solid strategy reflects your business strategy, ensuring that each design decision reaffirms the promise of what you deliver

Copy & Content

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference between a lightning bug and lightning

Brand

More than a logo or identity system, a strong brand bridges the gap between who you are and what others believe

Video

No other medium has the power to build brands and make belief like the artful edit of pictures and sound

Design

My teams love to sweat the details because all the strategy in the world is wasted without sound, intelligent execution

Events & Experiences

I transform audiences into communities through multisensory storytelling and immersive experiences

" Joseph is an exceptional creative leader and strategic thinker. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on countless projects over the years and experienced first hand how his passion for the work, attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence are a contagious force."