About — Sonja Wise

Art director and designer with a restless curiosity, a love for bold ideas, and a drive to create work that connects.

Lemme Break Campaign
Kendra Scott
Close Knit Board Game
Nomad Travel Magazine
McKinley Health Center
The Message On The Walls

Nice to meet you, I’m Sonja!

An art director/designer, café hopper, and someone who gets antsy if I stay in one place too long (physically or creatively). I recently graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Media Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember — from sidewalk chalk installations to proudly collecting cicada shells. Creativity has always been my favorite way to connect with the world, and it still is. My love for design started early. I spent part of my elementary school years living in France, where I learned the basics of the language, sketched in museums that my mom taught me to love, and discovered my tragic intolerance for winding mountain roads.

That same curious, slightly chaotic spirit drives my work today. I approach every project with strategy, intention, and a big passion for bold ideas. Whether I’m building a campaign, laying out an editorial spread, or crafting a visual system that brings meaning to the tiniest detail, I’m drawn to work that’s rooted in purpose and sparks real connection.

Education

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Minor in Media

Jan 2022- May 2025
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

Dansish Institute for Study Abroad
Courses: Digital Media in Marketing,
Graphic Design Studio, Visual Journal

Jun 2023- Aug 2023
Copenhagen, Denmark

Tools

InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop
Figma/XD
Canva
Keynote
Readymag
Procreate
After Effects
Premiere Pro
Miro
Lightroom
Google Workspace
Microsoft Office

Skills

Art Direction
Creative Strategy
Branding
Packaging
Illustration
Editorial Design
Typography
UI/UX Design
Layout Design
Social Content Creation
Presentation Design
Concept Development
Visual Storytelling
Campaign Ideation

Work Experience

Ogilvy Health
Creative Art Intern
Jun - Aug 2025
New York, New York

Collaborated on creative development for Bristol Myers Squibb, designing patient education and marketing assets across digital and print channels.

Partnered with the intern team to concept, develop, and pitch a campaign idea directly to company leadership, addressing underage nicotine pouch use through research-driven insights and creative strategy.

Created visual layouts, conducted visual research, and refined deliverables in a fast-paced, collaborative agency environment.

Kendra Scott
Graphic Design Intern
Jun - Aug 2024
New York, New York

Collaborated on creative development for Bristol Myers Squibb, designing patient education and marketing assets across digital and print channels.

Partnered with the intern team to concept, develop, and pitch a campaign idea directly to company leadership, addressing underage nicotine pouch use through research-driven insights and creative strategy.

Created visual layouts, conducted visual research, and refined deliverables in a fast-paced, collaborative agency environment.

Illini Media
Graphic Design Intern, Mar - Sept 2023
Champaign, Illinois

Created digital marketing materials aligned with established visual guidelines, ensuring consistency across multiple platforms.
Partnered with cross-functional teams to launch “Creative Works,” a new creative division supporting student-led multimedia projects.

Download PDF Resume Here