ABOUT ME

I’m Brian LaVar Shackelford, a Graphic Designer and Brand Strategist who blends culture, creativity, and strategy to build brands that connect people with purpose. What began as a love for clean, impactful design has evolved into a career helping entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and creative teams tell stories that inspire action.

Over the past decade, I’ve led rebrands, developed marketing systems, and created design solutions that have grown audiences, strengthened trust, and delivered measurable results. From cohesive brand identities to campaigns across digital, print, and environmental media, I’ve learned that great design is not just about how it looks but about how it connects.

Today, I bring that same creative and strategic energy to every collaboration, whether working with a startup defining its first identity, a real estate brand expanding its presence, or a company seeking consistent and meaningful communication. My goal is to keep designing for impact by creating brands that educate, empower, and bring people together through thoughtful design and strategy.

View My latest work

  • “Brian went beyond creating to developing a style guide and educating me on how to best use the materials created. I grew my business with his creative support from less than $500k to an average of $12M in sales volume.”

    Cheryl Shaw, Real Estate Agent

  • "Brian has helped me build the backbone of my business in EVERYTHING marketing. No request too big or too small, his attention to detail and holistic approach has been invaluable."

    Shirin Benamadi, Real Estate Agent

  • "He (Brian) consistently brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration to every project. His ability to translate complex ideas into compelling visual and digital solutions is impressive, and he’s an exceptional team player who elevates the people around him."

    Rick Foster, CEO/Broker-Owner

  • Brian has always been a kind and clear communicator. He is a fast learner who also takes the time to listen. He is a go-getter, with a strong sense of initiative, as he has reached out to share his ideas to benefit my projects and company - without me even having to ask! Brian is not just a one-time collaborator, but an on-going connection who looks out for your best interest and genuinely cares about your success.

    Hannah Delgado, Sales Marketing Manager

  • Brian has a unique talent for turning abstract descriptions into compelling, accurate visuals. Brian excels at transforming image concepts into strong brand identities, often drawing out key details from conversations to create designs that capture the essence of a company, organization, or mission goals.

    Jonathan Bartlett, Associate Broker & Real Estate Advisor

Resume

Experience

  • Freelance Marketing & Brand Designer | 2017 – Present

  • Marketing Advisor / Graphic Designer | Engel & Völkers Real Estate | 2023 – 2025

  • Marketing Advisor / Graphic Designer | GreenLine Real Estate | 2017 – 2023

  • Creative Production Designer | Team Velocity Marketing | 2015 – 2017

Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design | Barton College, Wilson, NC | 2004 – 2006

  • Associate of Arts in Advertising | Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC | 2002 – 2004

Skills
Brand Identity • Marketing Strategy • Social Media • Print & Digital Design • Event Marketing

Awards

  • Marketing Excellence Award | Engel & Völkers Washington DC | 2023