Suzannah Alexander

When I was growing up, I wanted to be a cartoonist. Instead, I studied biology. I thought that working in science would provide a more stable career, but working in the lab just didn’t suit me.

So I started working in publishing on science textbooks, and I loved it. I earned a professional certificate in editing and became a development editor. As I worked on books, I saw how important visual explanations were to understanding difficult concepts. I went back to school to connect science and art and earned a graduate certificate in science illustration.

But my first instincts were correct. Establishing a career in art was too challenging. I would’ve loved to have become a painter, and you can sometimes see my artwork on this website and in shows around town. I use my own photos as the basis for my paintings, so I photograph everything when I travel, hike, and go out in nature.

In my career, I added art development and photo research to my content development repertoire. I use these visual design skills in all of my projects because everything is dependent on good design, engaging visuals, readability, usability, and functionality.

Yet nothing stays the same. Books have largely fallen out of favor, and digital delivery is at the forefront. I sought to strengthen my technical writing skills, and I moved into medical editing and creating continuing medical education. Then, I sought to apply everything to a master’s in learning technologies.

The principles of content development are the same no matter the delivery system. Text must be clear and concise. Photos must be informative and visually appealing. Illustrations must show new perspectives. Videos can effectively tell stories and demonstrate skills. Audio helps to pull it all together and make it memorable.

Whether its website design, online course creation, or multimedia production, everything that I’ve learned can be woven together to provide a full sensory experience. Each project requires a unique vision, but I see solutions where others see impossibilities.

I love creating something from nothing, working with people to make ideas come to life. There’s nothing like seeing a book or a magazine right off the press, launching a course to an excited audience, or watching a product grow with each iteration.

My current focus is on creating products, publications, courses, and events aimed at adult audiences to help them upskill or sustain lifelong, continuous learning. I am passionate about creating these learning opportunities in art and photography, food and travel, nature and outdoor activities, and science and medicine. I enjoy collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across an organization, and I enjoy mentoring and devising professional development pathways.

I’m always looking to integrate new knowledge into my skill set. I’m particularly interested in learning to create interactive videos, games and competitions, group learning activities, and storytelling experiences; hybrid learning solutions that combine asynchronous products with webinars and live events; both in-person and virtual reality simulations; interactive branched-learning scenarios; and innovative conference education.

I’m always looking to connect with other passionate creatives in art, illustration, photography, visual design, instructional design, online learning, ed tech, camping, travel, and food culture as well as those who work for organizations in these areas.

Just send me a quick message here or on LinkedIn to connect.