High Country News
High Country News (HCN) is an independent, non-profit media organization founded in 1970, providing in-depth, award-winning journalism on the environmental, social, and political issues of the American West.
Editorial Illustrations
HCN Editorial Photo Illustrations
Every story deserves an image that does more than illustrate, it should spark curiosity before a single word is read. For HCN, I created a collection of editorial photo illustrations that transformed complex topics into compelling visuals for both print and digital stories.
Working closely with editors and reporters, I developed original photo composites that captured the heart of each article, whether the subject was climate change, public lands, wildlife, Indigenous communities, or politics. Each piece combined photography, texture, typography, and conceptual design to create imagery that was both visually striking and deeply connected to the story. Designed for magazine spreads, web articles, and mobile experiences, these illustrations helped readers connect with challenging topics before they even reached the headline.
Motion Storytelling
HCN Story Vids
HCN reaches readers through in-depth journalism, but today's audiences don't always consume stories the same way. To connect with people where they already spend their time, I created a series of nearly 40 short-form videos that translated complex reporting into engaging, social-first storytelling.
Each video distilled long-form articles into a handful of key takeaways, balancing facts with the emotional heart of the story. Rather than expecting viewers to click through to the full article, the goal was to create a complete, meaningful experience within the social platform itself. Through motion graphics, typography, archival imagery, and thoughtful pacing, I transformed investigative reporting into content that was accessible, engaging, and optimized for today's scrolling audience.
The series covered topics ranging from climate change and Indigenous communities to public lands, wildlife, and environmental justice, helping High Country News expand the reach of its journalism while meeting audiences where they are.
Direct Mail
HCN Sustainers’ Club Fundraising Campaign
The Sustainer's Club is HCN’s community of recurring donors whose ongoing support helps fund independent journalism across the American West. Each year, the campaign encourages existing members to renew their commitment while celebrating the people who make the organization's work possible.
I developed the campaign's creative concept and visual identity, beginning with direct mail before expanding it across print ads, social media, email, and promotional materials. Inspired by the idea of a "club," I leaned into the social nature of sheep, a familiar symbol of the American West, to create a playful campaign centered around connection and community. Warm photography and lighthearted copy like "So glad ewe are part of the club" gave the campaign a distinctive personality while making donor recognition feel genuine, memorable, and fun.
kind words
“I’ve worked with Marissa for more than four years. I can’t recommend her enough. She’s incredibly skilled as a designer and — perhaps more importantly — in listening and understanding the needs of a project. She can translate my intentions with tone and messaging, as well as understanding the content and audience, then source images and create beautiful designs that reflect that. Her creations are effective and powerful, and she has great design range. I just love working with her. She is funny. Patient. Fast. Caring. Professional. Responsive and smart. She’s great at receiving feedback and giving me what I need — even if it’s many iterations in. I can’t recommend her enough.”
— Alyssa Pinkerton, Colorado Sun & formerly High Country News