Tara Dawn Jakubiec | Curriculum Vitae

Professional Profile

Designer and researcher with 5+ years of experience in brand identity, campaigns, and accessible visual communication. Holds a Master of Design in Inclusive Design (OCAD University), with research exploring colour, culture, and semiotics, shaping a research-driven and inclusive practice. Experienced in designing brand systems, events, and campaigns for nonprofits, entertainment, and arts organizations, with a focus on accessibility, storytelling, and visuals that reflect diverse audiences.

Employment History

Graphic Designer & Registrar,

Comox Valley Youth Music Centre
Courtenay, BC
08/2020 - Present (5+ years)

Designed marketing and promotional materials for live events, concerts, and programs, ensuring brand consistency across print and digital formats.
Redesigned website in Webflow to improve user experience, accessibility, and storytelling.
Improved accessibility and user experience by applying WCAG standards: increasing colour contrast for visibility, implementing responsive design, adding ALT text to images, and redesigning event registration forms to reduce friction.
Developed registration and payment systems (PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay), streamlining attendee transactions.
Built collaborative systems in Google Workspace for file sharing, schedules, and faculty resources.
Produced and scheduled social media, print campaigns, and email newsletters to drive event attendance.
Managed print production from file preparation to vendor coordination and quality control.
Tracked and reconciled over $100K in program revenue with less than 0.01% discrepancy.
Monitored campaign analytics, adjusting strategies to improve engagement and visibility.
Coordinated schedules, content, and logistics for program participants and instructors.
Collaborated with stakeholders including faculty and board members to align goals with design direction.
Photographed and filmed events for archival, marketing, and social media use.

Event Coordinator & Graphic Designer,

Troy Lucas Music
Courtenay, BC
04/2023 - Present (2+ years)

Coordinated logistics for live music events, including venue booking, scheduling, and on-site operations.
Designed branding, posters, websites, and social campaigns to promote events.
Produced event documentation and marketing materials using Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
Managed Eventbrite ticketing: tracked sales, analyzed data, and optimized customer engagement.
Supported front-of-house roles: ticketing, ushering, and event filming.
Partnered with vendors to provide catering and complete audience experiences.

Bar Manager & Front-of-House Lead,

Boston Pizza
Courtenay, BC
08/2015 - Present (4 years)

Led multiple front-of-house roles, including server, bartender, and bar manager.
Trained and supervised staff during high-volume operations.
Managed scheduling, reporting, and inventory control.
Maintained compliance with health, safety, and service standards.

Skills & Tools

Technical Skills

Design Software:

Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, After Effects, Firefly), Figma & Prototyping Tools, Canva

Web & Accessibility:

Webflow, WCAG Accessibility Standards, HTML/CSS, Bootstrap, JS, PHP, Shopify, WIX, ChatGPT

Collaborative Workspaces:

Miro, Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, Google Slides, Google Drive), Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, Zoom, Slack, Discord

Form & Automation:

Jotform, Getform, Zapier, Mentimeter, Toggl

Analytics & Marketing Tools:

Google Analytics, Eventbrite, Hootsuite, Mailchimp

Specialized Skills

Inclusive Design & Research:

Inclusive & Accessible Design, Colour Psychology & Semiotics, Design Research, Multi-sensory Design, Co-Design & Participatory Methods, Pedagogical Teaching, Community & Cultural Mapping

UI/UX & Information Design:

Infographics, Maps & Atlases, User Interface & User Experience Design, Prototyping, Presentation Design, Forms, E-commerce, Data Visualization, Instructional Design, Knowledge Organization, Process Diagrams

Branding & Campaigns:

Brand Identity, Event Marketing, Campaign Development, Visual Storytelling, Typography

Media & Production:

Print Production, Photography, Videography, Social Media Management, Copywriting

Additional Experience & Community Involvement

RGD Committees,

Multiple Roles
Toronto, ON
08/2025 - Present

D&I Committee:

Attended board meeting contributing to discussion and decision making for the Registerd Graphic Designers.
Assisted with projects such as updating the RGD Handbook and the DEIA Sample Forms and Policies.

Associates Committee

Fan Expo Canada,

Multiple Roles
Toronto, ON
08/2023 - Present

Autographs Crew (03/2024 - Present):

Managed celebrity autograph lines, provided guest information on pricing and policies, prevented paparazzi, and ensured seamless fan interactions.
Worked closely with the cast of Avatar the Last Airbender, Karl Urban, Jared Padalecki, Danny Trejo, Simu Liu, and other high-profile guests to facilitate a smooth experience.

Operations Support & Event Logistics (08/2024):

Assisted with event logistics, exhibitor move-in/move-out, and overall show floor setup and teardown.
Managed inventory, signage placement, and organization to ensure smooth operations.

Theatre Crew & Panel Coordination (August 2023):

Coordinated theatre entry, line control, and seating logistics for high-demand panels and presentations.
Assisted with accessibility needs and maintained a clean, organized environment.

Courtenay Little Theatre,

Multiple Roles
Courtenay, BC
2009 - Present

Graphic Design (08/2020 - Present):

Designed a poster and supporting graphics for social media and advertising for their 2022 winter production, winning best Graphic Design for TheatreBC that year.
Created graphic elements used on stage through digital projection

Stage Crew & Production Support (2009 - Present):

Assisted with set design, props, painting, stagehand tasks, and move-in/move-out logistics.

Technical Support (2011 - Present):

Operated lighting, ushering, and backstage coordination during live performances.
Hands-on experience with theatre production, stage crew coordination, and event setup.

Certificates & Awards

WHMIS 2025 & 2015

Aix Safety
Canadian Red Cross
Toronto, ON
2025

Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps

Ontario Government
Toronto, ON
2025

Standard First Aid

Canadian Red Cross
Toronto, ON
2025

Best Graphic Design

TheatreBC Mainstage
British Columbia
2023

Rescue Commendation

Lifesaving Society
Medal of Bravery
Courtenay, BC
2022

My Curriculum Vitae

(without the Lorem Ipsum)

5+ Years

MDes

D&I