Helen Dear

Helen Dear is the Creative Director at Greenlight Financial Technology, a company that specializes in helping parents manage their children's financial goals.1 She is a multi-disciplinary designer with a focus on brand identity systems, user experiences, and branded content.3

Background and Education

Helen graduated from the College of Design's Graphic Design program at North Carolina State University in 2010.1 During her time at NC State, she was particularly inspired by design thinking lectures and classes, which she credits as foundational to her professional approach.1

Professional Experience

After graduation, Helen gained experience in various organizations before joining Greenlight Financial Technology. Some of her previous roles include:

• Working at Carbone Smolan Agency5
• Freelancing under her own name, Helen Dear

At Greenlight, Helen has been instrumental in guiding the company through a complete brand overhaul.1 She was drawn to the company due to her personal interest in family personal finance and the opportunity to work on a product with a mission she believed in.1

Design Philosophy

Helen's approach to design is deeply rooted in the intersection of art and meaning. She values:

• Using design thinking as a mechanism for driving change
• Creating work that has real purpose and application
• Combining beautiful design with strategic thinking

Her experience has taught her that the design thinking approach can be applied to overcome any challenge and tackle new projects effectively.1

Online Presence

Helen maintains a professional website at helendear.com, where she showcases her work.24 Her LinkedIn profile can be found under the username helen-dear-1b1a0a22.2