Andrea Orvik

Marketing communications, editorial work, graphic design and web front-end programming (HTML/CSS). I've always worked those areas successfully—and admire equally the image and word—from mom-n-pop publishers (editorial), all the way up to the United Nations Headquarters in Copenhagen (layout, illustration and research). Whether being a creative cog in the wheels of a large corporation, or backing a cause in the not-for-profit world, or even helping to increase equity and inclusion for young children with disabilities in California's education system, I've focused on creative communication and loved the work. 

 

I hold two university degrees; my Bachelor or Arts from California State University Long Beach, is in Journalism, Magazine option. My Master of Arts from San Francisco State University, is in Industrial Arts, where I studied product design & development, graphic arts and universal design (where I developed an interest in the ADA and designing for accessibility, and how these would alter our virtual as well as physical worlds. I continue with professional development whenever I can, such as with my two University-sourced certificates in Homeland Security and Intelligence (Colorado State University Global), and MIT's Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) program, Human Computer Interaction for User Experience Design.

 

While a SAHM, I worked freelance while also teaching in after-school programs for K-5th grades such as Lego Mindstorms NXT (computer programming and robotics construction), with some in class instruction on Technology, Journalism & Writing.

 

While in Sonoma County I worked in non-profit and government/education generating graphics, social media posts, email communications, illustrations for online tutorials, animations, and fully accessible PDFs (based upon Section 508 of the ADA, in line with WCAG 2.0 standards for accessibilty.

 

Post-COVID I moved to Colorado and fully into Instructional Design—where I feel most "at home," professionally. I appreciated the structured work with the DOD and US Army on two different defense contracts (at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, and SMDC), moving in 2025 back to California on the Central Coast at Vandenberg Space Force Base helping establish the initial 5I0 and 5C (Intel and Cyber) USSF courses with the 533d Training Squardon.

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I am passionate about a few things—my family, the outdoors, sports (I played water polo on the U. S. Jr National Women's team, once upon a time, traveling for international play), art and poetry, with deep interests in social justice, equality and inclusion, and a never-ending curiosity and thirst for knowledge at the juncture of technology, design and innovation. Thank you for taking a look into my life and work. Please don't hesitate to use my contact form to inquire about my availability to help you with design, accessibility or other creative communications work.

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+ Andrea