01. The Path I've Taken:
Hi, I’m Gary Cooke, a designer with over 20 years of experience creating human-centered designs that bridge creativity and functionality.
My design journey started on Long Island, where I designed CD artwork and posters for local bands, diving headfirst into the exciting world of visual storytelling. From there, my passion for design took me through agencies and big brands, always focused on making things that people love to use.
I’ve had the privilege of leading design and development efforts across a wide range of industries, from e-commerce and education platforms to gaming and omni-channel retail. At Serious SEM, I helped businesses elevate their online presence as a Front-End Developer and designer. At Check Into Cash, I took on the challenge of designing their e-commerce platform and internal loan management system, ensuring a smooth, secure experience for users.
Next, I moved into the travel world with World Travel Holdings, where I led the redesign of both their core website and Jamaica Villas, merging luxury travel with seamless functionality.
As my career progressed, I brought my user-centric approach to the gaming world at Jaguar Games, leading research and design that focused on player connection. At LINQ, I built a design and research team from scratch, helping to create software for school districts and state education platforms that impact students and administrators nationwide.
Currently, I’m the lead designer for ArmyIgnited, where I’m focused on building an innovative education funding and management system for the U.S. military. In 2023, my team and I were honored with the Department of Defense’s Award for Most Innovative Software—a proud moment in my career.
But my passion for design doesn’t stop at work. I’m also deeply involved in game development, learning to program in Unity and Godot to create retro-themed demo games. This ongoing project is a labor of love, blending my lifelong love of gaming with modern technology.
