Rachel Meade Smith

Content & Learning Design Lead (Consultant) | Civilla

6/20 - Present. Remote.

  • Lead strategy, research, and content development for online learning program aimed at public sector professionals, focused on using design to improve access to public benefits

  • Lead writing, editing, and multimedia content strategy for all courses

  • Interview SMEs and synthesize knowledge for course content

  • Design facilitated workshops and learner engagement initiatives

  • Manage content assistant and video consultants

  • Manage all project timelines and deliverables

BKLYN Incubator Community Partner | Brooklyn Public Library

09/21 - Present. NY.

  • Awarded internal $10k grant to partner with librarians at the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center through 2022 to design, plan, and facilitate repair-centered programming at the branch

  • Source repair experts and work with them to design custom workshops for adult learners

  • Create resources to help other library staff lead repair workshops

Founder, Editor-in-Chief | Words of Mouth

01/16 - Present. Remote.

  • Founded and produce free weekly newsletter sharing jobs and support across design, art, social justice, tech, and nonprofits

  • Manage all communication with subscribers and hiring organizations

  • 29k+ subscribers in 6 years with zero advertising; 70%+ open rate

Learning Designer & Editor | 2U

8/18 - 12/20. NY. 

  • Worked with university faculty to design dozens of full-term online courses in intensive 6-week sprints (up to 15 courses at a time), receiving frequent and positive feedback from partners and coworkers

  • Designed and managed internal knowledge base and reference library

  • Designed and led trainings on learning design for over 200 employees

  • Developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading for lesson plans and instructional slides on tight weekly deadlines

Managing Editor | Journal of Design & Culture 

6/18 - 3/19. NY.

  • Created and managed editorial processes for scholarly journal, regularly communicating with authors, editors, and publisher

  • Edited and proofread all journal articles throughout revision cycle

Content Strategy Lead | NYC Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer

2/17 - 8/18. NY.

  • Led strategy, research, and content development for City websites making critical information more accessible to New Yorkers

  • Wrote, edited, and updated accessible content for City websites, and developed content systems, guides, and workflows

  • Developed and produced events on accessibility and social media

Content Coordinator & Researcher | Ralph Appelbaum Associates

6/14 - 6/16. NY. 

  • Researched, managed, wrote, and edited content for museums, exhibitions, and public spaces

  • Managed client communications, project assets, and logistics

Tools: Microsoft Office, Adobe InDesign, Acrobat, Google Suite, Confluence, Keynote, Manuscript Central, GatherContent, HTML/CSS,  Markdown, GitHub, WordPress, Aha!, Asana, Trello, Mighty Networks

Subject Areas: plain language, content management and strategy, editing, learning design & pedagogy, professional practice / development, editorial /content operations, accessibility, inclusive design strategy, critical design, textiles

MA in Design Studies (2015) Parsons the New School for Design (Departmental Honors Award and distinguished thesis)

BA in Anthropology (2010)
New York University (Cum Laude)