Erin Suski
GraphicProduct
 About Me

erin SuSki

Designing with curiosity, empathy, and impact.

As a designer, I’m passionate about creating thoughtful, user-centered solutions that are functional, inclusive, and visually engaging. Each project highlights my process — from research and collaboration to prototyping and final execution — with a focus on solving real-world challenges through design.

Birth Preparedness Case Study Spring 2025Product Design
For a semester-long project in a Service Design class, birth preparedness and opportunities for service redesign in maternal healthcare became the focus of exploration. A slideshow case study was developed to document the full research process - from early user interviews to identifying a key problem area and proposing a solution. Along the way, user journeys were mapped, stakeholders were engaged, and system-wide implications were considered to ground the design in real-world possibilities.


User Research
Literature Reviews
Journey Mapping
User Testing
Industry Benchmarking
Figma




Watermelon HelmetSpring 2024Product Design
In my second semester as a Product Design student at the University of Minnesota, the opportunity arose to collaborate with representatives from a Kansas City–based cycling group who shared valuable insights into the experiences of children of color learning to bike. During user interviews, a recurring challenge surfaced: traditional helmets often fail to accommodate larger hairstyles or textured hair, creating both safety concerns and barriers to entry.

Inspired by these findings, the focus shifted toward designing a helmet solution for adult riders. The result was a modular, tectonic plate–style helmet that adjusts to fit a range of hairstyles, featuring increased cutouts for greater airflow and styling flexibility. The lack of vibrant options on the market was also addressed through the design of a colorful prototype (affectionately dubbed the “Watermelon Helmet”), celebrating self-expression and inclusivity.


User Research & Interviews
Product Sketching
CAD Modeling
Keyshot Rendering
3D Printing
Prototyping
Product Development
Product Post-Processing



Twin Cities Climate Action Plan 2023 Spring 2023Graphic Design
At the University of Minnesota’s Printing Services, a partnership with the Office of Sustainability helped bring their updated Climate Action Plan to life. A unified design system was created featuring custom infographics, charts, callouts, and chapter definitions — making complex information clear, engaging, and easy to navigate. The final 2023 report not only connected with a broader audience but also established a new visual standard for future Climate Action Plan publications.

InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop
Graphic Design
Layout Design
Presentation Design




Kinder Egg Dreidel Fall 2024Product Design
For the final project in Computer-Aided Design 1: Solid Modeling and Rendering, the challenge was to design a three-part toy small enough to fit within the dimensions of a Kinder Egg Surprise. With the holidays approaching, a dreidel with gelt took shape: a two-part shell designed to securely nest around five pieces of gelt. After modeling the design in SolidWorks, the prototype was 3D-printed with carefully refined dimensions to ensure a perfect fit inside the Kinder Egg capsule.


Solidworks Modeling
Solidworks Drawings
Keyshot Rendering
3D Printing
Post-Processing





Institute for Sexual and Gender Health 50th Anniversary Book Spring 2023Graphic Design
At UMN Printing Services, leadership on a commemorative book project for the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (formerly the Program in Human Sexuality) marked another significant undertaking. Created for the Institute’s 50th anniversary celebration, the book was gifted to event attendees and chronicled the history, controversies, and key figures who shaped the program. Though not intended for wide distribution, the project thoughtfully documented and honored the Institute’s legacy through considered layout and cover design.

InDesign
Illustrator
Photoshop
Graphic Design
Layout Design
Cover Design
Print Design


MN Womens Health Report Card 2022 Spring 2023Graphic Design
While at Printing Services, involvement in the MN Women’s Health Report Card, a biennial publication, provided the opportunity to contribute to an impactful community resource. This small booklet presented a meaningful challenge, incorporating a detailed glossary and numerous data-driven icons and graphs that required careful manual updates. Through projects like this, there was always an appreciation for the chance to learn more about the community while helping disseminate important awareness and information on niche (yet vital) topics.


Inforgraphics
Typography
Layout Design
Data Summarization
Iconography
Print Design
©MMXXIErin Suski