Stephanie C. Swearngin
Design Leader, Digital Strategist, & Product Thinker
Art Direction
Art direction for animated illustrations and photography that strengthens visual storytelling across editorial features.
Illustration by Michael Waraksa
Project description
Motion-driven illustration created for Crain’s Chicago Business to lead a digital story examining how Chicago’s arts and cultural organizations have struggled to recover from the pandemic. The visual concept reflected the financial pressures facing theaters and other cultural institutions as they navigate declining subscriptions, rising costs, and uneven audience returns.
My role
Senior Digital Designer and Art Director
Process
Identified and commissioned a freelance illustrator after reviewing multiple portfolios. Developed the visual concept based on the reporting and guided the illustrator through revisions to refine the final artwork for the digital presentation.
Illustration by Michael Waraksa
Project description
Motion-driven illustration created for Crain’s Chicago Business to accompany a story about how Chicago companies like TXI rethought office culture and workplace expectations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
My role
Senior Digital Designer and Art Director
Process
Selected and commissioned a freelance illustrator after reviewing several portfolios. Collaborated with the illustrator to shape a visual concept that reflected the story’s themes and provided feedback through multiple revisions to finalize the digital artwork.
Crain's Forum: Photography across the series
Photo by John Boehm
Photo by Alyce Henson
Photo by Alyce Henson
Project description
Photography commissioned for multiple stories in the Crain’s Forum series for Crain’s Chicago Business, an editorial initiative exploring major regional issues affecting Chicago, including public safety, workforce development, and youth mental health.
My role
Senior Digital Designer and Art Director
Process
Identified and commissioned freelance photographers based on the needs of each story. Provided art direction and visual guidance to ensure the photography captured the human impact of the reporting and aligned with the tone of the Crain’s Forum series.