About Vistoso Creative

Meet the Founder

Hey, I'm Dan. We met on the home page. I'm a web developer and graphic designer based in the Shenandoah Valley, VA. From a young age, I've always been fascinated by the intersection of art and technology. When I was in grade school, you could find me writing lines of code to make geometric shapes and letters in UCBLogo for fun.

Yeah, I grew up in a place where there wasn't much to do, how did you know?

I used this hobby and my Math Club street cred to inform my middle school career in Lego Robotics and not talking successfully with girls. I had the smart and nerdy part down, but it took me a while to figure out hard work and confidence. I got great grades in high school without much difficulty, which led me to believe that I was smart enough to get by without putting in the effort.

I was wrong.

Shout-out to the Virginia Tech School of Engineering for putting me in my place. I was never cut out for Engineering, I truly believe that. I also believe that (most) things happen for a reason. When my engineering aspirations fizzled out—it turns out that the College of Engineering doesn't have much patience for 1.7 GPAs—I got a job at the local Jimmy John's, where night shifts until 4:30am in a college town taught me the value of hard work & dedication.

Finding & Chasing Passion

I know it's not glamorous, but I have that job to thank for setting me on a better path in life. I met life-long friends, including my future wife, and I learned a lot about myself and how I can serve my fellow human. I learned that I am a hard worker with a smile, and that this is a bit of a rare trait. I learned that I like to be challenged and that sometimes we all fail, that's just part of being human.

What matters is what you do next.

Fast forward a few more years, and I've relocated to the Shenandoah Valley to act as the General Manager of the JJ in Harrisonburg at JMU. Covid was a reality check for a lot of folks, and people who were already on the fence about their career path were hit the hardest. I was one of those. I knew I liked helping people and forming deep relationships, that I was self-motivated, and that the food service industry was not going to work for me long-term. I had always been interested in coding, art, and design, so I decided to get some formal training.

Thankfully, I had the support of my incredible wife, Joa, who quiets my self-doubt and encourages me to chase my dreams. I enrolled in online courses, found myself feeling passionate about my work again, and hardly noticed all of the 50+ hour weeks at my day job anymore. All of my focus was on learning and building skills. I graduated Summa Cum Laude in just under two years, earning a BA in Graphic Design & Media Arts, and I started Vistoso Creative.

When I'm not grinding out code, meticulously aligning letters & shapes, or meeting with clients, you can find me playing with my pup, Bernie, or feeding my sweet kitty cat, Z, a little too often. You might catch me catching-them-all around town in Pokemon Go, strength training at the gym, or enjoying a beverage at Ciders From Mars. Once or twice a year, I'll get out to recharge my creative batteries at a music festival, soaking in the sun, the arts, the music, and good vibes. I do my best to bring that energy home to the Valley by volunteering my time as the Creative Director for Staunton Jams, our local music festival showcasing local and regional talent.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do what I love every day and to help others do the same. I'm thankful that you're here reading my story. I love my work because I get to learn every day, to exercise my brain as well as my heart, and to build lasting, growth-focused relationships with clients & partners.

Let's make something great together!

Chat With Me