I’m Briana! I don’t particularly fit into any one box, but I’m mostly an artist, photographer, writer, and designer, passionate about disability advocacy.
Thank you for visiting! I’ve designed my website in a way that is honest to who I am as a person, artist, and designer. Feel free to browse my services, or to take a deeper dive into my skill sets, personal experiences with disabilities, and portfolios.
-
I specialize in photographing live music, portraits, headshots, weddings, families, children, events, and creative/experimental works.
Additionally, I love editing photos. Whether they need slight touch-ups or a complete restoration, I am sure I can assist you with your needs.
Please visit the photography section of my website for examples of my work.
-
I have 7 years of experience in UX, UI, and web design, working with major companies such as Yale University, Newman’s Own, Estée Lauder, Digital Surgeons, and more.
I offer assistance with building websites, designing interfaces, user experience, and accessibility best practices. I can also build you a simple, easy-to-manage-and-maintain site using Squarespace.
I have a Master of Science in Interactive Media & Communications from Quinnipiac University, concentrating on User Experience Design.
For examples of my work, please browse the many case studies I have available in the work section of this website. I have full UX case studies from Yale, Indeed, Face First Films, and more.
-
Whether it’s social media posts you need help with, finding your brands voice, or more journalist writing, I am I have over 10 years experience with writing both print and digital materials.
For examples of my works, please visit the writing section of my website, as well as my disability & art blog.
-
I offer many graphic design services and over 8 years of experience. I can assist you with logo design, branding, poster design, social media posts, print design, newsletters, stationary, etc. Whatever you need designed, I’m sure I can help you.
-
Do you need a photo you cherish illustrated? Or maybe you want a creative take on something important to you. Whatever it is, I can illustrate it using Procreate.
I can also perform edits and changes to Adobe Illustrator files.
For examples of my illustrations, please visit my creative section.
-
For painting and drawing commissions, please contact me directly.
My personal work is usually abstract, however, I have worked on several recreations of different styles.
-
New brand or looking to rebrand? Let’s work on it! Having nearly a decade of design and user experience, I take an empathetic approach to brand design.
I don’t want to create a logo for the sake of it looking pretty or flashy. We can do that too, but I want to create you a logo that speaks to you, your brand, and your audiences on a deeper level.
Your brand is how you present yourself, and your first impression on your clients. Let’s work together to create you a meaningful design that is tailored to your needs.
I will take extra care of your branding, making sure you leave with design systems in place so that you can scale your business with ease.
For examples of my branding design, please view the work section on my website.
-
My whole life, I stayed quiet about my disabilities. It caused me more trouble than it was worth to express my needs. Not anymore.
Do you have disabilities or know someone with disabilities and have questions I can help with? Contact me!
Do you want to guest on my podcast, Thank You So Much for Asking and talk about your experience? I’d love to hear it!
I’m also free to talk on your podcst, or help with disability awareness in any way I can.
For examples of my work, as well as disability resources, read about my experience below, and check out my disabilities & art blog!
-
As you can see, I have a wide range of skills and over a decade of experience in many of them.
Do you have creative questions you’d like to consult on? Do you need guidance on product design & marketing? Or maybe you need some feedback on your website or website accessibility. I’m here for any of your creative questions.
Please reach out to me with any of your consulting & creative needs!
The newborn with cerebral palsy
The National Institutes of Health defines cerebral palsy (CP) as “a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. CP is caused by damage to or abnormalities inside the developing brain that disrupt the brain's ability to control movement and maintain posture and balance. The term cerebral refers to the brain; palsy refers to the loss or impairment of motor function.”
At 9 months old, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. I have right hemiplegia CP, caused by a stroke at birth. As a result, I have mobility issues with the right side of my body. Though, after years of physical therapy, my disability may not be noticeable to the untrained eye.
As a child, I needed assistance with a walker and braces on both legs. I attended physical therapy nearly 5 times a week and eventually was able to remove the brace on my left leg. By the 4th grade, I was able to remove my right brace as well. This was no easy feat and came after 10 years of hard work.
The teenager with epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that happens as a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing recurring seizures. Epilepsy is a common comorbidity that occurs in 30-55% of people with cerebral palsy. Although it normally shows up in childhood, it can also begin later in life.
Most doctors suggested to my parents that if I didn’t have a seizure by the age of three, it was unlikely that I’d have epilepsy. Naturally, my parents thought I was in the clear after that age.
I like to defy the odds, but this one really defied me. At age 13, I began to have grand mal seizures. This was a terrifying time, as they came on with no more than a few seconds warning. I would experience total numbness, lose control of my body, and convulse for what felt like hours. I tried different medications and was finally able to control the seizures. I have currently been seizure-free for 7 years. I am extremely grateful for this but know that this is not everyone else’s experience with epilepsy.
The young entrepreneur who wanted to work for Rolling Stone
At age 16, I took an entrepreneurship class in which we were given an assignment to create our own business and a plan of action for it. Being obsessed with both music and photography, I decided to create an online news magazine, focused on the local music scene and music industry. I named it Fall Forward Press.
I took this hypothetical business idea and made it my reality. I began photographing and interviewing local bands. My small business gained the attention of larger musicians, and I started working with PR firms to release the latest news on bands known nationwide. I began photographing and interviewing groups such as Paramore, The Flaming Lips, Wye Oak, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fallout Boy, and more. I continue to photograph live music today, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The undergrad studying photojournalism
At age 17, I began my bachelor of arts degree at Emmanuel College in Boston. Inspired by the experiences I had been allowed through Fall Forward Press, I decided to group my love of photography, journalism, and PR to study Photojournalism. I took a student worker job as a front-of-the-house employee for Bon Appetit and began doing freelance photography on the side.
The freelance photographer
After graduating from Emmanuel, I moved back to Connecticut. I freelanced full-time for the newspaper as a photographer and took other photography gigs whenever I could. I also served as a newborn photographer at Yale New Haven Hospital.
The young lady who hated being different
Growing up with braces on your legs, wearing glasses, having seizures, and gaining weight from seizure meds doesn’t exactly make you feel like a “normal” kid. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere and would do everything I possibly could to fit in. I hated being different, and unfortunately, I carried this feeling into my young adulthood. At this point, it was easier to hide my disabilities, but it still affected my day to day. I was diagnosed with several other conditions, including endometriosis, PMDD, POTS, and more.
The master’s student studying user experience design, interactive media, and communications
Although I was still enjoying photography, I felt that I needed more of a creative challenge. About two years after obtaining my undergraduate degree, I began to explore the world of Interactive Media and embarked on a path to my Master of Science degree at Quinnipiac University. There I majored in Interactive Media and Communications, with a concentration in User Experience Design. For my Master’s thesis, I researched epilepsy, conducted interviews, surveyed people with epilepsy, and prototyped an app to track seizures. The final product was a 70-page document filled with research, branding, a prototype and more. I’ll put additional information about that on that here eventually.
The UX/UI intern at a digital marketing agency
6 months into my Master’s program, I landed a UX/UI internship at Digital Surgeons, a digital marketing agency in New Haven, CT. I loved my internship and was offered an extension to intern there longer, but after 6 months, I obtained a full-time position as a Graphic Designer at WTNH News 8, Connecticut’s first broadcast news station.
The graphic designer on the marketing & sales team for a broadcast news station
At WTNH, I created station graphics, ads, presentations, and animations for different forms of media; including television, digital, social, and print. I worked with producers to implement creative assets into the newscast; and schedule on-air promotions. In addition, I worked with Marketing, Sales, and News staff on developing multi-platform initiatives to promote and market the station’s brands. Furthermore, I created presentations for Nexstar Media Group and their potential clients, landing WTNH a $2 million sales pitch with Executive Auto Group. While at WTNH, I graduated from Quinnipiac with a 4.0 GPA.
The UX designer, graphic designer, social media manager, digital strategist, (deep breath) digital analyst & general creative team of one in a small department at Yale
After 3 years of experience at the news station, I leveraged my skills landing the position of Digital & Social Media Strategist at Women’s Health Research at Yale; an interdisciplinary research center within Yale School of Medicine at Yale University.
At WHRY, I was a creative manager, leading the design of all digital and print materials. Using Google Analytics, I analyzed metrics to advance the center’s communication plan, help improve future content development, and improve the user experience. I also performed user research and testing to improve the website.
I managed student workers focusing on collaboration and talent development. I trained copywriters in SEO to improve the viewership of WHRY’s content. I developed a comprehensive, diversified internet presence and social media strategy to advance the center’s mission, initiatives, and outreach to its various audiences.
I was a jack-of-all-trades at the center, working with internal staff, university researchers, professors, students, council members, and donors. I collaborated with web developers at Yale to create new website components that were used university-wide.
The adult struggling with disabilities and being treated…let’s just say, not great.
CP is often referred to as a childhood disorder, however, children grow up. Although CP is not a degenerative disorder, the body by nature, is degenerative. For those who have mobility challenges, imbalances, and musculoskeletal issues, aging doesn’t exactly help matters. I’ve noticed that as I age, I’m starting to experience more pain, back issues, and complications from my many disorders.
All throughout my professional career, I tried to hide these issues for fear of repercussions. I had experienced discrimination at several of my jobs, but tried to keep quiet and do my work to the best of my abilities regardless.
While I have had great success with proven results in every job I’ve had, when I needed accommodations, people's perception of me seemed to change. I was no longer seen as a successful, dedicated employee anymore. I was seen as an inconvenience or a liability. I had been told I didn’t look like I had disabilities. I had been told that I had to stop working until they learned more about my conditions.
This discrimination crushed my spirits and made me question my worth; not just as an employee, but as a person. This all may sound like a sob story, but I couldn’t be more grateful for these challenges.
The freelancer, 2.0
Over the years I’ve called myself a photographer, photojournalist, writer, graphic designer, UX & product designer, social media manger, artist, etc., but none of those titles alone fully embody the creativity I am constantly trying to express in new ways.
After in-depth creative exploration, doing both full-time and freelance work for over 13 years, I decided that I don’t need to be just one thing. I also realized that don’t need to hide who I am to make others more comfortable. I’m a creative person with disabilities and a whole lot to offer. I have embraced that it is a true asset to have so many skills and the life experiences that I’ve had.
I am now freelancing full-time, utilizing all my creative abilities. Being a multi-passionate individual, this has allowed me to balance all my creative endeavors, and add a few more!
My whole life I’ve loved painting and drawing, and recently began printmaking. Now, I incorporate fine art into my graphic design work, and continue to do UX, web design, graphic design, photography, branding, art direction, and more. I’d be delighted to help you with any of your creative needs, so don’t hesitate to reach out!
The artist who realized how beautiful all of these experiences are
It took about 30 years, but after facing my disabilities and the challenges they bring head-on, I decided it was time to take control of how I was treated. I decided to no longer hide my disabilities, or be ashamed of who I am. I challenged those who chose not to respect me and my needs, and defended others that were being mistreated as well.
My disabilities have shaped who I am as a person in such a profound way, that it’s hard to separate my work from them. Having disabilities has taught me to be empathetic of others’ needs. I want to design things in a way that is accessible to people of all different abilities. I also want to educate others to create more understanding, and an environment of pure creativity, unhindered by those who choose not to understand. Thank you so much for reading!
Stay up to date
I update my site as much as possible, but let’s be real, it’s hard to manage social media, a website, a small business, disabilities, and regular everyday life all at once. I am most consistent with posting on Instagram, so if you’re interested in my content and want to stay as up-to-date as possible, follow me there!
