Hi! I’m Emilly!

I am a Minnesota based graphic & website designer and photographer with a flair for marketing and communications strategies. I create design solutions that play an integral role in a brand’s influence. I collaborate with businesses and non-profit organizations to plan and execute marketing and communications tactics. And I am the owner of a small design studio in the woods, Forrest River Creative.

My Creative Superpowers

As any creative in this field will tell you, we love what we do! I’m thankful that I can use my powers for good by working with future artists and designers. In partnership with the local school district, I am able to shed light on career options in the design field for students wanting to learn more about additional educational opportunities. Being a trusted resource for kids who are interested in a creative career is rewarding and inspiring.

There are also many opportunities to get involved in my community. Most recently, I have been involved in my local parent-teacher organization, assisting with marketing and outreach efforts. I also volunteer with local churches to help the establish their online presence through website designs and social media marketing.

EXPERTISE

I love the work I do! I get to spend my days working with a variety of mediums and meeting fantastic people. I love melding multiple ideas into one cohesive design that visually represents ideas. And I love finding new ways to visually communicate. Some of my specialties include:

  • Logos and brand identity

  • Websites

  • Print patterns

  • Digital illustrations

  • Infographics

  • Newsletter design

  • Copy writing, proof reading, and editing

  • Digital publishing

  • Communications and marketing planning and strategy

  • Nature and landscape photography

  • Editing and restoring old photographs

  • Creating sentimental pieces of art with vintage photographs

TOOLS

Creating with a digital platform means that I need to keep up with the tools of my trade. There are industry standard software tools and a good selection of additional resources that can supplement any designer’s tool box. My tool box includes:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, XD, Camera Raw, Dreamweaver, Acrobat)

  • Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, Forms, One Note, Visio)

  • Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, Snap Chat, Pinterest, YouTube)

  • Website Platforms (WordPress, Square Space, Wix, Google)

  • Email and Digital Marketing (Poppulo, Constant Contact, Mail Chimp)

  • Google Workspace

  • Google Analytics

  • UI/UX Design, HTML, CSS, Java

Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Graphic Design, Summa Cum Laude, Liberty University

  • Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.), Business Administration, Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC)

Memberships

  • Professional Member, American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)

  • Professional Member, Graphic Artists Guild (GAG)

Volunteering

Marketing Chair

Byron Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)

Graphic & Website Designer + Photographer, Sunday School Teacher

South Zumbro Lutheran Church (SZLC)

Favorite Things

Like many artists, I draw inspiration from the people in my life, the experiences I have, and the places I see. Why limit myself? Life is short and there are lots of opportunities and experiences to take advantage of!

FAMILY & NATURE

“But in the end, we all
Come from what's come before
So, here I go”

- Foo Fighters

I married my high school sweetheart and together we have three kiddos, four dogs, two cats, a hand full of chickens, and a hive of honey bees. We live on a small farm sandwiched between a patch of woods and corn fields. The winters can be long and cold, but the warmer months more than make up for that. Extended family is also close by and usually ready for a concert, game night, or movie.

MUSIC & CONCERTS

“To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings, and I would—I don’t know, I wish it upon everybody. It’s heaven.”

- Prince

I am a HUGE lover of music and LOVE the experience that live music provides! I will go to as many concerts as I have time for throughout the year. Many of my family members are the same way, so it’s pretty common to see our latest adventure pop up on our social media feeds as we rock out to our favorites. And we have lots of favorites!

TRAVEL

“Find me way out there
There's no road that will lead us back
When you follow the strange trails
They will take you who knows where”

- Lord Huron

I love adventuring and seeing new places! And yes, this includes traveling to see my favorite bands play live. In the last year I was able to travel to Lake Tahoe (again), Italy and Croatia, and Disney World (again). And of course, we have to take advantage of our land of 10,000 lakes (more like 15-or 20,000). Most summers I can be found in the great “up north” on a lake enjoying some fishing and water time with my family.