...and then some.
- Freelance designer with 17+ years of experience.
- Author of The Midnight Blaze an LGBTQ+ mystery novel.
- Co-owner of the pop-up events company, History Repeatn'.
- Curator and designer of the online exhibit, PRIDE! Our Story.
- Creator of the writing blog, Designed For Writing.
With over 17 years of experience as a skilled graphic designer, John has a proven track record of success in developing high-quality design materials tailored to the specific needs of non-profit organizations, small businesses, startups, and individual clients seeking one-of-a-kind design concepts.
Outside of his design work, John dedicates his time to his other passion: writing. In this endeavor, he has produced several written works, including short stories and television/movie scripts. His debut novel, The Midnight Blaze, is an LGBTQ+ mystery novel and the first installment in a planned series. In 2025, he launched his blog, Designed For Writing, a platform dedicated to sharing writing advice and providing writers with downloadable tools he creates to enhance their craft.
For two years, John served as the Marketing and Membership Director at the Northport Historical Society where he curated the first LGBTQ+ exhibit in its sixty-three-year history. The exhibit gained significant media attention, appearing in several news outlets and receiving widespread online exposure. Due to its success, Daniello launched the online exhibit, Pride! Our Story, in June 2024, which he curates and hosts on his website as an online exhibit and resource for the LGBTQ+ community.
In his role as co-founder of History Repeatn’, John’s considerable talents are employed across the entire spectrum of company operations, encompassing everything from event organization and website development to the production of marketing materials and a range of other tasks vital to the company’s success.
Like many, I was born and wandered aimlessly (doing typical things that aimless wanderers do) until sometime in my late teens when, while shopping at a mall, I was scouted to be an actor. Unfortunately for me, I had to rely on the post office to deliver a script. When it didn’t arrive, it became clear that I needed to pursue a different career path.
A few years later, I took on a part-time job at a real estate office while earning my bachelor’s degree. It was there I discovered I had a talent for designing things…specifically printed things. Even better, people started hiring me to design things for them, launching my freelance career.
Since then, I’ve established myself as a freelance graphic designer for non-profits, small businesses, startups, and individuals seeking unique design concepts.
- I have a Master’s Degree, though I’ve mostly developed my design skills through self-teaching, years of practice and a need to “just make things look better”.
- I have designed materials for Samsung, DOW, and Con Edison.
- My design work has been featured online, in print media, and television.
It Started With A Mouse (Not That One)…
My love for writing began with a book project I was assigned in the third grade. While the other students complained about writing a story from scratch, the possibilities excited me. I came up with a story about a furry field mouse searching for a home. Not only did I write the story, I also (poorly) illustrated it and designed the cover. Holding my finished book, I realized I could make my ideas come to life.
I knew then I wanted to be a writer, but life always got in the way. Several years ago, I made a commitment to pursue my writing dreams and began working on a novel series. In taking on this ambitious endeavor, I created a pen name for myself, established an author website where I offered writing advice and downloadable tools, developed a social media strategy for my writing persona and networked at writing conferences. I’ve since switched from using a pen name to publishing my novels and short stories under my own name.
- I completed my debut novel, The Midnight Blaze, the first book in a planned series of novels.
- The experience helped me launch Designed For Writing, a blogging site where I share writing advice and create downloadable tools for writers.
It can’t all be about work.
In 2023, I developed the initial iteration of my online LGBTQ+ exhibit, titled PRIDE!, following a request to curate and design an inaugural LGBTQ+ exhibition for the Northport Historical Society in June that year. It was the first time in the museum’s sixty-three-year history that an exhibit for the LGBTQ+ community was on display.
While it wasn’t without its critics, a reaction that was entirely expected given the topic, the exhibit’s success was undeniable, achieving recognition in multiple publications and even securing a local news segment. Among the many projects I’ve undertaken during my career as a graphic designer, that exhibit remains one of my most significant creations. However, as the exhibit concluded, I realized it deserved a far wider audience and should not be limited to a single showing.
In June 2024, I launched PRIDE! Our Story, an online exhibit designed to highlight the extraordinary contributions of those remarkable individuals who played a pivotal role in spearheading transformative change for the LGBTQ+ community. This online exhibit incorporates elements from the previous exhibit to create a more complete and comprehensive understanding of LGBTQ+ movement in the United States over the last century.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’m dedicated to curating and hosting PRIDE! Our Story on my personal website as an online exhibit and resource, constantly adding new content and features to the project.
The Observer | Apr. 24, 2025
Star Wars is coming to Northport Village. Not to the theater, but to the streets.
In its first ever tribute to the blockbuster saga, which started in 1977 with the original George Lucas film, the burgeoning pop-up event company History Repeatn’– which is primarily comprised of past employees of the Northport Historical Society and was established this past October-will host the “May the Fourth Be With You” event Sunday, May 4 in and around Main Street businesses.
“We’ve been doing a lot of different events, typically about prohibition and history, but this took shape because we wanted to do so something with Star Wars and the [popular Star Wars-themed] date [May 4] was coming up,” said History Repeatn’ founding member John Daniello, of Huntington, who noted that all of the company’s previous events were solely adult-centered affairs. “This is the first time we’re including children. We just hadn’t thought of a way we can do both, and this event offered us an opportunity to do that.”
The adventure begins with the family-friendly Padawan Crawl, which kicks off with an 11am check-in at the courtyard of Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main Street. There, families can take photos with Storm Troopers cast by the 501st Legion Empire City Garrison before embarking on a Star Wars-themed scavenger hunt.
Running through 1:30pm, the “Journey to Jedi” gives children the opportunity to explore the village at their own pace while searching for familiar faces from their favorite saga. Mr. Daniello said Main Street storefronts will place Star Wars-themed stuffed animal-type characters inside their windows and throughout their aisles for the kids to find. In addition, Einstein’s Attic, 79 Main Street, has donated gift cards that will be given to winners of the “Chewbacca’s Chances” raffle.
“I love the idea that we thought we wanted to make it for all ages, and I love the idea that we’re going to see kids on a scavenger hunt on Main Street,” said History Repeatn’ founding member Carol Taylor, of Northport, the former Education Coordinator at the Northport Historical Society, during an interview with The Observer inside La Porta restaurant Wednesday, April 23. “Star Wars is a very popular pastime. We didn’t realize how popular a pastime it is for a lot of people, young and old. I’m very excited about that. I’m excited that we partnered with all the local businesses we have so kids can find them on our map, go into a store and find tchotchkes. They don’t have to buy anything in the store, but we’re hoping they do.”
The cost for the Padawan Crawl is a recommended $5 donation per child, as proceeds from the kids’ event and the raffle will go directly to Vets Out Of The Rough, a non-profit organization aimed at supporting and uplifting Long Island veterans through golf lessons and related gatherings.
Choosing the recipient of the fundraising efforts was an easy call for Mr. Daniello, whose History Repeatn’ staff was aided by members of Vets Out Of The Rough during a November event.
“They volunteered serving food and helping clean up during an event for volunteers,” Mr. Daniello said, “and the fact that they came there out of nowhere and were so helpful, we said, “Why don’t we do something where we can help make them money?”
LICs Ice Cream, 74 Main Street, will be serving Star Wars-themed desserts starting Saturday, April 26 and throughout the scavenger hunt. In addition, SweetArts, 105 Main Street, will host a Star Wars-themed craft-painting (cost for arts and crafts is not included with the Padawan Crawl admission).
“We’ve done kids events at the historical society and they’ve gone very well, and Carol is good at entertaining kids. She has the experience behind her,” Mr. Daniello said. “All these other businesses working with us for the Padawan Crawl, they’re all kid-specific. Kids love scavenger hunts, so we think we’re going to do pretty well with this.”
After the morning activities, the celebration continues from 1:30pm to 4pm, with a Star Wars themed pub crawl for those 21 and older. Led by Princess Leia, the “Cantina Crawl,” which costs $30 per participant, will challenge participants to Star Wars trivia as they visit local eateries Sand City Brewery, La Porta Pizza, Feed & Grain and Rockin’ Fish for themed drinks, specials and more. Costumes are strongly encouraged for the adult stroll through Northport Village, which Mr. Daniello is hoping to be a worthy encore to History Repeatn’s sold-out Valentine’s Day murder mystery at The Wine Cellar on Main.
“Communities have a thirst for history, especially prohibition, so that’s what I do. I co-write the murder mysteries that we perform,” Ms. Taylor said. “We come up with the ideas based on what we think the community would like, and then we partner with local businesses like The Wine Cellar, for example… We sold out in two hours, so they were pretty happy.“
Northporters’ immediate interest in the murder-mystery event, Mr. Daniello said, was representative of a community seeking additional forms of entertainment.
“Northport was a town that was changing while I was working at the historical society during COVID, and there weren’t very many new happenings in the Village,” he explained. “Everyone in town would ask about [the historical society’s] next event. But now that we have this new venture in History Repeatn’, our creativity doesn’t have a bound. Something like this ‘May The Fourth Be With You’ event, we’ll see if we can incorporate it into our annual array of events.”
“John and I have worked together in the past with a very good, creative, fun energy. We know how to bring people together, how to bring the community together,” Ms. Taylor said. “That was a very important factor for us.”
Next up for Mr. Daniello, who organized the Northport Historical Society’s first-ever LGBTQ exhibit in June 2023, is an exhibit this June at the Huntington Library called “Pride: Our Story” about the history of the LGBTQ movement in America and the people who made important contributions to it.
History Repeatn’ is a Northport-based pop-up event company that collaborates with local venues to create customized experiences for people of all ages. It is the brainchild of Mr. Daniello, Ms. Taylor, Pete Gallo, also of Northport, and Jessica Driscoll. They aim to create memorable events that foster a sense of community and fun, offering participants opportunities to socialize, make new friends, and learn.
Northport Journal | Oct. 29, 2024
A penchant for the past, for wearing costumes and making connections has reunited three familiar faces, this time in the form of a company that partners with local venues to present one-of-a-kind pop-up events – with a historic twist.
Whether it’s a cocktail party, themed pub crawl, murder mystery or trivia night, the events produced by Carol Taylor, John Daniello and Pete Gallo of CJP Events bring historians, actors, artists and musicians together to create experiences that make learning about history fun.
The three history enthusiasts want their new adventure, History Repeatn’, to encourage people and communities to come together, giving participants the opportunity to socialize, make friends, and learn – “just not in a boring way,” said Daniello.
The group’s first event, a Prohibition Sip & Learn at Crossroads Cafe in East Northport, invited guests to immerse themselves in the “intriguing and scandalous history of Prohibition while learning to craft some of the iconic cocktails of the time.”
History Repeatn’s next event, a Veterans’ Appreciation Celebration, will take place on Saturday, November 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Northport Village. The afternoon event is dedicated to honoring all those who serve our country, and will feature big band entertainment by Glenn Baldwin & The Friends of Jazz, as well as a performance by the Northport High School Tour Choir. Event sponsors, including Feed & Grain, Intermezzo, and Coliseum Caterers, will provide food paired with a selection of wines by Del Vino Vineyards. The event is open to the public and free for all veterans and active duty service members.
Taylor said she witnessed firsthand the community spirit come to life at many of the events she and Daniello helped plan and participated in at the Northport Historical Society, and wants to continue to share that creativity and positive energy with people from all over Long Island, despite no longer working at the society.
Northport Journal | April 2, 2024
A departure from the Northport Historical Society has made room for two appointments at the local museum, shop and research library, with Terry Reid and John Daniello moving into new roles as executive and deputy director, respectively.
Continuing the line of dedication and commitment to the Northport Historical Society is John Daniello, who joined the organization in April 2022 as the marketing and membership coordinator. His creative designs successfully boosted public awareness and generated renewed excitement for the museum’s events and membership; his web design expertise ensures regular updates to the society website, social media channels, and the society newsletter, which all serve as a digital historical record of the society’s current accomplishments.
Daniello also overhauled the previous membership program and crafted “The Membership Experience,” featuring new perks for personal and business members. He also curated and designed the society’s inaugural LGBTQ exhibit in 2023, delving into the history of the LGBTQ movement at both national and local levels. Daniello is curating the museum’s 2024 Pride exhibit, set to debut on May 31 after Northport’s second annual Pride flag-raising ceremony.
“Working at the society has been a wonderful experience and I’m grateful to be surrounded by passionate individuals who value history while embracing new perspectives. I feel deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen as deputy director of this remarkable institution, which has been a Northport staple for over six decades. I am fully committed to continuing our exceptional outreach and bringing the community even closer to the society,” Daniello said.
Northport Journal | June 9, 2023
The Northport Historical Society’s first LGBTQ exhibit is here and, in line with the first-ever Pride flag raising and the upcoming Pridefest in the Park event, is looking to shine light on the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ community, in and out of Northport.
The PRIDE! pop-up exhibit was curated and designed by the society’s marketing and membership coordinator, John Daniello, and explores the history of the LGBTQ movement nationally and locally. In another first, the month-long exhibit welcomes members of the LGBTQ community – and their allies – to share personal stories of Pride on the exhibit’s “Share Your Pride” wall.
A Bronx, New York native, Daniello moved to Huntington in 2021 with his partner, Matt. When Daniello first learned about the Pridefest events happening in Northport Village, he jumped on the opportunity to take part in the month-long celebrations. Though he didn’t have much time to prepare, Daniello felt the support and encouragement of his colleagues and board members at the society and forged ahead.
Daniello did the majority of research for the pop-up himself, with help from Carol Taylor and Ceylan Swenson, education coordinators current and past, respectively. “It’s been a very long month for me,” said Daniello, who created every piece in the exhibit to his standards, defined largely by his background in graphic design – everything had to be perfect.”
The Observer | June 1, 2023
Northport Historical Society Marketing and Membership Coordinator John Daniello has been strategically growing the Society’s presence in the community through his elevated designs for flyers, social media, weekly email newsletters, and more.
Mr. Daniello’s colorful and creative marketing has increased public awareness of the Museum and sparked new momentum for its event attendance and membership. He has been dedicated to capturing the success of the events and exhibits in the Society newsletter, which acts as historical documentation of all the contemporary work of the Society.
Mr. Daniello continues to make ties with local businessowners by personally delivering them flyers and finding exciting ways to partner with them. His idea of incorporating sponsors’ logos on custom placemats connects Society supporters with local businesses on a new level.
Most recently, Mr. Daniello planned and executed a campaign for the Society’s Little Prince Day. He designed handouts with a Little Prince graphic that children cut out and brought on their adventures. Their parents then took photos and tagged the Society on social media. He then designed a life-sized Little Prince with Northport Copy to make the event even more interactive. “Mr. Daniello’s enthusiam for every Museum project is contagious and we feel so fortunate to have him as part of our team,” said Museum Director, Caitlyn Shea.
Like many, I was born and wandered aimlessly (doing typical things that aimless wanderers do) until sometime in my late teens when, while shopping at a mall, I was scouted to be an actor. Since I didn’t have an email address, I had to rely on the post office to deliver a script. When it didn’t arrive, it became clear that I needed to pursue a different career path.
A few years later, I took on a part-time job at a real estate office while earning my bachelor’s degree. It was there I discovered I had a talent for designing things…specifically printed things. Even better, people started hiring me to design things for them, launching my freelance career.
Since then, I’ve established myself as a freelance graphic designer for non-profits, small businesses, startups, and individuals seeking unique design concepts.
- I have a Master’s Degree, though I’ve mostly developed my design skills through self-teaching, years of practice and a need to “just make things look better”.
- I have designed materials for Samsung, DOW, and Con Edison.
- My design work has been featured online, in print media, and television.
It Started With A Mouse (Not That One)…
My love for writing began with a book project I was assigned in the third grade. While the other students complained about writing a story from scratch, the possibilities excited me. I came up with a story about a furry field mouse searching for a home. Not only did I write the story, I also (poorly) illustrated it and designed the cover. Holding my finished book, I realized I could make my ideas come to life.
I knew then I wanted to be a writer, but life always got in the way. Several years ago, I made a commitment to pursue my writing dreams and began working on a novel series. In taking on this ambitious endeavor, I created a pen name for myself, established an author website where I offered writing advice and downloadable tools, developed a social media strategy for my writing persona and networked at writing conferences. I’ve since switched from using a pen name to publishing my novels and short stories under my own name.
- I completed my debut novel, The Midnight Blaze, the first book in a planned series of novels.
- The experience helped me launch Designed For Writing, a blogging site where I share writing advice and create downloadable tools for writers.
With over 17 years of experience as a skilled graphic designer, John has a proven track record of success in developing high-quality design materials tailored to the specific needs of non-profit organizations, small businesses, startups, and individual clients seeking one-of-a-kind design concepts.
Outside of his design work, John dedicates his time to his other passion: writing. In this endeavor, he has produced several written works, including short stories and television/movie scripts. His debut novel, The Midnight Blaze, is an LGBTQ+ mystery novel and the first installment in a planned series. In 2025, he launched his blog, Designed For Writing, a platform dedicated to sharing writing advice and providing writers with downloadable tools he creates to enhance their craft.
For two years, John served as the Marketing and Membership Director at the Northport Historical Society where he curated the first LGBTQ+ exhibit in its sixty-three-year history. The exhibit gained significant media attention, appearing in several news outlets and receiving widespread online exposure. Due to its success, Daniello launched the online exhibit, Pride! Our Story, in June 2024, which he curates and hosts on his website as an online exhibit and resource for the LGBTQ+ community.
In his role as co-founder of History Repeatn’, John’s considerable talents are employed across the entire spectrum of company operations, encompassing everything from event organization and website development to the production of marketing materials and a range of other tasks vital to the company’s success.