Inquiries:
chelseanconrad@gmail.com

Hello!

I am a designer, illustrator, and art director focused on branding and editorial work. Most recently, I was a Senior Designer and Art Director at The Washington Post, working on daily illustrations, editorial features and interactive visual storytelling. Previously I designed brands for podcasts, and educational tools for public media journalists at NPR.

I got my start as a designer doing nonprofit community development work back in Tennessee. I use design as a tool to engage with many other subject matters, like health and wellness, science, politics, culture, and the arts. I enjoy making complex ideas feel clear, approachable, and visually engaging.

I hold an MA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. My background spans newsrooms, mission-driven orgs, and creative studios — all of which shape how I think about design and its role in telling meaningful stories.

Selected Awards

2026

Bronze medal, Art Direction portfolio, Society of News Design

Silver medal, Use of Animation, Society of News Design

Bronze medal, Commissioned Illustration, Society of News Design

Bronze medal, Story page design, Society of News Design

Bronze medal, Line of coverage, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Use of Audio, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Line of coverage, Health & Science, Society of News Design

2025

Online Storytelling Project of the Year, Pictures of the Year

Bronze medal, Illustration, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Illustrated Reporting, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Digital Design Portfolio, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Art Direction Portfolio, Society of News Design

2024

Award of Excellence, Art Direction, Society of News Design

Award of Excellence, Interactive Story Design, Society of News Design