About
Born out of a passion to do good...
...and do what we love.
Underground Creative started as a casual conversation. After working at other local marketing and design agencies for many years, three friends got together and started batting around an idea:
“Hey, what if we started our own firm? What if we kept our services really affordable? What if we put the customer first in everything we do?” (Radical ideas, we know.)
What followed were weeks of after-hours meetings, theorizing how we could make it happen.
“What would we even call our company?”
Little did we know, that singular question would start the ball rolling on one of the most unconventional, backwards, and absolutely wonderful adventures we’ve ever experienced.
Hundreds of options were thrown around for possible company names — and just as soon, hundreds were discarded. Then the magic happened…
“What about the name Underground?”
It encompassed everything we were shooting for; the entire mentality of our business in one word. A company going against the grain, producing high quality work without breaking the bank.
Once we nailed down our logo and voice we realized that we had more than just the fun, pretty stuff to do (ugh, designers).
This is where it gets really interesting:
Our office? It’s in the basement of a commercial kitchen.
Our business agreement? It was signed on the hood of a car in the parking lot of a local coffee shop.
Our bank account? It was opened in a trailer, since the bank was being remodeled at the time.
Every step of the way, getting this business off the ground has been unconventional and backwards – and yet, it has felt like the perfect progression from day one.
Now enough of the gushy stuff — how about we put our money where our mouth is?
At Underground, we’ve got over 50 years of combined design and marketing experience. We’ve built brands, websites, and marketing campaigns for medical professionals, restaurants and caterers, municipal organizations, auto dealership groups, local events, universities, realtors, contractors, musicians…the list could go on and on.
We take our clients from start to finish, expertly navigating them through every step of the journey. We can build you a comprehensive brand identity, a gorgeous and high-functioning website, and then our specialized marketing plans will ensure you land in front of a tailor-made audience to reach your highest potential.
Our Team
Derek Munson
VP of Development
Derek is a graphic designer, web developer, and multimedia producer who’s been building websites ever since Al Gore invented the internet, and designing for screens since back when they were made from glass tubes.
Over his 20+ year career, he has worked to build eye-catching and effective designs for clients across a multitude of industries, including automotive, education, healthcare, municipal, food and beverage, government, science & technology, fashion, music, and so much more. Derek has won awards for his work from the American Advertising Federation and Graphic Design USA. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Web Design and Development from Brigham Young University – Idaho and is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree in the evenings.
When he’s not designing websites, producing TV & radio commercials, or flying our drone, you can often find Derek enjoying time at home with his wonderful wife and kids, out performing as a drummer with various music groups, playing a round of golf with friends, or looking skyward and dreaming about getting his pilot’s license.
Ryann Engel
VP of Design
Ryann is a graphic and web designer with a passion for making the world a more beautiful place.
Ryann graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BFA in Visual Communication Design. While she was there, she was able to hone her skills by working with businesses in the community: Window Dressing, Terrain, and Eastern’s own marketing department.
Ryann has been working in-industry for the last five years with a variety of clients on a plethora of projects. She’s a Jack (Jill?) of all trades, working not only in print and branding but also web design and digital ad creation.
When she decided to put down career roots, the answer seemed obvious — where better than her hometown? Ryann thrives on the idea of helping this rapidly growing community put its best foot forward.
When Ryann’s not married to the office, there’s a good chance she’s out on her next adventure. As our resident world traveler, Ryann spends any possible free time exploring the world and everything it has to offer. When she’s not circumnavigating the globe, you can find her cuddled up with a good book and her dog, Mort, or out paddleboarding on the river.
Jerrod Lindblom
VP of Marketing
Jerrod is a marketing specialist who has expertise in placing ads on Radio, TV, and Digital platforms.
As someone who has traded his unwind time with games on his phone (Candy Crush, anyone?) for combing through Google Analytics and immersing himself in his clients’ data, you could say Jerrod’s a numbers nerd.
For the last 5+ years, he’s spent time locally working for radio stations and the cable company, learning and understanding the programming, capabilities, and creative nuances that each network and medium has to offer. For the last few years he’s taken a special interest in researching, testing, implementing, and analyzing the results of campaigns on every platform. Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google, Amazon, Display Networks, and Twitter are all platforms he’s managed campaigns on.
When he’s not nerding out about how well marketing campaigns are going, you might see Jerrod hanging with his wife at her business (Red Mountain Kitchen) setting up tables and chairs for the next food event, playing sports with his kids, or playing the guitar and enjoying music (his other passion).
Michael Page
Senior Designer & Developer
Michael always works to understand his clients' goals and vision so he can help them tell their story in a way that causes people to take action.
Michael graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in the midst of Y2K. He then started his career at a Bellevue, Washington direct mail company. Over the next 10 years, he not only honed his skills as a designer, but established skills in advertising, marketing, sales, and customer service. While he values beauty and enjoys the design process, he is always thinking in terms of response: “Who are we talking to? What motivates them? What do we want them to do?”
Tri-Cities is home. Michael and his family relocated to Kennewick, Washington in 2003. When his kids were little, he worked from home, transitioning from direct mail to freelance print, web design, and marketing.
His philosophy in business is to build relationships – not products. Helping people not only brings him great fulfillment, but also attracts customers who also value people the way he does. He understands that his success comes from helping others maximize their own success.
When Michael isn’t working, you’ll find him with his family. He and his wife enjoy cooking, home renovation projects, and binge-watching favorite shows. Free time is scarce with four children in the house, but they always make time for date night when there is a new Marvel or Star Wars movie in theaters.
Derek Munson
VP of Development
Derek is a graphic designer, web developer, and multimedia producer who’s been building websites ever since Al Gore invented the internet, and designing for screens since back when they were made from glass tubes.
Over his 20+ year career, he has worked to build eye-catching and effective designs for clients across a multitude of industries, including automotive, education, healthcare, municipal, food and beverage, government, science & technology, fashion, music, and so much more. Derek has won awards for his work from the American Advertising Federation and Graphic Design USA. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Web Design and Development from Brigham Young University – Idaho and is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree in the evenings.
When he’s not designing websites, producing TV & radio commercials, or flying our drone, you can often find Derek enjoying time at home with his wonderful wife and kids, out performing as a drummer with various music groups, playing a round of golf with friends, or looking skyward and dreaming about getting his pilot’s license.
Ryann Engel
VP of Design
Ryann is a graphic and web designer with a passion for making the world a more beautiful place.
Ryann graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BFA in Visual Communication Design. While she was there, she was able to hone her skills by working with businesses in the community: Window Dressing, Terrain, and Eastern’s own marketing department.
Ryann has been working in-industry for the last five years with a variety of clients on a plethora of projects. She’s a Jack (Jill?) of all trades, working not only in print and branding but also web design and digital ad creation.
When she decided to put down career roots, the answer seemed obvious — where better than her hometown? Ryann thrives on the idea of helping this rapidly growing community put its best foot forward.
When Ryann’s not married to the office, there’s a good chance she’s out on her next adventure. As our resident world traveler, Ryann spends any possible free time exploring the world and everything it has to offer. When she’s not circumnavigating the globe, you can find her cuddled up with a good book and her dog, Mort, or out paddleboarding on the river.
Jerrod Lindblom
VP of Marketing
Jerrod is a marketing specialist who has expertise in placing ads on Radio, TV, and Digital platforms.
As someone who has traded his unwind time with games on his phone (Candy Crush, anyone?) for combing through Google Analytics and immersing himself in his clients’ data, you could say Jerrod’s a numbers nerd.
For the last six years, he’s spent time locally working for radio stations and the cable company, learning and understanding the programming, capabilities, and creative nuances that each network and medium has to offer. For the last few years he’s taken a special interest in researching, testing, implementing, and analyzing the results of campaigns on every platform. Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google, Amazon, Display Networks, and Twitter are all platforms he’s managed campaigns on.
When he’s not nerding out about how well marketing campaigns are going, you might see Jerrod hanging with his wife at her business (Red Mountain Kitchen) setting up tables and chairs for the next food event, playing sports with his kids, or playing the guitar and enjoying music (his other passion).
Michael Page
Senior Designer & Developer
Michael always works to understand his clients' goals and vision so he can help them tell their story in a way that causes people to take action.
Michael graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle in the midst of Y2K. He then started his career at a Bellevue, Washington direct mail company. Over the next 10 years, he not only honed his skills as a designer, but established skills in advertising, marketing, sales and customer service. While he values beauty and enjoys the design process, he is always thinking in terms of response. “Who are we talking to? What motivates them? What do we want them to do?”
Tri-Cities is home. Michael and his family relocated to Kennewick, Washington in 2003. When his kids were little, he worked from home – transition from direct mail to freelance print and web design and marketing.
His philosophy in business is to build relationships – not products. Helping people not only brings him great fulfillment, but also attracts customers who also value people the way he does. He understands that his success comes from helping others maximize their own success.
When Michael isn’t working, you’ll find him with his family. He and his wife enjoy cooking, home renovation projects and binge-watching favorite shows. Free time is scarce with four children in the house, but they always make time for date night when there is a new Marvel or Star Wars movie in theaters.