Hello!
Here’s a quick breakdown of what I’m all about:
I’ve finally entered my 30s! So naturally, I’m in a daily argument with my aching body.
Intentions are best proven through consistent action, integrity, and honest communication along the way. Empathy also helps.
Most of my free time during middle school was spent printing out an abundance of professional reference pieces and tutorials (thanks, deviantART) for anatomy practice. I switched my focus to music through band, vocal ensemble, and theater before bouncing back to drawing and digital illustration halfway through high school.
I didn’t discover my enjoyment and aptitude for visual communication design until I began college. Its technicality and versatility scratch a part of my brain just right, combining the complex with simplicity. I think it’s super neat.
The inspiration behind those efforts was from the games of my childhood. Video games, trading card games (TCGs), board games, you name it. All of the characters’ designs, intriguing storytelling, unnecessarily challenging mechanics, and immersive worlds had my child self feeling like she struck gold.
I have two cats: a gray boy named Alfonzo & my tabby girl Chihiro! Our best memories consist of our daily greetings through song, chatting about our trials and tribulations, and letting them dictate my bedtime for cuddles (or get an earful otherwise). I have curated a collection with some of their best modeling gigs and silly moments. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do ♡
If you’ve made it this far and are looking for a more professional perspective of my career growth, it’s just a scroll away. Otherwise, thank you for being here! If you have any questions or inquiries, my email is heather.witherby@gmail.com.
A Cincinnati native, Heather graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in Visual Communication Design and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. Throughout her college career, she focused her energy on her creative passions for telling stories and promoting meaningful causes.
With a skill set combining design, illustration, and photography with marketing, networking, and entrepreneurial ideas, she landed a job as a student graphic designer at NKU's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). One of Heather's most proud achievements is her study abroad in Ireland, where she worked with college students from Maynooth University on a virtual group project and researched the design industry beyond the US borders.
Right after graduation, her internship at Creative Department became a full-time gig as her first Graphic Designer position. She learned her print and web roots in the field with great teachers in all positions there. In March 2020, she and most of her co-workers were laid off due to COVID-19. She worked as a freelancer with clients she established during college to continue her growth and network before being hired as a production artist at Sterling Cut Glass.
Heather used this period to organize herself and regroup on what she wanted to pursue as a designer & illustrator. Honing her skills in the pre-production process for printed/etched work landed her a role as the Graphic Designer at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park. It was here she fully blossomed into her print and web design abilities, learned the ins and outs of running and managing a large-format print shop, and worked with her team as a creative and production force to reimagine their company from top to bottom. Now, she is exploring professional and personal opportunities to expand her artistic career endeavors.