Photo credit: Jay Zawacki
I am a multimedia artist and designer with both an MFA (lighting design) and a BFA (theatre design with a concentration in lighting) from Boston University. I specialize in theatre design, storytelling, world-building, content creation, mixed-media installation, and business management. I am a driven, organized, and creative professional with
both in-person and remote-work collaboration and project management experience. Through my artistic practice, I explore natural themes such as sustainability, wildlife conservation, and the preservation of our natural spaces. I also tell stories about humanity and contemporary social issues.
I design, sculpt, weld, photograph, and project manage, among other things. I enjoy mixed media work because it allows me to start with the story, rather than with the materials, so that I can make choices informed by the story.
Outside of my art career, I am an avid gardener. My great grandmother was truly talented in the garden, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I enjoy visiting coastal towns at the end of winter, when the beaches are windy and open for exploration. I love spending time with my Australian Shepherd, Moonshine, and with my husband, Jay. I am also a huge Star Trek nerd and a lover of all things science fiction. It is a genre that explores humanity and dares to ask the difficult questions. I love spending time with my family. Although we live across the country from each other, we are never out of touch. My family is my source of strength and support.
both in-person and remote-work collaboration and project management experience. Through my artistic practice, I explore natural themes such as sustainability, wildlife conservation, and the preservation of our natural spaces. I also tell stories about humanity and contemporary social issues.
I design, sculpt, weld, photograph, and project manage, among other things. I enjoy mixed media work because it allows me to start with the story, rather than with the materials, so that I can make choices informed by the story.
Outside of my art career, I am an avid gardener. My great grandmother was truly talented in the garden, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I enjoy visiting coastal towns at the end of winter, when the beaches are windy and open for exploration. I love spending time with my Australian Shepherd, Moonshine, and with my husband, Jay. I am also a huge Star Trek nerd and a lover of all things science fiction. It is a genre that explores humanity and dares to ask the difficult questions. I love spending time with my family. Although we live across the country from each other, we are never out of touch. My family is my source of strength and support.
Resume.
RELATED POSITIONS:
Marketing Manager - Smarter Healthcare Partners (April 2023-Present)
Re-design and construction of company website, management of social media campaigns, overhaul of branding and company messaging. Graphic design for web, print, and company apparel. Copywriting for the website, e-newsletter, and social media posts. Photography, photo editing, and digital animation to create a library of digital assets
Co-founder/Co-owner - Science Division LLC (2019-Present)
Construction of an app-enabled Tribble (an alien pet from Star Trek™) prototype using an Arduino microcontroller, modular electronic components, and online tutorials. Negotiation of licensing agreements and coordination with app developers, manufacturers, freight forwarders, and legal consultants to found Science Division for the purpose of transforming the prototype Tribble into a real-world product available to other Star Trek™ fans. Financial, logistical, social media, and customer service management. Content creation, product photography, copywriting for social media, product listings and the company blog. ScienceDiv.com website construction and maintenance. Creation, organization, and hosting of live-streamed online conventions.
Event Lighting Project Manager - Event Illuminations (2015-2023)
Management of freelance lighting crews on live event job sites. Collaboration with other industry professionals to facilitate cohesive designs and seamless executions. Onsite problem solving. Communication with clients as a company representative to ensure their satisfaction with the work.
OTHER SELECTED WORK EXPERIENCE
- Lighting Designer/Director (2011-Present) and Scenic Designer/Technical Director (2016-Present) - Boston University Academy
- Lighting Designer/Director - American College Dance Association New England Regional Conference (2014, 2018)
- Lighting Designer/Director - Boston Theatre Marathon XVII, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (2015)
- Lighting Designer, including creation of 2022 rep digital magic sheet (2022-Present) - Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum
ART INSTALLATION AND EXPERIENCE DESIGN SELECTED WORKS:
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Panthera tigris (2021) - Boston, MA
An immersive multimedia designed experience utilizing scenery, lighting, projection, sound, and animation combined with repurposed materials to explore the impact of cohesive storytelling as a motivator for change. |
Between the Crimes (2014) - Boston, MA
An art gallery of mixed-media pieces incorporating light as an artistic medium with sculpture, photography, and painting to inspire conversations about current social issues. |
Light Conversations (2014) - Boston, MA
An installation in Back Bay eyewear shop, Spectacle, featuring sculptures of Boston landmarks with glowing windows crafted from positive Boston Globe news articles to encourage viewers to consider the lens through which we view the world. |
THEATRE DESIGN SKILLS:
Microsoft Office, Google, and Adobe Creative Suites; Video Conferencing; Event Management; Personnel Management; HTML; Website Design and Maintenance; Graphic Design; Business Management and Logistics; Customer Service; Copywriting
DESIGN AND OTHER SPECIAL SKILLS
Lighting Design; Scenic Design and Carpentry; Sound Design; Projection Design; Storytelling and Dramaturgy; Theatre Education; Vectorworks; Lightwright; Augment3d Virtual Rendering; WATCHOUT; QLab; GMAW Welding; Video Editing; Photography
Microsoft Office, Google, and Adobe Creative Suites; Video Conferencing; Event Management; Personnel Management; HTML; Website Design and Maintenance; Graphic Design; Business Management and Logistics; Customer Service; Copywriting
DESIGN AND OTHER SPECIAL SKILLS
Lighting Design; Scenic Design and Carpentry; Sound Design; Projection Design; Storytelling and Dramaturgy; Theatre Education; Vectorworks; Lightwright; Augment3d Virtual Rendering; WATCHOUT; QLab; GMAW Welding; Video Editing; Photography
EDUCATION AND AWARDS:
MFA in Lighting Design - Boston University - Boston, MA
BFA in Theatre Design with a Lighting Concentration - Boston University - Boston, MA (Summa Cum Laude)
Boston University Arts Initiative Graduate Art Research Grant 2020 - Awarded for Panthera tigris by the Boston University Provost’s Arts Council Committee. Criteria for graduate arts research funding include potential impact and project feasibility.
Esther B. and Albert S. Khan Career Entry Award 2014 - Based on “artistic talent and personal statements about their role as an artist in society, their concern for social issues, and their vision for how they will use the award to help launch their career.”
MFA in Lighting Design - Boston University - Boston, MA
BFA in Theatre Design with a Lighting Concentration - Boston University - Boston, MA (Summa Cum Laude)
Boston University Arts Initiative Graduate Art Research Grant 2020 - Awarded for Panthera tigris by the Boston University Provost’s Arts Council Committee. Criteria for graduate arts research funding include potential impact and project feasibility.
Esther B. and Albert S. Khan Career Entry Award 2014 - Based on “artistic talent and personal statements about their role as an artist in society, their concern for social issues, and their vision for how they will use the award to help launch their career.”
Lighting design.
My lighting design portfolio and resume are available at KayleighaDesign.com. Clicking the button below will open my lighting design website in a new tab.