Community Engagement & Fundraising
As Art Director and Lead Designer for NorQuest’s flagship fundraising campaign, I led creative development for 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities—raising $3.6M+ over 9 years to support access to education. I crafted bold, engaging designs across in-person galas (2,500+ guests) and virtual events during the pandemic, while ensuring alignment with evolving brand standards, donor goals, and event themes.
My role bridged creative vision and cross-functional collaboration with VPs, committees, and partners, while maintaining a consistent, on-brand look across all deliverables: print, digital, swag, signage, and spatial/event design. I also led art direction for the fast-paced live event photography, capturing story-driven visuals for media, social, and donor impact reports that inspired donor confidence, mobilized community action, and upheld NorQuest’s visual identity and brand.
In 2022, as the campaign transitioned to an external design agency, I served as accessibility consultant and co-art director, ensuring continuity, inclusion, and brand consistency.
Project Overview
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Art Director, Lead Designer | Event Production Coordinator
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Multi-year campaigns
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Strategic Brand Stewardship: Advocated for consistent, accessible campaign branding while interpreting evolving event themes from VPs, event managers, and fundraising committees. Balanced multiple Partner’s preferences with design integrity.
High-Stakes Art Direction: Led real-time photography art direction during live events to capture authentic, emotionally compelling visuals for social media, donor reports, and press coverage.
Rapid Crisis Response: Pivoted quickly to a fully virtual event on Hopin, creating a fully branded digital experience—including virtual photo booths, virtual backdrops, and delivery packaging for at-home guests’ meals.
Campaign Cohesion: Maintained a consistent brand and visual narrative, across multiple creative teams, fundraising strategies, and communication channels.
Mentorship & Coordination: Collaborated closely with fundraising, event, and marketing teams, mentoring junior designers and video and event production partners.
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Annual theme branding and full event identity systems.
Print materials: event programs, wayfinding and signage, and case statements.
Donor impact reports, donation forms, fundraising infographics, and more.
Large-format signage, branded swag, table numbers, photobooth assets, and sponsor-logo application on various event collateral.
Branded presentation slide decks and event screen visuals for live video feed during the event.
Email campaigns, social media graphics, newspaper ads.
Event photography art direction.
Virtual event experience: digital rooms, themed photo overlays, branded home-delivery meal kits.
Impact & Recognition
$3.6M+ raised to support NorQuest learners
Campaign goals met every year
Sold-out events (2,500+ attendees)
Two Silver CASE Awards for event and design innovation
Campaign trended on social media and boosted community awareness
Design became an emotional touchpoint that deepened donor connection
2 Silver Awards
CASE Awards
2,500+ attendees
$3.6M+ raised
Client & Team Feedback
“We won! What teamwork!! Thank you Helen, for all the help with the design and production of the many collateral pieces throughout the year. It really came together in a professional and polished way.”
—Creative Manager
“Fabulous! I love how this looks—I think it’s a great leap forward and brings the 1000 Women campaign back into the brand fold. It’s vibrant, engaging, beautiful, and has a lot of air to it.”
—Director, Marketing & Communications
“You have hit it out of the park on every front! Bask in the glow of the amazing feedback that is about to roll in and the joy and delight of our guests. I am bursting with excitement and pride. This event will be, hands down, the best and most epic party of the city all year.”