STEPHANIE MILLNER
MBA, M.ARTIST.M.PHOTOG.CR., CPP
graphic, web, and print design · photography · marketing · editing
- PROFILE
Graphic, web, and print designer with nearly two decades of experience in book and magazine layout and editing. Worked regularly for seven years with the US Department of State/Embassies to produce more than 300 issues of a weekly newsletter serving 1,000+ Direct Hires & LES. Hundreds of happy clients!
Consistently produce the highest level of professional and creative work, always on time and under budget. Writing has been published internationally.
Expert print designer • Proficient in Spanish • 15+ years in graphic design • Professional Photographer magazine contributing columnist.
- WORK EXPERIENCE
October 2020 – present
- Owner and operator of a freelance-born creative design agency, now comprised of 7 international members serving: web design, UX design, WordPress development, print design, marketing management, copywriting, consulting, and commercial photography.
- Expert user in Elementor
- Have successfully designed and implemented over 100 websites for various organizations and services, including: medical, entertainment, e-commerce, AI, service-based, and more.
- Maintaining a 100% JSS Satisfaction Score on Upwork for both Freelancer and Agency profiles.
- Hundreds of thrilled clients and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue for client base.
- Please see the Emerald Creative Group website for more details.
July 2016 – October 2020
- Responsible for the creation, design, and editing of the weekly newsletter, the Santiago Scene.
- Transformed the weekly newsletter into a professionally produced weekly magazine, nearly doubling the length and pertinent content from 10 pages to 18.
- Worked closely with CLO to implement weekly columns to better serve the Embassy community’s changing needs, as suggested through a large-scale survey, including a quick-reference guide, improvements to the calendar, and a weekly highlights reel.
- Researched and edited articles, ads, local events, and content to create a useful and professional document that changes weekly.
- Added weekly content to new Facebook groups to create continuity and database searchability across platforms.
- Accommodated a deadline change (from Friday to Thursday) to accommodate the employee shortage in CLO, saving the Embassy money by not having to staff CLO on Fridays.
- Developed a web version of the newsletter. Included soliciting web development quotes, initiating website architecture, and developing basic site structure.
August 2010 – April 2013
- Redesigned and refined the newsletter into a professional, weekly magazine, the Veneto Views.
- Worked closely with CLO to implement all new State Department regulations regarding the design and distribution of Embassy-created newsletters.
- Designed and maintained the CLO Auction website for largest fundraiser of the year. Auction raised $35,000 for CLO.
2008
- Created text books and publication documents for a national educational system.
- Designed book layouts for the system implemented by the Department of Education.
2006-2007
- Manage Pre-press department to ensure correct, timely, and cost-effective printing of client jobs.
- VOLUNTEERING
Volunteer Board | Graphic Designer
- Serve on website and ad teams as the graphic designer, to support campaigns and candidates in upcoming elections.
- Have created 8+ websites for TFC, leading to at least 3 surprise victories, and the Minnesota House flip.
Contributing Columnist
“Travel Photography Made Simple” (2011 Digital Edition), “So Many Countries, So Little Time” (March 2010), “Sign Language: Effective Logo Design” (October 2009)
Featured Photographer
“Travel Photography Made Simple” (2011 Digital Edition), “Healthcode Violation” (September 2011), “Grey & Balding” (August 2011).
Art Director – Editor
- Create and design four fine-art magazines, Quarterly, for the American Society of Photographers.
- Coordinate and plan with editing and design staff to produce a high-quality, award-winning magazine to act as a showpiece and marketing tool for one of the most prestigious photography organizations worldwide.
- Publish magazines from conception through printing, as well as online issues.
- EDUCATION
2010-2011
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Thesis: Entrepreneurship
Swiss School of Management
2004
Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.)
Major: Art History & Graphic Design
Boston University
- Awards
- Master Artist Degree – PPA (2021)
- Imaging Excellence Award – PPA (2020)
- Master of Photography Degree – PPA (2012)
- Photographic Craftsman Degree – PPA (2011)
- American Society of Photographers District Medallion (2013)
- Diamond Photographer of the Year Medal (2010)
- Elite Plus Member, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) – 2019
- Elite Member, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) – 2017, 2018. Member 10+ years
- Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) – Portrait Endorsement (2008)
- MBA (Swiss School of Management) | BA, Art History (Boston University)
- Memberships
- Software Skills
Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
InDesign
5/5
Photoshop
4.5/5
Illustrator
4.5/5
Lightroom
4/5
Adobe Xd
3.5/5
UX Design and WordPress Development
Figma
5/5
Elementor
5/5
WordPress
4.5/5
Microsoft Office
Powerpoint
4.25/5
Word
3.5/5
Excel
2.5/5
- Project Types
- Logo Development & Brand Extension
- UX/UI Design (for Web, App, & Dashboard)
- WordPress & Elementor Site Development
- Commercial Photography
- Book & Magazine Layout
- Packaging Design
- Pitch Decks / Presentations
- Infographics & Custom Illustration
- Social Media Graphics
- Retouching & Compositing
- Troubleshooting & "Making it Work"
- Brand Consulting
- Language Skills
DLPT indicates level of military rated proficiency
- Interests
- In Their Words...
Awesome designer! Great eye for a functional, effective and pleasing user interface (UI). Stephanie took our initial instructions, which were admittedly a bit vague, and ran with the project. Immediately understood everything, was able to apply her previous experience to help us out. Our end design is fantastic.
On a personal basis Stephanie is awesome to work with. Great communicator, hustles, cut us some slack when we pivoted on the fly. Fantastic freelancer, looking forward to our next design project together!
On a personal basis Stephanie is awesome to work with. Great communicator, hustles, cut us some slack when we pivoted on the fly. Fantastic freelancer, looking forward to our next design project together!
As always, Stephanie delivered AWESOME logos and a brand portfolio, and I couldn’t be more excited about it! She is consistent, professional, easy to work with, and overall, very creative and talented. I’m so happy to work with her again and look forward to more projects in the future. HIGHLY recommend!
Stephanie was incredible in every way. She designed a beautiful new website for us and communicated clearly with our developer to bring it to launch. She designed a gorgeous new logo providing different iterations and helpful suggestions. Her turn around time for every part of the project was very quick and the work she did was always top notch. We also loved the social media images she designed that made it easier for us to promote the website launch, logo/rebrand, and new products. Stephanie was professional and helpful throughout the entire process and we've already recommended her to colleagues. We'll definitely be requesting more of her services in the future!
