My Story
I am a passionate graphic designer with over 12 years of professional design experience. I have cultivated a diverse set of skills from my in-house design experience at two different colleges, and my contract design experience while owning Emma KG Design.
In 2014, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). I gained skills through a variety of graphic design classes including typography, layout design, digital design, branding, informational design, web design, interactive design, app design, strategy design, educational design, motion graphics, video, photography, professional writing, design technology and more—as well as many classes related to my art minor.
During my final two years in design school, I worked as UMD’s Health Services Graphic Designer. My work focused on providing college students accessible access to mental and physical health resources on campus. I heard students talking about campaigns I created and I saw students taking pictures of my posters. Witnessing these little moments showed me design can truly help others in profound ways. As I saw how much my design work helped connect students with vital mental health services, I realized first-hand that design has the power to change people’s lives.
In 2015, I was hired as the Graphic Designer for Bellingham Technical College (BTC). Over the next 3.5 years, I created all the internal and external design assets for the college. My print and digital work included design support for every internal department, promotion for all technical programs, event marketing, fundraising efforts for scholarships, external marketing to increase enrollment, and build community relations. I created various large-scale marketing campaigns printed in local and national magazines, newspapers, billboards, featured on local buses, and in businesses throughout Whatcom County.
My editorial design work at BTC included a range of publications like annual reports, magazines, viewbooks, and quarterly schedules. My digital design work included BTC's website, social media assets, CMS emails, online ads, presentations, templates, and a wide range of other digital assets for the web. The role of being the college’s only designer was incredibly demanding, but knowing I was making a difference in promoting affordable, accessible education made it all worthwhile. I heard stories from new students who realized they could be the first in their family to attend college when they saw BTC’s inspirational ad drive by on a bus, or BTC’s poster hanging in a downtown cafe. It was rewarding to see the direct impacts my designs had on the college, from improving BTC’s campus to increasing enrollment numbers. It was empowering to see my marketing campaigns break fundraising scholarship records and increase attendance at BTC’s community events.
In early 2019, I transitioned from my full-time position to a remote, contract role with BTC. I simultaneously launched Emma KG Design and began taking on a variety of freelance design clients. Since then, I have worked with diverse clientele ranging from small businesses in the Pacific Northwest to large media companies around the country. Starting my own design business gave me the flexibility to travel the world while living a more intentional life.
Curious to work together?
My years working as a designer in higher education taught me how to manage a demanding workload in a fast-paced setting. My freelance contract work has given me a different perspective in managing clients’ projects in a variety of industries. My personal and professional journey has taught me that design has the power to change lives and bring people together—and it’s my life passion to be a part of that process.
I find the most joy in life when I’m spending time outdoors in nature, trail running, birdwatching, traveling the world, eating delicious food, and caring for others. My grandmother taught me how to find appreciation for the little things, share gratitude for nature, and live mindfully. In my professional life, I strive to bring elements of joy, mindfulness, gratitude, intention, and beauty into all my designs.