Portfolio of Elizabeth Hildreth—brand construction & design direction & pretend illustration. Since 2017.

INDEX




DESIGN HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY



I’ve always had an affinity for art classes and magazines with clever details and hand-lettered alphabets, but was miserable at science. I fell into design almost by chance, which means it was probably fate. I cut my wings at brilliant brand studios, then found my stride working in-house for a single brand: employing critical thinking1 to intentionally build2 a specialized system3 for a specific brand.4 In short, I approach design with a scientific practice and an affinity for art, composition, and type.

1. CRITICAL THINKING

Here, I mean a trifecta of design thinking (utilizing design for active solutions), systems building (establishing rules for rhyme and reason), and strategic planning (aligning to direction from leadership).

2. INTENTIONALLY BUILD

Meaning, through iterative creating, auditing, and maintaining.

3. SPECIALIZED SYSTEM

There is no brand formula where one-size-fits-all. They must ebb and flow — flexing to expand, contracting to contain, responding natively and organically to the needs at hand — without losing form or brand identity.

4. SPECIFIC BRAND

A brand is a living entity. The advent of the internet, then smart phones, then social media, and now AI have ensured that. A brand is a living narrative responding and contributing to the collective conversation. Design has never been more important.



Design Philosophy

DESIGN IS NOT ART—
Design translates narratives and meaning into visual language. It is a vehicle for translation, not the statement itself.

—BUT IT IS AN ARTISANAL CRAFT.
Be efficient, yes, but take your time. Pixel-perfect files and organized folders lead to a longer life. Trades are merited by their craft, processes, and standards.

DESIGN FOLLOWS STRATEGY.
There is intention and purpose behind every design decision like mortar around brick. Design asks more oblique questions than you think it should, and answers the obvious questions you hadn’t yet thought to ask.



Work Values
LIVE INTO INTEGRITY.
Mean what you say. Do the right thing, even when it’s hard and especially when it’s easy.

CARE FOR OTHERS.
Work decisions made without accounting for humanity is for the Martians. Humans who flourish make work that flourishes.

SEEK BALANCE.
Finding permanent work-life balance is a myth, but never stop seeking the moments of balance. Calibrate for the ebb and flow.

PERSONAL



Hi there, I’m Elizabeth 👋🏼

Lately into national parks (mostly Joshua Tree), commandeering my Spotify algorithm, finishing all the art projects I’ve started, and restarting all the books I still haven’t finished. Reconfiguring over-thinking into critical thinking. Would rather be hiking or throwing pottery right now. Always reforming (designing).

ANECDOTES


Sylvester Stallone once had to review and approve an email I designed (or so I was told).

I’ve been called a wizard and a unicorn several times re: design. And once had a boy scout tell me, “You look like Harry Potter! Except you’re a girl.” It was probably the glasses, but I took it as a sincere compliment.

To date, the most iconic feedback I’ve received was when a client responded only with “Is this a joke?” about a site I helped design. It wasn’t then, but it is now.



STUDIOS

Perky Bros
Designer
Nashville, 2021

Metaleap Creative
Junior Designer -> Senior Designer
Atlanta, 2017 - 2020

Polygraph Creative
Intern
Washington DC, 2016, Summer


BRANDS


Orange
Design Lead
Atlanta, since 2025

Parent Cue (at Orange)
Art Director
Atlanta, 2022-2024

St. Plant
Design Lead
2019-2021

Toastworthy
Design Lead
2018-2021


CREDITS


Education

Graphic Design BFA
with Honors
Auburn University

Service
Design Advisor
Auburn High School


CONNECT


Electronic Mail
LinkedIn
Instagram?
Myriad Florvm


COLOPHON   Arizona & Diatype by ABC Dinamo; Backslant by OH no Type Company


COPYRIGHT   © 2025 Elizabeth Hildreth. All rights reserved. Thank you for being kind ◡̈ 







WIP. Archive of existing work, graveyard of ideas.
E. Hildreth