Tanya Jessica Harding (she / her) Rochester, New York +1 (585) 645-4072 www.tanya.works
Respected creative director committed to championing and aligning creative with the values that drive mission-driven organizations. Tanya brings 15+ years of deep experience with her, emerging from it inspired, organized and highly process oriented, from strategic planning to design execution. She is brought to the table often, for KPI discussions, brand development, visual and UI design, and even project management. But she is also found in the Creative Suite, designing, fine-tuning typography and retouching photo selects.
Core Competencies Design Systems Thinking, Art Direction: Traditional and UI / UX, Branding Design Storytelling / Brand Archetypes, Brand Stewardship, Vendor Management, Collaboration, Style-guide Development, Organization + Project Management
Technical Competencies Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Adobe XD, JIRA / Workamajig / Teamwork (Project Management Tools), Email Campaign Development
Self-Initiated Enrichment and Pro-Bono Equity + Diversity, 1 month Leona Tate Foundation for Change, LA
Mental Health, 1 year Crisis Text Line, US
Womens’ Rights, 4 years Roc City Roller Derby, NY
Holistic Healing Awareness, 2 years HEAT Center Holistic Massage, NY
Professional Experience
Simon Business School, University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | March 2013 – Present Creative Director, Art Director Design and art direct within an in-house creative team and six internal School departments. Lead and nurture projects including but not limited to viewbooks, e-newsletters, websites’ UI / UX, and environmental signage. Oversee work to ensure it is produced at the highest quality, aligns in messaging and design consistency, on time to meet College design guidelines 100% of the time.
• Launched the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan with deans and directors • Achieved an international Gold Marcomm Award for the rebranding Simon Business School in 2019 leading to a 7% uptick in MBA applications and a 66% uptick in MS applications from the previous year. Also received a Davies Award soon after. • Synthesize complex data and requirements to art direct, organize and execute multi-day brand photo shoots that supply emotive storytelling for all the College’s promotional messaging • Redesigned alumni magazine in 2018 by working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, creatives and external vendors to deliver on-brand and on-time • Mentored two junior designers while modeling creativity to drive excellence and grow their professional confidence • Foster strong relationships with writers, copywriters, digital strategists, and developers to cross-pollinate work and execute projects which positively influence enrollment, admissions, ranking, and fundraising goals • Identify “brand gaps” and develop strategies to strengthen brand recognition while also continuing to curate a brand style-guide as a living resource
Auxiliary Magazine Branding | Buffalo, NY | November 2022 Project-Based Creative Director / Contributing Editor Envisioned and executed branding update project, including masthead and flexible design systems for editorial. Provided art direction consultation and designed initial four issues to launch rebrand.
• Up-leveled and revitalized branding informed by insight and research on trends relating to fashion, music, and lifestyle content in the US and globally • Collaborated with writers and photographers to art direct and design the first four, quarterly, 78+ page issues to solidify the new, rebranded product • Re-invented the team’s design review process and eliminated many inefficiencies by developing new workflows
Partners + Napier, Agency | Rochester, NY | March 2009 – January 2013 Associate Art Director, Brand Steward Art direction, design and brand stewardship for Bausch + Lomb (Baush Studio at Partners + Napier) and Constellation Wines (Vine Studio at Partners + Napier).
• Launched BioTrue® and nurtured sub brands of Bausch + Lomb consumer products with a team of creative directors, writers and producers • Built documentation for Bausch + Lomb Renu® lens solution brand standards, for global headquarters • Delivered complex print and digital design solutions for B2C and B2B campaigns, digital brochures, and print advertising that demonstrated a keen adherence to multi-brand guidelines and legal requirements • Delivered concepts and designs while brand steward for Constellation Brands’ Blackstone, Ravenswood, Clos Du Bois brands and others
Gold and Silver Addy Award for design excellence on brand campaigns that crafted, communicated, and executed on a vision for Roc City Roller Derby Education/Certifications UI/UX Design Certification, CalArts Masters in Visual Communications Design, Rochester Institute of Technology Bachelor of Fine Arts, Buffalo State College