About

Senior brand
+ visual designer

Based in Metro Detroit with over a decade of experience across brand, marketing, and digital design. I'm drawn to work that brings structure and personality together.

I'm Kerry Hidlay, a senior brand and visual designer based in Metro Detroit. I'm drawn to work that brings structure and personality together — whether that takes shape as an identity system, a website, a campaign, or a broader brand experience.

The work I'm most drawn to usually has to do more than one thing at once. It needs to organize ideas, communicate clearly, and still feel engaging, intentional, and human. I'm especially interested in projects where strategy, content, and visual direction all need to work together to make something feel cohesive, engaging, and easy to navigate.

Curiosity plays a big role in how I work. I'm drawn to refining ideas, paying attention to detail, and finding the strongest way to bring something together.

What I bring

Brand Systems
A strong foundation in building identities and visual systems that create consistency, flexibility, and a clear sense of direction.
Communication + Storytelling
An ability to translate ideas into clear, engaging design across campaigns, presentations, editorial work, websites, and motion.
Cross-Platform Design
Experience designing work that connects across print and digital spaces, with an eye toward cohesion, usability, and visual clarity.
Collaboration + Refinement
A thoughtful, iterative approach shaped by feedback, attention to detail, and the process of refining work until it feels aligned and fully resolved.

How I work

I'm drawn to work that needs structure as much as style. My process usually starts with understanding what's working, what isn't, and where design can make something clearer, stronger, or easier to connect with.

Clear communication is a big part of how I work. I try to talk about design in plain language rather than relying on industry jargon, so teams and stakeholders can stay aligned on the goals, the process, and the intended outcome.

I believe strong design still starts with human judgment, communication, and a solid foundation in the fundamentals — and that AI works best as a supporting tool rather than a substitute for that process.

Beyond the work

Always creating something

Outside of my day-to-day, I'm usually still creating something. I'm an avid reader, someone who genuinely enjoys following ideas wherever they lead, and a person who feels most energized when exploring, making, or learning something new.

I'm also drawn to the outdoors, travel, camping, time by the water, and the perspective that comes from being in unfamiliar places. Add in a soft spot for dogs and creative side projects, and it all feels pretty connected to the curiosity I bring into my work.