About Prof. Hornbeak
Download Heather Hornbeak's CV
Following graduation in 2004, I was employed as the Graphic Designer for marketing materials promoting Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina and Glorietta Conference Center in New Mexico. Later, I became Lead Designer and Assistant Marketing Director for Griffin Technology, designing international advertisements, trade show booths, packaging in multiple languages and sales presentations located in my hometown of Nashville, TN.
My work was seen in every Apple store in the world, CES shows, MacWorld shows and various mainstream publications. The company grew quickly due to our close relationship with Steve Jobs and the launch of the iPod and iPhone. Our team celebrated accounts from large retailers such as Target, Walmart and Best Buy.
From there, I shifted to owning two successful businesses of my own full-time with my husband, partners and a team of employees I personally trained - one a studio and the other in AV & Home Automation. While in graduate school at Azusa Pacific University, I taught four levels of photography for the Art Department at Union University in Jackson, TN.
Immediately upon graduation in 2016, I began as Professor of Interactive Media at Asbury University in Wilmore, KY. In 2024, I accepted a position back in the Art Department teaching Web Design, UX/UI, and Photography at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC. When I’m not working, I spend my time with my two sons, Emery (13) and Oliver (9), and my husband, Jesse, of 19 years. Our family lived and traveled in a self-converted van in 2019 and built a tiny home as a demonstration and experiment of how design can benefit living spaces.
Web Design
Working with long time friend and colleague, Dr. Kimberly Thornbury, faithcenteredmedia.org needed a little TLC to continue the work publishing a video series, downloadable stories, and audiobooks by the late Ethel Barrett. Her work delivers a captivating interpretation made for children of stories such as those told in the book of Daniel and Kings. The website is meant as a free resource for parents of young children and churches.
Working with long time friend and colleague, Dr. Kimberly Thornbury, faithcenteredmedia.org needed a little TLC to continue the work publishing a video series, downloadable stories, and audiobooks by the late Ethel Barrett. Her work delivers a captivating interpretation made for children of stories such as those told in the book of Daniel and Kings. The website is meant as a free resource for parents of young children and churches.
Because Sanctuary is not a church, the website was cleaned to reflect a more simple UX journey communicating hours, schedule, mission and volunteer needs.
Working with long time friend and colleague, Dr. Kimberly Thornbury, faithcenteredmedia.org needed a little TLC to continue the work publishing a video series, downloadable stories, and audiobooks by the late Ethel Barrett. Her work delivers a captivating interpretation made for children of stories such as those told in the book of Daniel and Kings. The website is meant as a free resource for parents of young children and churches.
Graphic Design
Logo design within style guide created for 1994 Contracting
A non-profit focused on clean water solutions in vulnerable areas around the world funds it's work with sanitization products such as hand sanitizer using their patented formula. UX/UI design includes all elements of marketing design including SEO strategies, package design, branding, consulting, content creation, responsive web design for an international audience, print media and more.
Logo design within style guide created for 1994 Contracting
Exhibit Artwork
"Deleted Landscapes" explores design and photography with the landscape voided creating a mystery to each image's location
"Deleted Landscapes" explores design and photography with the landscape voided creating a mystery to each image's location
A visual representation of one day's waking hours and sunlight.
"Deleted Landscapes" explores design and photography with the landscape voided creating a mystery to each image's location
Student Work
I am so proud of so many of my former students! It is an honor to teach and be part of their career growth. Many former students have kept in touch and have moved into very influential roles in places such as:
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Apple
Adobe
Loreal
US Senator media offices
Nashville Soccer Club
WWE
The Salvation Army
The Olympic Broadcasting Service
PBS
World Vision
Local News Stations
Local Design Agencies
and more!
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Hadley is a talented designer. Highlighted is a magazine she designed and produced with another student under my direction for an independent study. Each article was written by a current student or faculty member. The magazine was printed and distributed to thousands. She graduated and immediately began working full-time for a design firm in Louisville, KY.
One of my favorite students to work with, Bailey, is a talented designer that can execute a successful design at a rapid speed. I helped Bailey through the process of negotiating her entry level positions working her way to now the Digital Marketing Director at Nashville Soccer Club.
Eli, a student who switched from audio engineering to a design major, worked on a lengthy social media campaign for a Christian organization providing support for a K-12 school in the slums of Lima, Peru as well as other locations around the globe.
Eliza, a student of mine in design and photography completed her masters degree at George Washington University immediately after graduation and began working for Adobe as an educator and speaker.
For the last 5 years, students and I have managed a website hosting thousands of never before seen film painting and drawings from the University collection. The digital presence is meant to give anyone interested in researching in film and production design. Films include "Hello, Dolly!", "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Cleopatra" and more. The website has received attention from many Universities around the globe as well as celebrities.
Using basic animation, many of my students enjoy transforming their designs into simple motions.
Students learn the value of how design shapes whether a digital product is successful or unsuccessful by redesigning mobile apps using UX/UI strategies. This extract from a student presentation is an example of how Ashlynn improved a plant identifying mobile app.
Learn
Discover UX/UI and web design in these tutorials and introductions.
Learn photography basics and using your DSLR camera.
Watch Heather Hornbeak's video bio.
Presentations
"The Power of Data Visualization in the Workplace"
The processing power our minds run on to digest verbal and written information is incrediably slow compared to our visual comprehension. So why don't we use sight to teach or present complex information more often? Almost every classroom and conference room in the US is outfitted with technology. Visual aids are often expected. However, these devices could be used more effectively. Ditch your wordy slides, and turn them into a powerful tool.
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Presented for California State University, and Asbury University
"Digital Etiquette in the Workplace"
Because many of our interactions happen digitally, it is easy to be reactionary without thinking about how typed words and inappropriate platforms could effect professional tasks. However, there is a lot to learn from etiquette prescribed many years ago, boundaries between home devices and work, keeping emails brief, and being more intentional with social media.
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Presented for Red Bird Christian School
"How Well-Designed, Small Home Communities Benefit Everyone"
Education and real estate are the two most valuable resources for those looking to improve their lifestyle. In this presentation, I debunk myths many assume about tiny homes. The data proves small homes increase home values for their neighbors, immediately builds equity for owners, dramatically lowers utility bills, and is a great option for both young people starting out and seniors. It has also proved to be a success serving the homeless in places such as Detroit, MI and Austin, TX. Our family of four lived in a tiny home on wheels and traveled the country to visit many small home villages researching their community structures. These communities have had support from their local leaders who adopted new codes and zoning implemented on the federal level.
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Presented for city planners and city council members in Jackson, TN, Wilmore, KY, and Lexington, KY.
"How UX/UI serves Higher Education"
User Experience and User Interfaces influence purchasing decisions, learning outcomes, health, and social interactions. Whether it's the efficiency of the Chickfila drive-thru, the path at Ikea, or playing on a new playground, user experience determines how users feel about people, places and/or the product. Testing and research reveal interesting truths about how prospective students interact with the first point of contact - the institution's website. These findings inform the campus environment leading to retention strategies.
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Presented for Asbury University Cabinet, and Belmont University (UX/UI Basics only).
"Faith, Media, & Art"
How can the church integrate faith and art? It's the million dollar question! In this presentation, we explore art history and ideas for bridging the gap between clergy and the art community. Whether it's creating well designed tiny homes for the poor, illustrations to represent complex concepts, or a documentary to tell a story, the church is meant to support these acts of worship.
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Presented at CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts) and currently working with St. Andrews churches in Charleston, SC.
"Faculty Portfolio Websites"
In recent years, faculty portfolios have transitioned from a physical, large 3 inch binder, to the cloud (or both). There is also continuing pressure to make faculty scholarship public with links and processes for purchasing books and bookings for speaking engagements. This presentation gives faculty guidance on how to get started with creating a simple website that is easy to update.
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Presented at Asbury University
"Embracing AI in the Classroom"
The advancement of AI has created a lot of questions when it comes to evaluation in higher education. This presentation presents an opportunity to teach students how to use AI appropriately allowing clear expectations for it's use in a variety of scenarios.
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Presented at Charleston Southern University