Hi! I’m Kirstin.
You’re probably seeing this page because I’ve applied to the Senior Graphic Designer position at HNTB.
Below you’ll find my resume and some hand picked examples of projects I’ve worked on that align with the job posting I’m applying for.
Of course, the examples do not capture the full span of my skillset but are intended to highlight a few aspects that are in line with the role. I’d love to get in touch and discuss more about how my skills can be an asset to your team!
Thank you for taking the time to review my application.
What I’ll Do
• Create print and digital materials for proposals, including templates, charts, maps, infographics, covers and layout. (See example to the right)
Create print and digital materials for presentations, including PowerPoints, leave-behinds, and display boards.
Create print and digital materials for PR and internal communications, including brochures, ads, and announcements. (See example to the left)
Follow and implements the visual identity direction from leadership on key projects and pursuits.
Work on complex projects requiring specialized design or industry knowledge, including leading creative direction for print and digital materials for proposals, presentations or other marketing-related efforts.
(See Advent Calendar example to the left)
Utilize storytelling techniques and champions creative vision on key projects and pursuits.
(My work in churches and non-profits is perfectly in line with this)Leads maintenance and organization of digital assets such as icons, photography, and stock graphics.
(See example to the right)Coordinates with print vendors and photographers.
Responsible for final graphics review and approval.
Mentors lower-level designers. Regularly shares and discusses work with creative staff.
(See example to the right)May assist with conducting trainings for Marketing staff.
(See example to the left)Performs other duties as assigned.
As mentioned above, while these highlights may not visually capture the full range of my experience, all of these responsibilities are just a few of the things I’ve mastered in my various roles as Graphic Department Director and Communications Director.
Oversaw the entirety of the creation, management, and distribution of all print and digital materials.
Click the button below to see the full project.
Throughout every position I’ve held, I’ve created and overseen the maintenance of thousands of unique graphics, assets, and Branding Elements.
Click the button below to see one project where I created over 1,000 elements for one event.
This was one of many projects where I created a system of graphics and a style guide for a team of volunteers.
In this case, it was a group of teenagers who volunteered to create graphics for an event.
I helped create the elements and walked them through the basics of design so they could turn the project into a fully functioning brand that included social graphics, web elements, and Merch.
Click the button below to see the full project.
Original Job Posting
Below is an excerpt of the original posting.
Created all print and digital materials for a holiday campaign that spanned wholesale and retail stores internationally.
This included social assets and templates for the social team, email campaigns versioned in multiple languages and layouts, and coordinating branded graphics for events that supported the community.
Click the buttons below to see the projects.
As the Graphic Design Director and Communications Director in various roles, I’ve created countless systems and process that have structured the department and how it interacts with surrounding departments.
These systems helped to streamline the workflow and produce a higher output of graphics.
I’ve also trained staff in the practice of adopting the new systems and processes.

VIEW FULL PORTFOLIO
Skills.
Here’s an excerpt from my About page. Check out the full page for more!
Brand Strategy
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Conceptualizing what a project needs, from the very beginning, in order successfully function and live out its intended purpose. From the start of the brainstorming phase, to the implementation and final stages, it’s important to have a concept in place to bring efficiency and excellence during the duration of the project.
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Building out a strong brand is necessary in today’s day and age. I can help you do this by creating the elements needed to make design do the heavy lifting for your brand.
The surrounding elements shouldn’t be clunky and hard to work with, but should start with a foundational piece that allows for easy expansion and elaboration.
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Unity is important to help with recognition and retention. Each material should help reinforce the values and vision through elements and bring cohesion and integrity to your brand in any and every way possible. I’ll help you unify your brand’s vision with striking and easy to remember visuals.
Graphic Design
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Design requires maintenance. Just as our brand and vision can grow, our design needs to grow as well. I’ve helped countless brands and businesses revitalize and update their appearance to show that they too, are ever changing and always growing.
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There’s a panache to designing in any particular style. Finding a designer that can capture your style can prove to be quite the challenge. I’ve worked with various businesses, departments, and companies all with styles that are vastly different from one another. I can help you design, no matter what style you have in mind.
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The right design can inspire thought and action. I don’t want a graphic to just be ink on a page or pixels on a screen, I want it to make people stop, think, and act. However wildly unrealistic it may be, I think design can change the world.
Communications & Marketing
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I’ve been the sole communicator in a single department and I’ve been the sole communicator between 20+ departments. I’ve worked on communications internally with staff, externally with contractors and vendors, and internally with members and externally with potential members.
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I make it a point to over-communicate when and where I can not only to make sure my bases are covered, but so everyone can feel fully informed when it comes to each project, event, or process.
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I’m in it for the team. I’m not here to get my work done and grow for my own sake, I love to share the wealth. Because of my background in basically everything, it’s a win-win for everyone if I bring people on board and educate everyone else alongside myself.
It’s not enough to keep the knowledge to myself, we all work best when we grow together.
Social Media
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I’ve streamlined pages in order to make engagement simple. I’ve helped bring the excellence of a well designed brand into the many virtual spaces of online social platforms. Showing up with a strong authenticity and eagerness (and looking good while doing so) will further solidify your brand’s engagement on any channel.
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Nothing captures a person’s attention more than storytelling. Visuals and imagery, aside, the true interest to a brand or company is the humans behind it, and the people in front of it. Hearing from those that support and stand with a brand will help further your reach in a way that no logo or color palette can do.
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We all know how fast the social stratosphere changes these days. Being able to adapt quickly will keep you in the forefront of the people you want to reach the most. In tune with building a brand that’s established yet positioned for growth, making changes on the fly won’t phase you with a brand that’s built to adapt.
Web Design
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Along the lines of UI and UX, I’ve carefully crafted the design of websites to make them easy to use and easy to find the information you’re looking for. I’ve taken massive, confusing website and boiled them down to what really matters the most. Simple, and clean information. My goal is to remove hurdles that prevent people responding to the call of action.
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The best way to solidify your vision is to saturate everything you do with who you are. This includes your online home. Your website is the space where you can dive in and pour out all of your passion into your product and brand. People will see that effort when they visit your space and it feels cohesive, clear, and full of vision and direction.
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A website won’t do any good without capturing the true presence of who your brand is. By infusing YOU into every area of your website, you can build brand loyalty.
Administrative
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Interacting reaches a whole new level when personalities are brought into play. Every voice in necessary and when you learn and understand the voices around you, interaction becomes seamless, efficient, and most of all, exciting!
I’ve worked on a team of 3 and a team of 30+, and after all that time, I’ve learned how to work with all the personalities that teams bring to the table.
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Structure, and comprehensibility of information can impact people’s ability to follow processes. I’ve found a unique passion in creating structure and systems in new and simple ways. I’ve worked in spaces that were well-organized and spaces that, well, weren’t. I soon learned that much like graphics, systems and processes can be designed too.
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Clarification and Terminology is important in many, if not all fields. Ensuring there’s ease of language and everyone is on the same page can be daunting. But with a few tips and tricks, you can be one step closer to ensuring clarity throughout staff, leaders and directors, and beyond.
Nerdy Details.
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The Specialist
Specialists are cautious, introspective, and highly loyal to authority. They value details and need to fully understand a topic before making decisions. Supportive and collaborative, they don’t obsess over having things their way—but they do obsess over getting things right.
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Type Three – The Achiever
Threes are self-assured, attractive, and charming. Ambitious, competent, and energetic, they can also be status-conscious and highly driven for advancement. They are diplomatic and poised, but can also be overly concerned with their image and what others think of them. They typically have problems with workaholism and competitiveness. At their Best: self-accepting, authentic, everything they seem to be—role models who inspire others.
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ISTJ – The Logistician
A Logistician is someone with the Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Judging personality traits. These people tend to be reserved yet willful, with a rational outlook on life. They compose their actions carefully and carry them out with methodical purpose.
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Achiever
Deliberative
Maximizer
Relator
Competition
