David is a graphic designer specializing in photographic-based projects and publications. He is founder and creative director of D Griffin Studio, in Arlington, VA. Previously, he was visuals editor of The Washington Post and held a number of positions at National Geographic including: executive editor of E-Publishing, director of photography of the magazine, design director of books and deputy layout editor of NGM. David has worked in design and photography departments of U.S. News & World Report, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hartford Courant, The Everett (Wa.) Herald and The Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. He is a graduate of Ohio University and an alumni of Stanford’s Professional Publishing Program. David is the art director of the Workshop.

Prior to this, I was Visuals Editor of The Washington Post, where I oversaw the design, photography and graphics teams, plus the visual design of the digital and video divisions.

Previously I was Executive Editor for E-Publishing at the National Geographic Society leading the editorial efforts of extending NG's print publications into mobile formats, specifically the launching of their flagship iPad app. Before taking on this digital role, I was Director of Photography of National Geographic magazine.

My career has taken a weaving path of opportunities through a number of publications. I started as a photographer, moving to editing and design, eventually taking on greater directing and management responsibilities. I was Deputy Director of Photography of The Everett (WA) Herald; Art Director of The Hartford Courant; Art Director of Inquirer, the Sunday magazine of The Philadelphia Inquirer; Assistant Director of Design of National Geographic magazine; Design Director of NG Books; and Creative Director of U.S. News & World Report. 

I've photo edited and designed a number of books: "Cuba" by David Alan Harvey, two retrospectives with William Albert Allard, "Broken Empire" by Gerd Ludwig, "The Great Barrier Reef" by David Doubilet, "Ocean Soul" by Brian Skerry, "Tigers Forever" by Steve Winter, "Orbit: Photographs of the Earth by Nasa Astronauts," "National Geographic: The Photographs," and a series of nutrition related topics with photographer Peter Menzel. I also produced the iPad app: "50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic."

While individual awards rarely reflect the cooperative nature of journalism, I've had the honor of being recognized by a cross-section of news, photo and design organizations. As an emerging photographer, I was named College Photographer of the Year, twice awarded the Gold medal for photography in the William Randolph Hearst student competition and was named Ohio Press Photographer of the Year for my work in college.

I have a degree in journalism from Ohio University and am an alumni of the Stanford Professional Publishing program. While in college, I worked internships at National Geographic, The Topeka Capital-Journal, The Courier-Journal and Louisville Times, The (Everett, WA) Herald, The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune and The Kettering-Oakwood (OH) Times. (Yes, it took more than four years to get my degree.)

I did a TED talk which is close to hitting 1 million views (help put it over the top!).

I was the Secretary of the Jury of World Press Photo (2015-2020) and am on the boards of the Eddie Adams Workshop, the Virginia Quarterly Review; and a nominator for the Prix Prictet. I was a founding board member, and later president, of Look3: Festival of the Photograph. I co-curated with photographer Vince Musi in 2012.

I dabble as a painter, some recent work is here.

I am married to Kathy Moran (Senior Editor for Natural History at National Geographic), and have a son, Kyle, who is off on his life's adventure in Salt Lake City. Kathy, I and two cats, reside in Dresden, Maine