Functional design, learned on the job…

When I entered the non-profit and higher education world, I quickly realized that graphic design was an essential tool for meeting communications goals. I didn’t have any formal training, so I learned as much as I could about universal design, design thinking, and took as many free courses as I could. Despite never having a role with “design” in its title, I’ve had to figure out how to create effective, informative graphics in just about every role I’ve filled. To truly understand storytelling, you have to understand the visual language of design, which is why my Design Thinking certificate spent an entire semester on visual communication design.

If you have the chance to hire a graphic designer, hire one. But if you need someone who is skilled in managing design teams, has a keen eye for visual clarity, won’t drive your graphic designer crazy with impossible feedback, and can jump in when needed, hire me.