About

Teresa Edward Michael

I'm Teresa. UVA Media Studies grad, MFA in Graphic Design, and eight years across product UX, brand, and editorial. I care about two things, equally: how the work feels in the hand, and how people actually use it.

Teresa Edward Michael

Experience

Product design, concept to launch.

Eight years across healthcare, fashion, edtech, and agriculture. Each one taught me something the next one needed.

  1. 2023–present

    The Fertilizer Institute

    Manager, Design Operations & Creative Strategy

    Leading cross-functional design across brand, editorial, and product UX — from research and concept through launch.

  2. Fall 2022

    Black & Indigenous Feminist Futures Institute

    Manager, Digital Projects

    Redesigned the organization's website on WordPress, led publicity for event programming, and ran a multi-platform digital campaign across social and email.

  3. 2022

    The Social Institute

    Design Intern

    Design support at an edtech organization.

  4. 2021–2022

    West Lynchburg Baptist Church

    Graphic Designer

    Brand and editorial design across the church's visual identity — logos, graphics, brochures, and event materials.

  5. 2021

    Rehab Associates of Central Virginia

    Marketing & Design Intern

    Marketing and design support, working directly with the in-house developer on website updates.

  6. 2018–2021

    Freelance

    Graphic Designer

    Began with a 12-week graphic design internship at Consolidated Shoe Co in 2018, then continued with freelance design work across a mix of paid and unpaid organizations.

Skills

  • Product design
  • Discovery & research
  • Information architecture
  • Interaction design
  • Prototyping
  • Usability testing
  • Design systems
  • Concept to launch
  • Cross-functional leadership
  • Design thinking facilitation
  • Design operations
  • Editorial design
  • Brand identity
  • Art direction

Tools

  • Figma
  • Adobe CC
  • WordPress
  • HubSpot
  • Notion
  • Miro
  • Smartsheet
  • Claude Code

Education

Off-hours

When I'm not designing,
I'm probably playing something.

Most evenings find me deep in a game with strong atmosphere or worldbuilding I can't shake — currently working through Bloodborne. Forever favorites: Tomb Raider (PS1), Skyrim, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon.

The best games are designed twice — once for the player who reads every codex entry, and once for the player who skips them. It's a lesson I steal often.

Contact

Let's make something
worth caring about.

I'm currently open to product design engagements.

Email teresaedwardm@gmail.com LinkedIn /in/teresa-edward Instagram @under.painted

For NDAs, expanded portfolios, or detailed case studies on request.