Stephanie Taylor-Coleman (STC) is a People-first Designer and Creative Leader with a passion for good design and positive work environments. Previously she’s worked as Brand Support Director at Focus Lab and Keeper of the Brand at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
As a People-first Leader, my philosophy revolves around creating an environment where individuals can thrive, develop their potential, and feel motivated to give their best. By prioritizing the well-being of my team and embracing these fundamental principles, I believe in cultivating a creative, productive, and fulfilling work experience for everyone involved.
I firmly believe that prioritizing the well-being of your team over everything else is the foundation for success. When your people feel cared for and supported, the business naturally flourishes.
Campbell Ewald
2016 – 2017
Detroit Institute of Arts
2017 – 2020
University of Phoenix
2019– 2020
Focus Lab
2020 – 2023
Consultant
2016 – Present
I've been fortunate enough to embrace a diverse range of skills, making me a versatile and highly skilled generalist. My journey began as a Designer, starting as a freelancer and later joining an agency, where I worked as part of the New Business Department at Campbell Ewald where I received a crash course in agency life, honed my attention to detail and worked on a lot of exciting campaigns that included digital, print, and physical design executions.
My passion for Marketing Design flourished when I became deeply involved in creating print, digital, and environmental assets for museum-related activities and exhibitions at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It was an environment that allowed me to serve my community while doing what I love. During my time at the DIA, I successfully completed over 20 campaigns as the sole Marketing Designer, and as the Keeper of the Brand, two particular campaigns, "Pop Art: From Camelot to Kent State" (I even got a Lichtenstein tattoo to commemorate it!) and "Star Wars and the Power of Costume," solidified my affection for developing campaigns that bring dynamic ideas to life.
Carrying this passion, I later joined the Marketing team at the University of Phoenix as an Integrated Graphic Designer. Here, I continued working on impactful marketing campaigns, this time catering to a wider community of working adults around the country seeking career advancement. Among the projects I had the privilege of contributing to was the development, planning, and execution of the institution's first-ever virtual graduation in Spring 2020, a landmark achievement. Additionally, I was responsible for designing the visually engaging Phoenix Feature segments for the institution.
After a fulfilling time in Marketing, I returned to the agency world as a Support Designer at Focus Lab in Fall 2020. Here, I played a crucial role in assisting several brands with their design requirements before their Brand Rollouts. My dedication and advocacy for better resources and processes quickly earned me a promotion to Department Manager, where I took on Project Management and Account Management responsibilities. This position allowed me to develop the department to its full potential, with the support I believed it deserved. Throughout this time, I also led direct reports and remained actively involved in design whenever additional hands were needed. By June 2023, I proudly served as the Director of the Brand Support department, having assisted over 40+ brands during my tenure, including Fullstack Academy (and their sister institution, Grace Hopper, which I personally designed the logo for), Salesloft, and Hireguide.
As a true Designer, I never stopped pursuing my passion outside of my roles, frequently freelancing with various individuals and companies. Notable among these collaborations were Yahoo, Picture Motion (Disney+, NatGeo, Sony Pictures), and Ruby Aro.