About
What we do +
We are strategic thinkers. We evaluate your business or project, research your competitors, establish ways to reach new demographics or engage with existing. We help launch new businesses or brands. We listen carefully to your ideas and goals and expound on them. We come up with even more unique ideas so you don't have to. We are more than just experienced marketers, designers and developers. When you work with us you get a passionate team working to make your business or project a success. Ultimately, we are your partner.
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Digital
Web
Mobile Apps -
Print
Layout
Graphic Design -
Video
Motion Graphics
Interactive -
Marketing
Research
Strategy
What we don't do +
We don't use templates or old web practices. We don't pass your project off to someone overseas. We don't use designers or developers that don't have degrees, experience and award winning talent.
Who We are +
Located in the historic Lower Garden District of New Orleans, SKUBA was founded by Trace Hayes in 2000 after spending 11 years working in advertising and design. SKUBA brings together a network of both local and regional talent in graphic design, marketing, multimedia, web development, photography and illustration putting together a talented team of experienced creatives for your project.
Get to know us +
Skuba Squad
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Trace Hayes
CD/Principal
Our Founder and Creative Director launched SKUBA Design Studio in 2000 after 11 years experience creating Strategic "smart" Design and a BFA in advertising and design from CCAD. In the years prior to SKUBA Trace worked to develop such brands as Boots, Rite Aid, Albertsons and Duane Reade. Advertising Campaigns for Merck. Packaging and Product design sold in Target, Moma, Borders and other retail stores across the globe. Since starting Skuba we have worked on thousands of projects across the gamut to and from... web + mobile apps + video / motion + product design + packaging design + ad campaigns + marketing. And have worked on local and international clients both big and small.
Fun Fact: She first came to New Orleans to rebrand K&B drugstore chain. Yes, rebranding the K&B purple! Rite Aid purchased K&B prior to the new brand launch, but New Orleans was in her blood and she made it back to call it home. -
Jay Casteel
Lead Developer
A quiet force behind SKUBA's superior development team. Jay has a youthful jolly spirit that, if you didn't know any better you may mistake him for a regular guy. Don't be fooled! He has what developer superstars are made of (the kind you see in the movie the Social Network - note these developers are one in a million). Jay attended college in the Netherlands for business and transferred to the Art Institute of Atlanta for a design degree. He worked as a designer and developer for a number of years before getting his BS in Web Design and Development from Full Sail University (the best program in the U.S.).
Fun Fact: While Jay is originally a southerner he spent his teenage years growing up in the Netherlands. In his spare time he's an internet surf'n, sometimes game'n, hacky sack'n & disc golf'n... barely skate'n foo. When recently measuring the heights of the guys in the office, Jay was stunned to find out he was 3" shorter than he told everyone... think big, feel tall. -
Rodwell Stephens
Developer/Designer
Originally from San Andrés Island, Colombia; Rodwell has called New Orleans home for 20 years. Rodwell is an experienced web developer and designer with a BFA from Louisiana State University and an Associates in web design and interactive media from the Art Institute of Atlanta. He is a detail-oriented designer ever careful to make sure everything is just right. His modern clean esthetic lends itself well to the skuba esthetic... keep it clean, keep it simple.
Fun Fact: Outside of eating or dreaming of eating he spends his leisure time listening to music, watching Arsenal football matches and trying to catch up on the Game of Thrones. -
Jonathan Maki
Account Executive
Jonathan, a native New Orleanian, comes to Skuba after years of experience working in the digital marketing and live events industries around the New Orleans area. He acts as Account Executive to assist the agency in client relations, business development, and project management. He completed his MBA in 2009 with a unique focus on Digital Media Management from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. His studies and work have emphasized interactive technology marketing, e-commerce development, digital project management, global digital media, and digital law and policy. He also holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Mississippi. Jonathan has worked closely with a number of local and national marketing organizations including Valence LLC, Super! Alright! Media, Trumpet Group, Rehage Entertainment, and Clear Channel Radio.
Fun Fact: When not being a digital media nerd, Jonathan's usually out in Nola listening to live music, watching Walking Dead, or working on his old 1972 BMW motorcycle. -
Dan Leininger
Interactive Director
The lead for all interactive... animation, motion effects, kiosks, Flash and more. Dan is a master in research, analysis, design and development for interactive projects, helping clients to discover and define unique goals for user interaction, and translating ideas into functional web-based applications and platforms. He is a lightning fast coder AND not only is he one of the smartest guys you might ever meet he also happens to be one of the nicest.
Fun Fact: When he's not developing, playing disc golf or kickball he can be found practicing or playing music with his band. -
Jeff Mills
Web Developer
Jeff has been a professional web developer for the last nine years. Before making the move in April 2013 to his favorite city (New Orleans), he used his talents and attention to detail to develop large-scale applications and tools for higher education. He is fluent in all things server-side focusing mostly on PHP/MySQL development. Jeff is constantly in searching for smarter, more effective development techniques, and is in the process of obtaining his degree in the web design/development field.
Fun Fact: Jeff is a fan of almost all things caffeine, bicycling through the city on nice days, rockin' out on his prized Spector 4-string bass, and playing way too much Fallout3 and Skyrim. -
Ashley Fiorello
Graphic Designer
Born and raised in New Orleans, Ashley attended Loyola University where she received a BA in graphic design. Her passion for intuitive and simple user experiences makes her a perfect addition to the web industry. After taking her first web class Ashley was asked to student teach the following semester, which led to an internship for a web design firm. This series of events acted as her launch pad into all things web. After studying abroad in Costa Rica and working in San Antonio at a top web firm, Ashley has happily returned to New Orleans to join forces with the rest of the Skuba team.
Fun Fact: Ashley was a part of a culinary team that won a Louisiana state championship when she was young and now uses those skills cooking new dishes when she isn't designing.
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Paulina Ganucheau
Coordinator/Illustrator
Although Paulina has lived in many cities around the U.S. she is originally from New Orleans. With a BFA from SCAD she has many talents that we draw upon daily. She can leap from project to project in a single bound. Project manager > to illustrator. Prezi Master > to Designer... all with the agility and grace of Cat Woman (her alter ego).
Fun Facts: Paulina is secretly (or not so secretly) a comic book nerd and is currently developing an interactive comic book series that will be available for the iPad.
Paulina
Coordinator/Illustrator