Leading by building
I’m Gillian—a hands-on design leader who believes good taste matters and people come first.
I thrive as a player-coach and am most effective when I can lead and create with the team.
Across higher education, nonprofits and tech, I’ve built a career turning complexity into clarity through design that earns attention and builds trust.
Today, I’m focused on opportunities where I can influence not just creative output, but the storytelling and strategy behind how a brand shows up in the world.
The Method
Experience
My superpower is distilling a feeling, idea or complex concept into a distinct visual language that’s intuitive and delightful. I bring high standards to everything I do, acting as a brand steward and a fearless iterator.
For hands-on execution, I design across web, social, print, digital, campaigns, executive communications and events.
I’m efficient, deadline-driven and comfortable navigating project management tools and cross-functional dynamics. The throughline? Design that’s clear, effective and grounded in real business impact.
Skills
Over the past decade, I’ve partnered with hundreds of collaborators—from executives and product teams to engineering, SEO and content—to deliver cohesive brand experiences at scale. As a Design Manager, I helped grow a creative team from 4 to 26 and hired two direct reports, while continuing to contribute hands-on to optimized web experiences for Fortune 500 brands.
I’m known for building trust quickly, leading with empathy and challenging teams to rethink how design drives growth, visibility and revenue.
Whether engaging at the execution level or helping operationalize creative, I bring warmth and design excellence to any team—delivering delight, on time and on brand.
