About

Consultant, Creative Director and Designer. Brand Identity, Brand and Marketing Design. With working experience in corporate, small business and freelance environments. I’ve developed a broad pallet of interests, skills and experience.

Bum Theary, as a name and conscious brand, is a life long homage to one of his best friends, Chris “Bum” Bumgarner, who passed away in 2002. While both in the heavy throws of trying to gain direction in their lives, Chris succumbed to both depression and addiction, leading him to take his own life. This proved to be one of the hardest and most impactful blows in Joel’s journey.

Bum Theary Chris Bumgarner

Forging direction in his own life, this loss inspired and motivated him with a desire to build a positive legacy that embodied the spirit of collective good, perseverance and positive change. He chose to harness his interests and skills to develop something of his own. Combining the brand identity with the professional services Joel has to offer, has become bumtheary.com.

A play off of their nicknames, “Bum” and “Theary”, made for a unique brand identity. The acronym “Build Unify Manifest”, was adapted after another close friend, Austin “Merk” Clark, proposed the idea during a brainstorming session. It was a perfect sentiment and message for the brand. Joel seeks to build up and grow the brand, his skills and services, as well as relationship with small business, startups and social impact.

GREAT SOCIAL IMPACT MEMORIES