Hannah Ahn

As a senior designer at T Brand, The New York Times’ content studio, Hannah Ahn works on multimedia branded storytelling, designing print campaigns and interactive digital editorial for the likes of Chanel, Porsche, Paramount+ and more. When it comes to strong narrative design, it’s about work that “feels quietly confident” over the flashy and loud. She shares below how getting your portfolio in shape for a specific role and communicating well is vital for landing your dream job.

About my work

My creative practice
I’m a Senior Designer at T Brand, the branded content studio of The New York Times, where I help brands tell stories in ways that feel genuinely engaging. This could mean designing interactive digital pieces, print campaigns or visual systems. I spend a lot of time thinking about the readers’ editorial experience – what catches their attention, what keeps them curious and how design can support the narrative. Every project is a bit different, which is one of my favorite parts of the job.

Influences and inspiration
Growing up between Korea and the US has definitely shaped how I see design. Being around different cultures made me pay attention to the small details and how visual choices can feel different depending on context. I'm drawn to work that feels thoughtful and intentional: sometimes it's an exhibition, the type on a menu or a well-designed publication. I'm most inspired by work that feels quietly confident rather than trying too hard to stand out.

My training
While I built my foundation in graphic design at MICA, a great deal of my learning as a professional creative has happened on the job. Working alongside art directors, creative directors, editors and developers has taught me just as much as school ever did. Every project comes with a new challenge, whether that’s learning a new tool or figuring out a better way to communicate an idea.

Favourite recent project
This past year, I had the opportunity to work on a custom print and digital piece for Matthieu Blazy’s first CHANEL Métiers d’art collection. This was an exciting project not just because of the client, but because of the scale and range of formats it encompassed. We created a custom newspaper, La Gazette, to run alongside the Sunday paper, telling the story of the artisans and craftsmanship behind the collection. That narrative also lived in a digital hub which featured a video series by New York filmmaker Joshua Charow. It felt surreal to see the print piece on the CHANEL runway and later in store.

A day in the life
I usually start by checking in with my team before diving into design work. Depending on the project, I might be wireframing for a digital ad experience, putting together a creative brief for a photographer or collaborating with our editors. It’s a balance between focused design time and working live with other creatives within the studio. A lot of the day is spent making small decisions that add up to an overall thoughtful editorial experience.

How I got here

Starting my creative journey
In the beginning, I was mostly driven by curiosity, intrigued by everything and eager to take on any opportunity that came my way. I wanted to test my strengths and figure out what kind of clients and subject matter motivated me most. That exploratory phase helped me narrow down my goals and become more confident in the direction I wanted to take.

Landing my first few jobs, clients and/or commissions
Honestly, I got very lucky with timing. My team was looking for someone around the time I graduated and The Times had been my dream company for a while. It felt like a really good fit. Before that, I spent a lot of time refining and curating my portfolio to highlight the skills most relevant to the role, while also trying to show the thinking behind each project rather than just the finished visuals.

Custom print catalog for Google Shopping’s 2025 holiday gift guide

Biggest challenges along the way
One of the biggest adjustments was learning how collaborative design really is. At school, you're often working independently, but professionally you're balancing different perspectives, timelines and goals. Learning how to communicate ideas clearly, adapt to feedback and keep the original intent of a concept has probably been one of the biggest learning curves.

Everyday skills I’ve found helpful for my creative work:
Being organized has helped me as much as any design skill. Keeping track of feedback, staying on top of deadlines and documenting decisions makes collaboration a lot easier. Listening is an underrated part of the job. The more you understand what someone is really trying to say, the more successful your design tends to be.

My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
I'm not the most active on social media, but I try to share work when I can. I've found that self-promotion doesn't have to happen only online. Being involved in creative communities, taking part in their programs and showing up to IRL events can be just as valuable. For me, it's often those in-person connections and conversations that feel the most meaningful.

Three things I've found useful in my career:

Custom print ad for TIAA for The New York Times Magazine’s Retirement issue

My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative:
Supporting yourself as a creative isn’t only about making good work. It’s important to check in with peers, talk openly about pay and opportunities, and understand where you stand in the market. Being dependable, communicating well and being someone people enjoy collaborating with matters too – those things tend to open doors over time.

Advice

My most useful career tips
Present yourself as the designer you want to be now, not later. Don’t wait for the “perfect” project. Show the thinking behind the work you already have and let that speak for you.

Where I go to feel connected as a creative
I feel really lucky to work alongside people whose work I admire, so a lot of inspiration comes from everyday conversations with my team. Outside of work, I try to stay involved in creative communities around the city. I enjoy meeting people in both similar and very different fields within the design industry.

What I'd say to someone looking to get into a similar role
I'd focus on curating a portfolio that shows thought process, not just what you can make. Strong typography, visual hierarchy and storytelling will always be useful, no matter what kind of design you're interested in. I'd also stay curious outside of design itself. Some of the best ideas come from completely unrelated interests.