Tyrel Colwell

I have worked as a marketing and design consultant since 2002, specializing in branding, web design, and development through my practice, Tyrel Colwell, Marketing & Design Consultant LLC.

In 2022, I co-founded The Source Assembly LLC, where we operate an online shop and provide specialized design services within a growing wellness niche. In this role, I lead projects end-to-end, overseeing online marketing, social media strategy, motion design, product design and development, as well as one-on-one client services.

From 2017 to 2022, I served as a Senior Designer in the Marketing Department for the Swinomish Tribe in La Conner, WA. My primary focus was the Swinomish Casino & Lodge, which functioned as a central brand supporting multiple business lines, including hospitality, gaming, restaurants, fuel stations, and cannabis retail. Working across this diverse portfolio allowed me to apply a multidisciplinary approach to campaign development, creating cohesive yet distinct brand experiences across various audiences. The environment closely mirrored agency work, offering both strategic depth and creative range.

Earlier in my career, I was actively involved in youth activism and advocacy, which connected me with national networks and led to formal training in media literacy, marketing, advertising, and public relations through organizations such as Golin Harris. Recognizing a gap in the effectiveness of nonprofit marketing efforts, a group of us co-founded Rescue Social Change Group.

What began as a distributed team of collaborators evolved into a nationally recognized agency. In 2005, we established headquarters in San Diego, CA, and rapidly grew into a leading social marketing firm. We developed and trademarked the concept of Social Branding®, and by 2013 secured the largest independent federal contract outside of military and defense sectors, significantly accelerating the agency’s growth. The company later rebranded as Rescue Agency and continues to operate today.

I am primarily self-taught, with an early passion for design and technology that shaped my career path from a young age. I began my first graphic design work in third grade, creating presentations for Boise Cascade in Medford, OR, and designed my first website by fifth grade. This early exposure led me to develop foundational skills in coding and programming.

As my interests evolved, I expanded into animation and interactive design, becoming highly proficient in Flash media development (now obsolete). Throughout my education, I intentionally focused my coursework on video production, design, programming, web development, and animation, building a well-rounded, multidisciplinary skill set.

At age 13, I began working with nonprofit organizations focused on addressing at-risk behaviors in teens and young adults. I traveled to schools delivering presentations and became involved in broader educational outreach efforts. Through this work, I received formal training in social marketing, public relations, and campaign development, contributing to statewide and national initiatives, including the Truth® Campaign.

My experience led to an appointment as the youngest member of the Washington State Department’s Intermediary Advisory Council (IAC), where I contributed to oversight of marketing strategies and budget allocations at the state level. I was also invited to speak at universities, including Western Washington University, where I taught marketing students about social marketing and design principles.

In 2004, I earned certification in C++ and game development programming through Washington State University (WSU).

In 2005, I enrolled at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Business. By that time, I was already actively working within a successful agency environment. During my studies, I was invited by the college to teach courses in web design, Flash development, and branding.

I’ve developed advertising campaigns and creative from the ground up for a wide range of companies and organizations, including print design for magazine ads, billboards, brochures, apparel, flyers, and more.

My experience includes working on statewide and national media campaigns, producing creative featured across radio, television, and digital advertising. Beyond the creative side, I have also contributed behind the scenes on advisory councils and strategy teams overseeing campaign direction, messaging, and budgeting for nonprofit organizations and public health initiatives.

I also bring extensive experience in grassroots marketing, particularly within nonprofit environments operating on limited budgets. This required a highly resourceful approach, maximizing impact through strategic thinking, cultural relevance, and efficient use of available tools and media channels.

I’ve always had a strong passion for video production and moving media. Like many creators, I started by making my own home videos and experimenting with practical effects, which helped me develop both technical skills and a deep appreciation for the craft.

By high school, I was already working professionally in video production, producing contract work for local and statewide organizations including promotional media and documentary-style content. This experience led to an opportunity working at the public access television station in Skagit County, Washington.

The station operated as a full studio environment with industry-standard production equipment, where I learned the fundamentals of studio lighting, sound, editing, and live television direction. I directed live productions for a talk-show style program called TeenTalk, coordinating multi-camera shoots and conducting live interviews with local teens. I also served as an on-camera host, producing energetic field segments throughout the county.

During this same period, I was traveling nationally as a youth advocate and activist, receiving media and communications training from leading PR and marketing firms including Golin Harris. I contributed to public awareness and advertising initiatives such as the nationally recognized Truth® campaign, supporting grassroots and guerilla-style marketing efforts.

Through that work, I connected with other youth activists and creatives who recognized major gaps in how many public campaigns approached marketing and audience engagement. Together, we helped launch what became Rescue Social Change Group, later known as Rescue Agency, a nationally recognized social marketing agency.

At Rescue Agency, I contributed to a wide range of campaigns and productions within a full in-house studio environment. My work included marketing strategy, script development, production, post-production editing, and integrated campaign execution across multiple media formats.

In 2021, I launched my own business with a strong emphasis on social media marketing and video-first content strategy. My work has included both short-form vertical video and longer-form produced media for products, services, and educational content.

I bring extensive real-world experience in video production, but I still approach the craft as a student. I’m constantly refining my skills, adapting to new technologies, and evolving alongside the industry itself.