I’m a designer, animator, and lifelong film enthusiast who loves crafting thoughtful visual experiences. I’m especially drawn to work that blends strong visual design with user experience, and I get the most satisfaction from collaborating with others to turn ideas into clear, engaging communication; whether that’s static design or motion.
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts from East Carolina University, where I focused on Animation/Interactive Design and Illustration, and later completed my Master’s in Animation and New Media at North Carolina State University. Those years shaped not just how I design, but how I think—always with curiosity, intention, and the end user in mind.
One of the most rewarding chapters of my career was working as a Multimedia Specialist at NC State’s Center for Educational Informatics. There, I partnered with computer scientists to design educational games for middle school students, creating experiences that supported different learning styles and made learning more engaging and accessible.
Today, I work as a Senior Graphic Designer at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. My role spans a wide range of projects, from white papers and brochures to web graphics, presentations, conference materials, and trade show assets both digital and physical. I also collaborate closely with the Learning team to help visually shape training and products that support professionals throughout their accounting careers.
I’m fluent in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and the Microsoft Suite, and I truly enjoy the collaborative process—working alongside project managers, designers, copywriters, developers, subject matter experts, and internal partners to bring ideas from concept to completion. I’m also UX certified through the Nielsen Norman Group, which reinforces my commitment to designing with empathy and clarity.
Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a bit about me. I’m always excited about the possibility of collaborating on thoughtful, meaningful design work and I’d love to see what we can create together.
Sarah E Abernathy 