I have decided to change directions and get certified as an Ayurveda Consultant. Studying Ayurveda and Polyvagal Theory has been a life changing expercience and I want to share what I am learning. The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda has helped be to heal on all levels and connect to Mother Earth. For me, Ancient wisdom for modern times is the way. I’m working on ways to share this wisdom soon and will update my website to reflect the amazing things I am learning.
Starting in Fall of 2025 I have stopped taking work as a shopper and decorator. I’m proud of the work I've been a part of. I miss the quality of work that was expected in the early 2000’s. The truth is that the set design department, in the niche I have been in, has become unsustainable for me and for many colleagues. We have felt the pinch of lower rates, lower budgets and timeline crunches that are unachievable (unless you are willing take amphetamines, have a part time job and do all the fabrication yourself on the street in the middle of the night). Hearing these stories has been deeply upsetting. Designers often feel that they have to say yes to everything and corporations seem to be unaware of the cost of creating the environments in which their products are photographed and filmed. It’s a recipe for burned out. I want to work in a helping field now.
I will miss you, Art Department! It was so fun and I learned soooo much!
With love, Morgan
I have 2 decades of experience shopping and decorating for production designers in commercials, film, television and high fashion films and stills. I studied commercial photography and fine art and have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbus College of Art and Design.
This website is a collection of my work as an Art Director, Set Decorator, and Art Coordinator in New York City and Los Angeles. I have had the privilege of working with many esteemed designers, legendary photographers and the most incredible stylists over the years including my long time mentor, Set Designer, Piers Hanmer. I assisted him with creating the sets for internationally recognized photographers like Craig MeDean, Steven Klein, Patrick Demarchelier, Paolo Roversi, and Annie Leibovitz to name just a few. We worked with all the high profile advertising agencies and well known brands including Dior, Calvin Klein as well as the standards in editorial fashion including French, Italian and American Vogue, W Magazine and Interview.
When I moved to NY in 2000 my first job was as a second AD. I worked on 6 indie features in a row with one day off in between and I am not exagerating. From there I PA’d, boom ‘opped, wardrobe supervised, ran first team, did temp work to survive and became a little obsessed with yoga to offset the high stress and long hours. I am married to my high school sweet heart (after 17 years estranged haha) and have three amazing boy kitties.
Prior to moving to NY I lived in Chicago where I worked in cafes including Urbus Orbus before the space was converted to become the set of The Real World Chicago. This broke my heart so I moved to Seattle, ended up living on a farm, building my own bedroom furniture from salvaged wood and working in a photo lab processing film for the FBI, looking for bank robbers.
