Shannon Elkins, M.Ed.
Educator & Designer
I am a former special education teacher with a creative background in graphic design and digital marketing. I am actively learning UX design because I want to utilize my empathetic nature to create user driven experiences. My site is designed to be UX-friendly, with accessibility as a priority, reflecting my expertise from earning a master’s degree in high-incidence disabilities. The site ensures inclusivity by incorporating features like descriptive alt text for all images, making content accessible to users relying on screen readers, and adapting formatting to be viewable on both desktop and mobile. The color scheme is thoughtfully derived from the tones in my professional headshot, ensuring visual harmony while maintaining sufficient contrast for readability. The design uses Roboto Thin for sleek headings and Open Sans for highly readable body text, offering a balance of style and functionality. With a fully responsive layout, center-aligned headings for emphasis, left-aligned body text for clarity, and a sticky header for easy navigation, the site delivers an intuitive and inclusive experience across all devices.
I created my own brand, The Special Education Shop, where I design digital educational products. I have successfully made sales by implementing SEO and creating products based on market research. I am excited to transition back into a design career where I can utilize my graphic design skills, research, and data analysis. I have included work samples from both my college internships, my role as a graphic designer for a finance company, and my partnerships in influencer marketing on Instagram.
Skills & Experience:
Graphic design, digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), educational content creation, copywriting, editing/proofreading, and developing relationships with brands through influencer marketing. Currently learning JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Platforms & Software:
Canva, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Lucid, Figma, Mail Chimp, Hootsuite, Asana, Trello, WordPress, & Wix.
