Educational Materials: Accessible Knowledge via Engaging Design

I believe well-designed, engaging educational materials are crucial for cultivating critical thinking and knowledge. The following projects exemplify this conviction.

ABM Success Story

As the Design team’s ABM point of contact, I led a collaborative presentation with my Creative Director and Digital team colleagues for the wider marketing team, sharing insights and best practices gained through testing and experimentation. It was a moment to express gratitude and celebrate our team’s shared success, as people are more likely to remember information when connected to a strong, emotional narrative.

It was rewarding to present the ABM Success Story with my larger Marketing team, highlighting valuable A/B testing insights. The presentation and recording were created as reference documents to guide future projects.
It was rewarding to present the ABM Success Story with my larger Marketing team, highlighting valuable A/B testing insights. The presentation and recording were created as reference documents to guide future projects.
I strategically used the theme of wooden building blocks to visually represent the team's journey, highlighting our progress from a state of chaotic silos to one of structured and aligned collaboration.
I strategically used the theme of wooden building blocks to visually represent the team's journey, highlighting our progress from a state of chaotic silos to one of structured and aligned collaboration.
My co-presenters and I presented our creative optimization process, from low-performing creative to updated versions, and introduced an intake document designed to enhance workflow efficiency.
My co-presenters and I presented our creative optimization process, from low-performing creative to updated versions, and introduced an intake document designed to enhance workflow efficiency.
I explained how we translated insights into scalable strategies for larger teams, illustrated by industry-specific visuals.
I explained how we translated insights into scalable strategies for larger teams, illustrated by industry-specific visuals.
These slides facilitated a more thorough presentation of the data's discoveries by our ABM specialist.
These slides facilitated a more thorough presentation of the data's discoveries by our ABM specialist.
The story concluded with a metaphor: our collaborative efforts, visualized as the shallow, intertwined roots of redwoods, helped us reach new heights of success.
The story concluded with a metaphor: our collaborative efforts, visualized as the shallow, intertwined roots of redwoods, helped us reach new heights of success.
I continued the building block theme visually, then transitioned to audience participation.
I continued the building block theme visually, then transitioned to audience participation.

Company: Sterling

Overall Concept/Presentation Design: Carmela Pereira

Programs/Services Used: Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop

Content: Carmela Pereira, Deborah Knapp, Nathan S. Lanette

Sterling Best Practice Guidance Documents

To reduce inefficiencies and empower the organization, I developed a variety of Best Practice documents for the Marketing team, streamlining operations and fostering collaboration with clear, accessible information.

I led a Lunch and Learn session for the Marketing team, presenting video best practices by drawing parallels to iconic cinematic techniques to create a more memorable and impactful learning experience.
I led a Lunch and Learn session for the Marketing team, presenting video best practices by drawing parallels to iconic cinematic techniques to create a more memorable and impactful learning experience.
Charlie Chaplin's quote, from a true pioneer of film, served as a natural and resonant launchpad for the presentation.
Charlie Chaplin's quote, from a true pioneer of film, served as a natural and resonant launchpad for the presentation.
To build a persuasive argument, I leveraged data and visuals from a range of reputable sources, along with a little humor of pleading Puss in Boots eyes.
To build a persuasive argument, I leveraged data and visuals from a range of reputable sources, along with a little humor of pleading Puss in Boots eyes.
I took the initiative to address the crucial strategy conversations that were frequently overlooked.
I took the initiative to address the crucial strategy conversations that were frequently overlooked.
I defined best-practice guidelines and timelines for a streamlined pre-production phase.
I defined best-practice guidelines and timelines for a streamlined pre-production phase.
To improve video performance, I guided the team towards script formats that aligned better with our business goals, rather than low-performing talking head videos.
To improve video performance, I guided the team towards script formats that aligned better with our business goals, rather than low-performing talking head videos.
To improve the low-quality talking head videos from subject matter experts, I provided practical guidance on video setups and demonstrated professional results using a Rode vlogger kit.
To improve the low-quality talking head videos from subject matter experts, I provided practical guidance on video setups and demonstrated professional results using a Rode vlogger kit.
I finished the presentation by providing additional resources and templated Moovly SaaS solutions. Despite its thematic deviation, the Einstein quote was too impactful to omit, and I added a 'Few Good Men' joke to introduce the Q&A."
I finished the presentation by providing additional resources and templated Moovly SaaS solutions. Despite its thematic deviation, the Einstein quote was too impactful to omit, and I added a 'Few Good Men' joke to introduce the Q&A."
To improve efficiency, I provided estimated turnaround times and suggestions to help our viewers work more effectively with us.
To improve efficiency, I provided estimated turnaround times and suggestions to help our viewers work more effectively with us.
Despite its thematic deviation, the Einstein quote was too impactful to omit, and I added a 'Few Good Men' joke to introduce the Q&A.
Despite its thematic deviation, the Einstein quote was too impactful to omit, and I added a 'Few Good Men' joke to introduce the Q&A.
Cheat Sheet/Long Scroll Visual Resource on best practices for shooting professional video content (Side 1)
Cheat Sheet/Long Scroll Visual Resource on best practices for shooting professional video content (Side 1)
Overview of how I used engaging visuals and movie references to create a relatable and impactful presentation opening.
Overview of how I used engaging visuals and movie references to create a relatable and impactful presentation opening.
Overview of how maintained thematic continuity throughout the presentation, which was designed to serve as both a presentation and a lasting resource for attendees.
Overview of how maintained thematic continuity throughout the presentation, which was designed to serve as both a presentation and a lasting resource for attendees.
Cheat Sheet/Long Scroll Visual Resource (Side 2)
Cheat Sheet/Long Scroll Visual Resource (Side 2)

Company: Sterling

Overall Concept/Presentation Design: Carmela Pereira

Programs/Services Used: Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop

Content: Carmela Pereira

Creative Input: Brand Team

Amplify 4th and 5th Grade Narratives

I art directed illustrations for 4th and 5th grade personal narratives at Amplify, an ed-tech company. In collaboration with an off-site illustrator, we produced vibrant, budget-friendly black and white visuals that engaged students and inspired them to craft their own stories. This rewarding project remains a career highlight.

4th and 5th Grader Personal Narrative covers, side by side
4th and 5th Grader Personal Narrative covers, side by side
4th Grade Personal Narrative student-facing reader
4th Grade Personal Narrative student-facing reader
To spare her friend's embarrassment after a bed-wetting accident at a Halloween slumber party, Lily told a compassionate lie that profoundly impacted the narrator and helped her understand the power of kindness.
To spare her friend's embarrassment after a bed-wetting accident at a Halloween slumber party, Lily told a compassionate lie that profoundly impacted the narrator and helped her understand the power of kindness.
In a time before the technology to determine a baby’s sex, Condoleezza Rice’s mother felt an innate certainty she would have a girl, inspiring her unique name, in stark contrast to her father’s firm belief that she would be a male athlete, named John.
In a time before the technology to determine a baby’s sex, Condoleezza Rice’s mother felt an innate certainty she would have a girl, inspiring her unique name, in stark contrast to her father’s firm belief that she would be a male athlete, named John.
This image beautifully illustrates the moment her father met his baby girl, a moment where his hopes for a sports hero son gave way to a profound and unconditional love for his newborn daughter.
This image beautifully illustrates the moment her father met his baby girl, a moment where his hopes for a sports hero son gave way to a profound and unconditional love for his newborn daughter.
This visually rich story evokes a woman’s nostalgic journey, painting a contrast between the bold, untamed guava and castor oil memories of her childhood and the familiar, conventional apple and pear flavors of her adulthood.
This visually rich story evokes a woman’s nostalgic journey, painting a contrast between the bold, untamed guava and castor oil memories of her childhood and the familiar, conventional apple and pear flavors of her adulthood.
Beverly Cleary’s personal narrative describes her awakening to a world of wonder, far larger and more exotic than her childhood farm.
Beverly Cleary’s personal narrative describes her awakening to a world of wonder, far larger and more exotic than her childhood farm.
Set in the 1920s, Beverly Cleary’s story evokes the childhood wonder of a naive, adventurous girl who truly believed she could walk around the world from her rural farm.
Set in the 1920s, Beverly Cleary’s story evokes the childhood wonder of a naive, adventurous girl who truly believed she could walk around the world from her rural farm.
5th Grade Personal Narrative student-facing reader
5th Grade Personal Narrative student-facing reader
I always laugh at this relatable story, which perfectly captures a young Cuban-American boy’s earnest attempts to recreate the ‘real’ American Thanksgiving he learns about at school.
I always laugh at this relatable story, which perfectly captures a young Cuban-American boy’s earnest attempts to recreate the ‘real’ American Thanksgiving he learns about at school.
One of the most memorable visuals depicts his desperate attempt to recreate a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving with mismatched chairs and construction paper decorations—a scene many immigrant students would likely relate to.
One of the most memorable visuals depicts his desperate attempt to recreate a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving with mismatched chairs and construction paper decorations—a scene many immigrant students would likely relate to.
At the narrative’s conclusion, the writer sees a parallel between his family’s immigrant journey and the Pilgrims’, understanding they shared hope and courage, even without traditional Thanksgiving foods.
At the narrative’s conclusion, the writer sees a parallel between his family’s immigrant journey and the Pilgrims’, understanding they shared hope and courage, even without traditional Thanksgiving foods.
Through visuals, the autobiography tells the story of Bertie Bowman, who ran away from a poor farm at 13 and, over 60 years, rose from Capitol Hill janitor to Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer.
Through visuals, the autobiography tells the story of Bertie Bowman, who ran away from a poor farm at 13 and, over 60 years, rose from Capitol Hill janitor to Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer.
Through the illustrations, we aimed to visually convey the stark contrast between Bowman’s quiet, rural farm life and the vibrant, fast-paced world of his cosmopolitan city career.
Through the illustrations, we aimed to visually convey the stark contrast between Bowman’s quiet, rural farm life and the vibrant, fast-paced world of his cosmopolitan city career.
In achieving his once-in-a-lifetime dream, an astronaut realize his triumph is lonely, and that the vast majesty of space can’t compensate for the human connection he misses.
In achieving his once-in-a-lifetime dream, an astronaut realize his triumph is lonely, and that the vast majesty of space can’t compensate for the human connection he misses.
These are samples of the Grade 4 teacher materials submitted as part of Amplify’s CKLA curriculum adoption bid for California, which included the personal narrative readers.
These are samples of the Grade 4 teacher materials submitted as part of Amplify’s CKLA curriculum adoption bid for California, which included the personal narrative readers.
These are samples of the Grade 5 teacher materials submitted as part of Amplify’s CKLA curriculum adoption bid for California, which included the personal narrative readers.
These are samples of the Grade 5 teacher materials submitted as part of Amplify’s CKLA curriculum adoption bid for California, which included the personal narrative readers.

Company: Amplify

Art Direction/Design: Carmela Pereira

Illustration: Daniel Baxter

Programs Used: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop

Creative Direction: Todd Rawson