About me. . .
Born and raised in the Midwest just outside of Chicago. With a fascination for design and a strong work ethic, I found myself at photoshoots and helping with magazine layouts in high school to gain experience. A believer in the never-ending quest for knowledge, I attended art school at Columbia College Chicago. I later returned to Northwestern University for a Masters in Information Design and Strategy.
Adventure brought me to Colorado in my early 20s and cemented the dream to return someday. I am happy to report I made good on that dream, and we relocated.
Career highlights
From the agency world, to owning my own freelance company, to a national non-profit, and right into tech, I’ve been a key contributor to mission-driven organizations with a focus on improving the lives of others. I strive to be an authentic leader who loves problem-solving and seeing others succeed. I ask questions to gain a better understanding and then seek solutions to push the norm. The teams I’ve had the most success with were built on respect, accountability, growth, and humility. As such, I lead my teams with the same principles.
My sweet spot
- Crafting and evolving strategy from a 40K view, executing down to the tiniest detail
- Building brand experiences that meet users' needs before they know they need it
- Mentoring teams that celebrate creativity, and diversity across function, background, and title
Awards
2018 GD USA American In-house Design Awards:
AVMA Convention 2018 Save the Date Mailer (Art Direction)
2017 Excel Award – Silver; MAGAZINES: Feature Article Design (50,000 - 100,000)
JAVMA, "Federal Directive Brings Veterinarians and Beekeepers Together" (Art Direction)
2017 GD USA Health + Wellness Design Award:
The Wheel of Wellbeing (Art Direction)
2017 GD USA American In-house Design Awards:
AVMA Economic Reports Suite Design
AVMA Member Welcome Kit (Art Direction)
AVMA Holiday Card (Art Direction)
2014 GD USA American In-house Design Awards:
AVMA Dog Bite Infographic (Art Direction)
AVMA Invitation
AVMA Externship Branding (Art Direction)
2013 GD USA American In-house Design Awards:
World Veterinary Day Advertisement
Chicago 2013 AVMA Convention Program
Chicago 2013 AVMA Convention Collateral
2006 PR News Nonprofit PR Awards:
2006 Annual Convention Collateral, Hawaii
Check out what others had to say. . . .
Cheryl is an exceptional creative leader with a keen eye for design, a strong branding sense, and a passion for storytelling. She's been invaluable in overhauling our visual brand and website and optimizing the user experience for events and software products. Cheryl is not only wildly talented but also a smart, kind, disciplined, and resourceful professional.
Cheryl Falk - Altia, Director of Marketing Communications
Cheryl was an exceptional student in Northwestern's Information, Design, and Strategy program. Her work demonstrated a high standard of creativity, organization, and digital proficiency. Cheryl surpassed expectations in collaborative group projects, showcasing her detail-oriented and organized approach. Having successfully navigated the rigorous graduate studies at Northwestern, I confidently recommend Cheryl as a top-notch scholar and professional in instructional design, UX design, and research.
David S. Noffs, Ed.D. - Senior Learning Designer and Lecturer at Northwestern University