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about
Hello! My name is Margot Harknett, I am a Cincinnati-based graphic designer, animator, and photographer who is passionate about empathy in design. I believe that design is communication and communication leads to understanding.
Across the span of time, design has shown to be a staple of human interaction. The organization of thoughts and ideas is presented in a near-universal visual language that has persisted and developed along with its people over millennia. My passion for design lies in the fascination that as humans we long to communicate our thoughts, feelings, and experiences with others whether that's wall carvings, war propaganda, or wedding invitations and we keep finding more and more creative ways to express those intentions.
I graduated in 2019 from the University of Cincinnati (go Bearcats!) with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communication Design from the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. It’s a mouthful so we just call it DAAP. In my college years, I was able to embark on five memorable internships, at notable companies such as HBO and the Fossil Group, through our Co-op program. Most recently I had served as a full-time Senior Design Director specializing in advertising and multimedia design. As of right now, I am still in Cincinnati with my amazing boyfriend and two cats, excited for what the future holds!
video and Motion graphics
Print graphics
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CO-OP
A big part of my education at the University of Cincinnati was the co-op program. Co-op rotations alternate between school and work each semester. Here are the companies I got the privilege of working at over my 5 years in school.
HOME BOX OFFICE // MANHATTAN, NY
“HBO is home to the shows that everyone is talking about – from groundbreaking series, documentaries and sports to the biggest blockbuster movies available anywhere.
For over forty years, people who love entertainment have recognized HBO as the original – the first and best place to find the world’s most innovative programming. We believe that amazing things happen when gifted storytellers are allowed to pursue their own vision in their own way. That’s why so many of television’s most creative minds make HBO their home.”
— About us - HBO
Fossil group // Richardson, tx
“Together, we make great things happen. We use design and innovation to create distinctive watches, wearables and accessories like no one else. We develop experiences that make people feel something. A little happier. A little more connected. We care about the things the matter:our people, our customers, our communities and our planet. And in everything we do, we're out to make the biggest impact we can, in the way only we can.”
— About us - Fossil Group
chesapeake group // norwood, oh
“The Chesapeake Group specializes in package design and brand innovation for consumer markets—across retail channels as well as for chain restaurants. Our tagline, Building Brands by Design™, summarizes our business purpose: we use design as a strategic tool to help our clients build their brands and businesses.”
— About us - The Chesapeake Group
frontgate // west chester, oh
“Frontgate is a leading home luxury multichannel retailer with catalog, ecommerce and retail operations. In September 1991, we mailed our very first catalog to 300,000 households. And though we’ve enjoyed robust growth since then, our core commitment to providing our customers with beautifully thoughtful, timeless products that hold long-term value has stayed the same. In fact, it is the single largest cornerstone on which we’ve built our business”
— About us -Frontgate