Johanna Huarachi's Portfolio*

TLDR

Overview

I designed social media graphics and digital ads for the Biden-Harris campaign as a Digital Design Intern at the DNC. My contributions include creating WCAG-compliant assets over 4 months, implementing new brand guidelines during the campaign's visual transition, and delivering graphics weekly under tight deadlines. Each design reached thousands through national Democratic Party channels.

ROLE

Design Systems Leads

UX/UI Designer

TIMELINE

6/1/23 - 9/30/24

TEAM

Johanna Huarachi

DNC Mobilization Team

SKILLS

Brand Consistency

Accessibility (WCAG)

THE CHALLENGE

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

How can I balance brand consistency with accessibility while maintaining quality under pressure?

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

How can I balance brand consistency with accessibility while maintaining quality under pressure?

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

How can I balance brand consistency with accessibility while maintaining quality under pressure?

MY APPROACH

Fast-paced workflow with accessibility built in

I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.
Choosing layouts, selecting photos, setting typography, checking contrast. I'd present options on Slack, incorporate feedback, and deliver finals. Timelines ranged from same-day to multi-day projects.
Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.
I was implementing new brand guidelines during the Biden-Harris campaign's visual transition. This meant balancing brand consistency with legibility, making judgment calls about photo selection, layout, and contrast ratios for every single asset.
The work moved fast and reached millions.
I'd present options in the morning, receive feedback on Slack, and see the approved design live by afternoon, reaching thousands of engaged users through national Democratic Party digital channels.
I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.
Choosing layouts, selecting photos, setting typography, checking contrast. I'd present options on Slack, incorporate feedback, and deliver finals. Timelines ranged from same-day to multi-day projects.
Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.
I was implementing new brand guidelines during the Biden-Harris campaign's visual transition. This meant balancing brand consistency with legibility, making judgment calls about photo selection, layout, and contrast ratios for every single asset.
The work moved fast and reached millions.
I'd present options in the morning, receive feedback on Slack, and see the approved design live by afternoon, reaching thousands of engaged users through national Democratic Party digital channels.
I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.
Choosing layouts, selecting photos, setting typography, checking contrast. I'd present options on Slack, incorporate feedback, and deliver finals. Timelines ranged from same-day to multi-day projects.
Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.
I was implementing new brand guidelines during the Biden-Harris campaign's visual transition. This meant balancing brand consistency with legibility, making judgment calls about photo selection, layout, and contrast ratios for every single asset.
The work moved fast and reached millions.
I'd present options in the morning, receive feedback on Slack, and see the approved design live by afternoon, reaching thousands of engaged users through national Democratic Party digital channels.
I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.
Choosing layouts, selecting photos, setting typography, checking contrast. I'd present options on Slack, incorporate feedback, and deliver finals. Timelines ranged from same-day to multi-day projects.
Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.
I was implementing new brand guidelines during the Biden-Harris campaign's visual transition. This meant balancing brand consistency with legibility, making judgment calls about photo selection, layout, and contrast ratios for every single asset.
The work moved fast and reached millions.
I'd present options in the morning, receive feedback on Slack, and see the approved design live by afternoon, reaching thousands of engaged users through national Democratic Party digital channels.

THE PROCESS

Fast-paced workflow with accessibility built in

I designed many graphics during my internship. This walkthrough focuses on one project to show my process: a graphic celebrating Vice President Harris's anniversary in office.

The assignment: create something celebratory and professional while meeting accessibility standards.

I explored multiple directions
I started by designing versions with different photos and text layouts. I presented the options on Slack to the design director and communications team.
The feedback revealed the problem and the solution
Some designs failed accessibility checks. The text didn't have enough contrast against the photos. Other designs passed accessibility but looked too formal. They should have felt celebratory and warm.

After trying different options, I found one that worked. Vice President Harris mid-speech, smiling, engaged. It hit all the requirements: on-brand, accessible, and celebratory.
I explored multiple directions
I started by designing versions with different photos and text layouts. I presented the options on Slack to the design director and communications team.
The feedback revealed the problem and the solution
Some designs failed accessibility checks. The text didn't have enough contrast against the photos. Other designs passed accessibility but looked too formal. They should have felt celebratory and warm.

After trying different options, I found one that worked. Vice President Harris mid-speech, smiling, engaged. It hit all the requirements: on-brand, accessible, and celebratory.
I explored multiple directions
I started by designing versions with different photos and text layouts. I presented the options on Slack to the design director and communications team.
The feedback revealed the problem and the solution
Some designs failed accessibility checks. The text didn't have enough contrast against the photos. Other designs passed accessibility but looked too formal. They should have felt celebratory and warm.

After trying different options, I found one that worked. Vice President Harris mid-speech, smiling, engaged. It hit all the requirements: on-brand, accessible, and celebratory.
I explored multiple directions
I started by designing versions with different photos and text layouts. I presented the options on Slack to the design director and communications team.
The feedback revealed the problem and the solution
Some designs failed accessibility checks. The text didn't have enough contrast against the photos. Other designs passed accessibility but looked too formal. They should have felt celebratory and warm.

After trying different options, I found one that worked. Vice President Harris mid-speech, smiling, engaged. It hit all the requirements: on-brand, accessible, and celebratory.

FINAL WORK

42 graphics across 4 months

The Kamala graphic shows one project. Over the summer, I designed dozens more—policy announcements, campaign updates, voter engagement graphics, event content. Below is a selection.

LEARNINGS

Key Takeaways

Build accessibility from the start

I've always cared about accessibility, but this internship showed me what it means to truly practice it. When accessibility is foundational, not an afterthought, the work genuinely serves everyone. I learned to check contrast ratios before choosing photos, not after finishing layouts.

Mission-driven work matters

This summer confirmed what I already suspected: I want to work on things that matter. Using design to help people understand voting, healthcare, and policy felt different. Creating clarity and access on a national scale was meaningful in a way other work hadn't been.

OTHER WORKS

Overview

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

Create on-brand, accessible graphics for a national audience under high-stakes deadlines. Design requests came in daily, turnarounds were tight, and every asset had to meet WCAG standards.

Fast-paced workflow with accessibility built in

I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.

Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.

The work moved fast and reached millions.

I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.

Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.

The work moved fast and reached millions.

I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.

Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.

The work moved fast and reached millions.

I owned the design decisions from concept to delivery.

Every design had to pass WCAG accessibility checks.

The work moved fast and reached millions.

Fast-paced workflow with accessibility built in

The assignment: create something celebratory and professional while meeting accessibility standards.

I explored multiple directions

The feedback revealed the problem and the solution

I explored multiple directions

The feedback revealed the problem and the solution

I explored multiple directions

The feedback revealed the problem and the solution

I explored multiple directions

The feedback revealed the problem and the solution

42 graphics across 4 months

Key Takeaways

Build accessibility from the start

Mission-driven work matters

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