Hey, there! Nice to meet you.
My name is Barbie, and I’m a creative strategist from South Carolina who is currently pursuing a Master’s in Graphic Design at the University of Edinburgh. My work sits between brand, communication, and experience, shaped by real-world business experience and a growing focus on design as a way to create clarity and connection.
I hold an Associate of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, which built the foundation for how I think about strategy, communication, and growth. I’ve also had the opportunity to speak at a global conference for ABM Franchising on marketing, sharing insights from my professional experience.
I’ve lived in the United States my whole life, but over the past few years I’ve spent a lot of time in Scotland and built a strong connection to it. That shift toward a more global perspective continues to influence how I think about people, culture, and communication.
Before going back to school, I spent several years working inside a growing organization where I touched nearly every part of the brand. I built websites, created sales materials, led communication efforts, and developed employee recognition and culture initiatives. I also worked on video and marketing content, helping shape how the company showed up internally and externally.
Earlier in my career, I worked in hospitality as a server and bartender. That’s where I first became interested in systems thinking and how people move through and experience an environment. Event planning built on that foundation and pulled that interest into brand experience, allowing me to think more intentionally about how everything comes together to create a cohesive and memorable experience.
Now through my graduate studies, I'm focused on refining my design skills and expanding how I think creatively. I'm especially drawn to work that connects strategy with execution, where design is not just visual, but intentional and impactful.
What Guides My Work
01
Strategy comes first
Design decisions should be intentional. I start with the problem, the audience, and the goal before moving into execution.
02
Experience is everything
From hospitality to brand systems, I’ve learned that how something feels matters just as much as how it looks. I design with the full experience in mind.
03
Systems matter
Strong work doesn’t exist in isolation. I think in systems and how pieces connect, scale, and evolve over time.
04
Design should create clarity
I focus on making information easier to understand and experiences easier to navigate. Good design should reduce friction, not add to it.
05
Details shape perception
Small moments add up. I pay attention to the details that influence how something is experienced and remembered.
06
Be always evolving
My work is constantly shaped by learning, experimenting, and refining how I think and create.
