PROFILE

The short version: I’m a writer. The slightly longer version: I’m a writer who partners with designers on branding and marketing projects. I say “partner” because even when I’m leading a project, it’s very much a collaboration. What I contribute — the strategy, the concept, the copy, whatever — complements the work of the designers, and together we fulfill the brief.

I also spend a fair bit of time mentoring other writers. This is sometimes line-by-line, word-by-word editing, and sometimes it’s big-picture stuff: What’s the story? Is there maybe a better way to tell it? But whether they’re writers or designers, the creative process is pretty much the same.

On the agency side, I’ve contributed to projects for large organizations like Google and the New York Philharmonic and startups like 10x Genomics and Texture. On the client side, I was a creative lead at Dolby for several years and later the head of copy at Udemy.

In 2023, I started VRBL Studio, a small, specialized consultancy that helps brands find their voice and define their message.

Experience

Principal
VRBL Studio (2023–present)

Head of Copy
Udemy (2020–2023)

Creative Director
The Linus Group (2018–2019)

Creative Director
MetaDesign (2016–2018)

Director, Communication Strategy
MetaDesign (2014–2016)

Consultant
Moving Brands (2013–2014)

Manager, Marketing Communications
Dolby (2010–2013)

Copywriter
Dolby (2007–2010)

 Education

MFA, Creative Writing
Washington University in St. Louis

BA, English
University of Hawaii

Contact

If you’d like to get in touch, please email me at hozyrossi@gmail.com.