claire smalley

In preschool I skipped nap time to draw. As a teenager I sang in classical competitions. In the closet of my childhood bedroom lie boxes of journals. I’ve always loved to create. But my passion for creativity was only partially fulfilled by the arts—I didn't just want to make art, I needed to solve problems. 

When the head of the graphic design department at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) showed me work by Marian Bantjes and used words like letterform and serif, I fell in love with typography instantly. Design gave me the opportunity to use the creative and logical parts of my brain in tandem. I could be meticulous and obsessive and then stand back to consider the big picture.

At MICA I majored in graphic design and minored in creative writing, choosing electives like publication design and bookmaking. Later, I studied publishing while earning a Master of Art from London College of Communication. As I absorbed their histories and philosophies, I came to appreciate the shared demands of design and storytelling: the simultaneous awareness of what is both on and below the surface; a balance between the literal and the abstract.

Over the course of my career, my portfolio has expanded to include websites, brand identities and data visualizations. While teaching visual web design at General Assembly, I created lesson plans, led critiques and honed my ability to offer constructive feedback and mentor both designers and non-designers alike. As a professional graphic designer and then senior design manager at 2U, I hired, managed and art directed a team of editorial content designers while collaborating with writers, editors, senior leadership, and strategists to solve marketing challenges—from producing keyword-driven blog posts to designing websites on behalf of major universities.

I am a communicator, maker and organizer who thrives when challenged. I love to make and execute plans, play with new materials and create order where there is chaos. Outside of my professional work I enjoy using recyclables to make toys for my son, researching perennials for my garden and attempting DIY home improvements.