THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF YOUR DESIGN NEEDS
MY SKILLS:
BRANDING
LOGO DESIGN
UX DESIGN
UX RESEARCH
WEB DESIGN
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
PACKAGING DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION
I am a “Full-Stack Designer”
A full-stack designer (not to be confused with the full-stack developer) is a person who masters multiple design disciplines that they can use to fully conceptualize and/or render a full design system or product. Paired with my entrepreneurial spirit, this means that I can help you design almost anything.
I Don’t Just Design Beautiful Things; I Design Ethical, Humane Experiences
Over time, as a designer, I’ve learned that people just don’t want beautiful design- they want designs that communicate and invoke emotions within them.
Motivated by the incredible power that STEAM has to drive social progress, I infuse empathy and social awareness into my design process.
This allows me the unique ability to create more culturally sensitive and inclusive products for all users. I use my prior professional experiences as a product manager, brand strategist, and graphic designer to design innovative, inclusive experiences that center the expressed desires of users—especially demographics typically underrepresented in user research.
My design business is named Aanu because it is an apt summation of the driving factor of my journey as a creative professional. As an LBGT+ black woman, providing representation and more diverse voices into tech is my primary motivation. Aanu is a Yoruba word that loosely translates to “empathy”. Empathy is at the heart of everything that I design.
- Has seen every episode of “My Cat From Hell”
- Once hosted an episode of Adobe Live (it was kinda a big deal)
- Mostly Self Taught Designer
- Self Published Author and Illustrator
Tools I Use In My Practice
Lucid Chart
Adobe Illustrator
Sketch
Adobe PhotoShop
Miro
Adobe XD
InVision
Procreate
Adobe Spark
Zeplin
Keynote
WordPress
...And Many More
SNAP TO SECTION TO SEE WORK
(AND USE ARROW TO SNAP BACK UP WHEN NEEDED)
UN Pom pom beanie
$19.00Black Girl at Leisure Greeting Cards Greeting Cards
$3.95 – $27.06Black Woman at Leisure Gallery Wraps
$12.84 – $50.43
SOME OF MY FAVE WORK
WRITING/ ILLUSTRATION
Growing up, reading was my escape. I would crawl into the world of a book and stay there. I would get so lost in books I could finish 700+ page long novels by the time that I was in the third grade. Teachers would bring retired textbooks to help satsiate my thirst for learning. I could read at a high school level by third grade.
Being well read and very intuitive, I couldn’t help but notice that while there were some great books with characters like me, there was not nearly as much representation as other groups. I wanted to create the representation I felt I was lacking growing up and make her fun, colorful, and inquisitive like myself and my own daughter.
UX DESIGN
One of the things that I miss most about pre-COVID-19 life is the ability to attend live musical performances and see my favorite artists.Record contracts often strip artists of the ability to make a living from their record sales, and many artists rely on touring to make their money, even if they sell many records.
The pandemic has left artists who rely on touring in a precarious position, just as it’s left fans like me with a void. I’ve decided to try my hand at creating a platform that would allow musical artists (but also content creators) to stream performances and monetize their content directly
OTHER UX CASE STUDIES
THE COOKOUT ONLINE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE DESIGN
LOGO/ BRANDING
Cam Ready Cosmetx is the first product based design client, whom I got to design from scratch. Prior to this client, most of my clients were service-based businesses with one off designs or had specific visions in mind already. This was a unique project. I created the branding from scratch, helped the business owner solidify and realize her vision from the bottom up. I even helped the owner with product concepts.
OTHER LOGO/BRANDING
WEB
Dapper Vista is the personal brand of Dr M Shelly Conner, a speculative fiction writer and professor. I was overjoyed when she allowed me to create her website.
OTHER WEB DESIGN PROJECTS
CAM READY COSMETX ECOMMERCE
(CLICK PHOTO)
NAVIGATING WELLNESS INFORMATIONAL
(CLICK PHOTO)
CAREER 911 ONLINE COURSE
(CLICK PHOTO)
WELL-MAMA INFORMATIONAL
(CLICK PHOTO)
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Product photography is a skill that I am learning out of necessity. One of my clients has trusted me guide her entire brand vision from the ground up, including the product photography. Here are a few samples of the work that I’ve done in the few months since I’ve begun learning this skill. Others are available on the client’s website.
I fluctuate between getting behind the camera and creative direction. When I am acting as creative director, I frequently collaborate with my partner- who shoots while I compose and direct.
OTHER PRODUCT PHOTOS
PACKAGING DESIGN
Packaging design is a design discipline that I am quite new to. I picked up packaging design at the request of a retained client and I am loving it so far! Here are some of the packaging I’ve designed.
MY FAVE PACKAGING DESIGNS
MY DESIGN
