This is Carly

I am a graphic and web designer.
I am a creative leader.
I strive to bring out the best in others; to empower them to create and realize ideas that enhance and drive communication.

About

Creative leader from Herndon, VA.

Creative leader and designer from Northern Virginia.

I’ve always been drawn to making things. What started with tape, boxes, paint, and childhood projects developed into a career built around visual communication, design, and creative leadership.

Today, I create thoughtful visual solutions that make complex information easier to understand. I also love building strong creative teams, helping designers develop their ideas, and bringing the right people together to produce their best work.

Outside of design, I’m usually exploring the outdoors, finding somewhere to eat outside, or keeping up with my two boys.

Graphic Design

I create thoughtful visual communications that turn ideas, information, and complex content into clear, engaging design across print and digital platforms.

Website Design

I design and build approachable, user-focused websites that bring together strong visual design, clear content, and an organization’s unique identity.

Creative Leadership

I guide creative teams from concept through delivery, providing direction, feedback, and support that helps designers strengthen their work and turn ideas into effective visual solutions.

Experience

Experience:

Dynamic Integrated Services (DIS), Vienna, VA

JULY 2020 – Present / Senior Manager

  • Lead the development and execution of strategic communications campaigns, leveraging diverse marketing tools and methodologies to meet client objectives.
  • Conceptualize and produce original, engaging content to enhance audience engagement and effectively communicate key messages.
  • Design and deliver a wide range of creative assets, including custom graphics, infographics, digital content, and marketing materials for internal and external federal government campaigns.
  • Managed all internal design tasks and projects, ensuring brand consistency, alignment with company goals, and timely delivery.
  • Oversee projects from inception to completion, balancing multiple priorities and collaborating cross-functionally with internal stakeholders.
  • Develop website content, graphics, and interactive elements to enhance user experience and digital presence.
  • Create and format Microsoft Office templates for reports, presentations, and proposals to improve consistency and efficiency.
  • Ensure compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards for digital content, including PDFs, web, and Microsoft Office documents.
  • Serve as a visual storyteller, transforming complex information into compelling, digestible visuals.
  • Maintain expertise in evolving digital marketing trends, content delivery tools, and industry best practices.
  • Lead and mentor a team of creative professionals, fostering collaboration and career development.

Floris United Methodist Church, Herndon, VA

AUGUST 2018 – JULY 2020 / Manager of Communications and Marketing

  • Directed day-to-day communications operations of a church with over 1,200 attendees weekly across three physical locations and an online platform available worldwide.
  • Served as editor and final approval authority for all congregational and community-facing communications products.
  • Managed and mentored team of creative employees to ensure that work was completed in a timely manner while consistently on brand and on message.
  • Revised communications policies and processes to minimize the amount of time and energy it took the communications team to create products.
  • Managed the redesign and rebranding of five church websites, moving them to WordPress, resulting in savings of over $4,000 a year.
  • Designed the 1Church4All logo to communicate our church’s commitment to welcome people of all abilities, ethnicities, orientations and identities. This logo is now being utilized at over 15 churches nation-wide.
  • Managed a budget of $75,000 accounting for printed materials for four churches, software and application tools for employees, and advertising on social media and other web platforms.

OCTOBER 2015 – AUGUST 2018 / Graphics Specialist

  • Designed print and web materials consistent with church brand across multiple campuses and ministry areas. Created 3-5 brand new graphics every week for different events or projects going on in the church.
  • Aligned and redesigned four church websites to be consistent with brand quality and bring the church up to modern standards of website design.
  • Researched, assessed, and built relationships with local business partners to ensure best price and quality of produced materials.

Transwestern, Washington, DC

SEPTEMBER 2012 – DECEMBER 2015 / Senior Graphic and Web Designer

  • Responsible for the design, content and production of print and web marketing materials for Transwestern’s Mid-Atlantic brokerage teams.
  • Worked with the marketing team to create both Transwestern-branded and original, property-specific artwork, logos, marketing collateral, and websites.
  • Developed logos, graphics, websites, and layouts for advertising, property marketing materials, proposals, and new business pitches.
  • Managed broker events and many other projects related to marketing Transwestern’s properties and brand in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  • Volunteered to act as the in-house Graphic Design and Web Design instructor for Transwestern’s Mid-Atlantic region.

Northern Virginia Community College, Sterling, VA

JUNE 2012 – AUGUST 2014 / Adjunct Instructor

  • Taught a variety of graphic design classes to students.
  • Provided face-to-face tutoring for students using Adobe design software.
  • Utilized lecture, practical application, visual aids, probing, open discussion, and kinesthetic learning activities in delivery of course materials.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Reston, VA

MAY 2009 – AUGUST 2012 / Visual Information Specialist

  • Designed posters, flyers, booklets, calendars, information sheets, exhibits, and advertisements for a variety of internal USGS and DOI clients.
  • Lead designer of the “From Space to Place” book, a joint project between USGS and UNESCO, which was recognized and debuted at the 2012 Association of American Geographers Conference and featured on the UNESCO website.
  • Awarded a First Place 2012 Blue Pencil Award by the NationaI Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) for the design of the 2011 USGS calendar.
  • Collaborated with USGS industry partners to design publications and exhibits for trade show events.
  • Managed the purchasing of all materials used for the production of client projects.
  • Managed all billing of USGS customer accounts and maintained all customer purchase orders and records.
  • Mounted, laminated, and framed design products for use both internally and at conferences and external events.

Education

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA
Master of Arts, Graphic Design

 

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

508 Compliance

Accessibility

WordPress

XHTML

CSS