Click in to watch a short video that covers a little bit of my background and skills.

Video length- 3:10

 

About

I’ve always been connected to nature. I started my working life with jobs that kept me outdoors, I worked on tall ships, I was a lifeguard at a beach, and worked at an oceanology center. When I left home to go to college I chose to major in environmental science and became a soil scientist. After graduating, I spent time working at the University of Connecticut's Soils Testing Lab and the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program which kept me at the UCONN Research Farm. I worked close to the earth and loved that aspect of my life, but in the research world, I struggled with expressing my creativity.

I had an experience while working with IPM where I was tasked to work with a graphic designer to produce an informative report for our grant funding sources. To make the dry report interesting we added images, condensed text to bulleted information for an easier read, and added tables and graphs with captions to cut down on text. After that experience, I realized that I was a natural at communicating creatively and graphically. The report was a success and I was hooked on graphic design.

I find that rhythms and patterns that we appreciate in nature can be recreated, in a sense, with graphic design. In a natural setting, the landscape is visually balanced, creates trust, and can evoke a positive emotion. Good design can replicate similar feelings, if executed correctly, and can prove to be a powerful tool to keep viewers engaged and lead them to a call of action.

Through my work experiences, I have been able to navigate my way with different types of media that have enhanced my work in design. These experiences have shaped me to be a better designer, a better communicator, and a better team player.

I love looking for ways to expand my craft and, like nature, I am destined to grow.