Michelle Irwin
Graphic Designer
Create. Excite. Repeat.
Selected Work
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame | Illustration & Merchandise
Problem
The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame needed engaging educational materials and merchandise that would appeal to museum visitors, particularly children, while supporting the museum's mission of celebrating North Carolina's musical heritage.
My Process
Developed custom illustrated designs for a museum t-shirt and a series of children's activity worksheets. Focused on creating playful, easy-to-understand visuals and age-appropriate layouts that balanced education with creativity, ensuring the materials were both engaging and accessible.
Results
The finished designs provided the museum with cohesive, family-friendly resources that enhanced the visitor experience. The illustrations and layouts encouraged interaction, supported learning, and extended the museum's visual identity through educational and promotional materials.
Bridge to Success | Brand Identity
Problem
North Carolina's Bridge to Success (B2S) program, a statewide initiative supporting community college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), needed a distinctive visual identity and clear marketing materials to introduce the program and communicate available resources across North Carolina.
My Process
Designed a new logo and developed a complementary color palette to establish a recognizable and cohesive brand identity. Then applied the branding to an informational flyer that featured a map of participating community college locations, key program details, and an organized layout to help prospective students, families, and partners quickly access important information. My focus was on creating accessible, engaging, and easy-to-navigate communications that reflected the program's mission.
Results
The completed branding and informational materials provided Bridge to Success with a professional and consistent visual identity. The flyer transformed complex program information into a clear, user-friendly resource while reinforcing the new brand across outreach and recruitment efforts.
Problem
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services transitioned to a new name and refreshed brand identity, requiring a redesigned annual report that reflected the updated visual standards. The goal was to create a publication that communicated the success of the program, highlighted client and staff achievements, and presented complex information in a clear and engaging way.
My Process
Began by reviewing the new branding guidelines, researching layout approaches, and developing thumbnail concepts to establish the structure of the report. Collaborated with team members to gather data, infographics, photography, and success stories that would bring the report content to life.
Designed a flexible layout system with dedicated sections for storytelling, statistics, and visual elements. To improve readability and engagement, Created a balance between written content and imagery by editing longer stories, developing visual hierarchy, and incorporating photographs within branded graphic elements. Throughout the design process, focused on consistency, accessibility, and clear communication while aligning the report with state government branding standards.
Results
The completed annual report provided EIPD with a refreshed publication that effectively showcased program achievements and community impact. The new layout created a cohesive visual experience, allowing readers to easily navigate information while connecting with the stories, data, and outcomes presented throughout the report.
Annual Report | Publication Design
Flipbook, click the arrow: Entire annual report pages
Social Media Outreach | Digital Design
Problem
As the agency transitioned to a new name and refreshed identity, it needed to establish its first social media presence. The challenge was to create digital communications that introduced the agency, reflected its new branding, and provided clear, accessible information to a diverse audience.
My Process
Developed 508-compliant social media graphics and reusable templates designed to support consistent messaging across multiple digital platforms. Focused on creating a flexible visual system that incorporated branding elements, strong hierarchy, and accessible design practices while ensuring content remained engaging and easy to understand. Collaborated with team members to develop graphics that supported agency announcements, outreach efforts, and ongoing communication needs.
Results
The completed social media designs provided the agency with a cohesive digital presence and a foundation for future communications. The templates and graphics helped streamline content creation while ensuring messages were presented in a consistent, professional, and accessible format across platforms.
Professional Testimonial
I am pleased to offer this testimonial in support of Michelle Irwin, an early career graphic design professional currently seeking new professional opportunities. Michelle completed a graphic design internship with me, after which she was hired to support the needs of a human services agency transitioning to a new name and graphic identity.
From the outset, Michelle showed her work ethic and flexibility, approaching with purpose. She proactively researched and developed multiple concepts of universal design for accessibility; she asked thoughtful questions and showed no hesitancy in stretching beyond her comfort zone to develop new skills.
Michelle consistently strived to produce work that was clean, modern, and visually compelling, and it elevated the overall presentation of our reports. Michelle was a pleasure to work with, combining talent, professionalism, and a strong desire to grow. Any organization would benefit from her skills, work ethic, and team-oriented approach.
—Jeanna Cullinan
Communications/Special Projects
Disability Employment and Community Access
NC Department of Health and Human Services
Deaf Jobseeker Services Brochure | Print Design
Problem
The Deaf Jobseeker Services program needed an informational brochure that made essential resources easier to access and navigate. The challenge was to organize a large amount of location-based information while ensuring users could quickly identify the nearest EIPD office and understand available services.
My Process
Produced an informational brochure using color-coded maps, county references, and clear visual hierarchy to guide users through the content. Concentrated on creating an easy-to-scan layout by using thoughtful spacing, plain language, and organized sections. Subtle shadows were applied to the maps to separate them from surrounding content and strengthen the overall visual structure while improving readability.
Results
The completed brochure transformed complex information into a clear and user-friendly resource. The combination of organized layouts, accessible design choices, and visual cues helped users quickly locate office information and better navigate available services.
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Signage | Environmental Design
Problem
As EIPD transitioned to a new name and visual identity, field offices across the state needed updated signage that reflected the refreshed brand while meeting the unique requirements of different locations. The challenge was to create a consistent signage approach that could adapt to varying environments, installation needs, and local regulations.
My Process
Devised a flexible signage template system that established consistent branding standards while allowing for location-specific adjustments. Each sign required individual review and refinement based on factors such as placement, visibility, environmental conditions, and site requirements. Adapted the designs as needed to ensure each location received a customized solution while maintaining a cohesive visual identity across all EIPD offices.
Results
The completed signage system supported the successful rollout of the new EIPD identity across more than 60 field office locations. The adaptable templates provided a consistent foundation while allowing each sign to be tailored for its specific environment, resulting in clear, professional, and recognizable office signage statewide.
Posters | Campaign Design
Problem
The agency needed a way to share important information with the public through posters displayed in vehicles. The challenge was to create a design that could quickly capture attention while ensuring the message remained clear, readable, and accessible in a limited viewing environment.
My Process
Constructed posters with a focus on strong visual hierarchy, clear messaging, and organized layouts. I considered the unique challenges of viewing information in a vehicle setting by prioritizing readability, spacing, and placement of key content. Throughout the design process, maintained consistency with existing branding while creating a clean and effective visual communication piece.
Results
The completed posters provided the agency with a professional and easily recognizable way to communicate with the public. The final designs balanced visibility and information clarity, allowing viewers to quickly understand the message while reinforcing a consistent visual identity.
Brand Guide | Brand Development
Problem
Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities needed a resource that would help users understand and apply important brand information consistently. The challenge was to organize detailed guidelines in a way that was easy to navigate, clearly communicated standards, and supported consistent use across various materials.
My Process
The brand guide was developed with a focus on clear organization, readability, and intuitive navigation. A structured layout system using hierarchy, spacing, and visual elements was created to make information easy to scan and follow. The design approach prioritized consistency and usability, creating a resource that could support users with varying levels of design experience.
Results
The completed brand guide provided Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities users with a clear and accessible reference for maintaining visual consistency. The organized structure and thoughtful layout helped simplify complex information while creating a professional resource that supports effective brand application.
Flipbook, click the arrow: Entire guidelines pages
EIPD | Branded Materials
Problem
Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities needed additional branded materials to extend its new visual identity across various communication and promotional pieces. The challenge was to create materials that maintained brand consistency while serving different purposes and audiences.
My Process
Branded materials were developed across multiple formats, including t-shirts, notebooks, certificates, and postcards. Each piece incorporated established visual identity elements while adapting the design approach to fit the purpose and format of the item. The focus was on creating cohesive, professional materials that reinforced recognition and supported ongoing outreach.
Results
The completed materials expanded the reach of the EIPD brand across both internal and external communications. These pieces provided versatile brand applications that strengthened consistency and created a unified visual experience across multiple touchpoints.
Michelle Irwin
irwinmichelle2026@gmail.com
Contact me by using the above email address or click on Contact Me.
MICHELLE IRWIN
Graphic Designer | Print & Digital Design | Adobe Creative Suite | Brand Guidelines & Consistency
Concord, NC 28027 | 765-729-5824 | irwinmichelle2026@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY──────────────────────────────────────────── Creative Graphic Designer with 2+ years of experience transforming complex information into clear, engaging print and digital materials that support organizational communication goals. Skilled in developing creative concepts and visual solutions by applying Adobe Creative Suite, brand guidelines, thoughtful layouts, and accessibility standards to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Experienced in collaborating with marketing and communications teams, prioritizing design requests, and creating consistent materials that improve communication, strengthen brand recognition, and support successful outreach initiatives.
TECHNICAL SKILLS────────────────────────────────────────────
Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, Adobe Express
Design: Print Design, Digital Design, Digital Platforms, Social Media Graphics, Website Banners, Brochures, Flyers, Signage, Logo Design, Visual Identity, Marketing & Promotional Materials, Layout Design, Typography, Visual Hierarchy, Brand Guidelines & Consistency
Production & Collaboration: Print Production, Production-Ready File Preparation, Print Vendor Coordination & Communication, Section 508 Accessibility, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Marketing Communications, Creative Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, Project Support, Remote Collaboration
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE──────────────────────────────────────────── GRAPHIC DESIGNERNC Department of Health and Human Services – Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities Remote | April 2024 – January 2026
• Managed design requests by organizing priorities, communicating project needs, incorporating feedback, and delivering high-quality materials within established deadlines.
• Created a new logo and selected supporting colors for a newly established department that needed a distinct visual identity. Explored design concepts that differed from existing department materials while maintaining alignment with organizational branding standards, resulting in a recognizable identity for future communications.
• Supported a statewide name change initiative by adapting existing branded graphics into template signage and print materials for more than 60 locations, helping ensure consistent communication during the transition.
• Designed print materials and digital graphics for multiple platforms, including social media, websites, reports, presentations, conference displays, and outreach materials by applying layout, typography, and visual hierarchy to improve audience understanding.
• Collaborated with program teams, and leadership to develop visual solutions that supported marketing communications goals and reached diverse audiences.
• Prepared production-ready files for print and digital distribution and coordinated with outside print vendors on conference displays and printed materials to ensure accurate, high-quality final products.
• Created accessible, brand-compliant designs using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, and Adobe Express while incorporating feedback to refine layouts and strengthen communication.
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN──────────────────────────────────────────── NC Department of Health and Human Services Remote | August 2023 – February 2024
• Designed brochures, flyers, social media graphics, website banners, presentations, and conference display materials while following established brand guidelines.
• Organized complex information into clear visual layouts using typography, color, and hierarchy to improve readability and audience understanding.
• Prepared design files for print and digital delivery, collaborated with team members, and incorporated feedback to strengthen final designs.
GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN────────────────────────────────────────────
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Kannapolis, NC | January 2023 – May 2023
• Designed social media graphics, promotional materials, and print collateral that supported museum events and maintained the organization’s visual identity.
• Developed engaging designs by balancing historical content with modern design principles and refining layouts based on stakeholder feedback.
EDUCATION────────────────────────────────────────────
Associate of Applied Science – Graphic Design Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Kannapolis, NC
Associate Degree – Reading Recovery Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN
Bachelor of Science – Elementary Education Ball State University | Muncie, IN