Stevie Bales (she/her) is a designer, performer, and instructor of Graphic & Digital Design. An alumna of Drury University, she studied Theatre & Graphic Design before moving to Edinburgh Scotland to study Interaction Design. Working at a variety of traditional, digital, and in-house positions she eventually found her way into the field of Wayfinding & Placemaking. There she excelled with her skills in 3D design, typography, and interactive media, working for the award-winning firm Selbert Perkins Design.
At Drury, Stevie teaches all levels of Graphic & Digital Design students. There she brings her expertise in software environments, typography, user research, and experiential design. In her design practice, Stevie works with clients small to large, developing wayfinding & placemaking systems. She takes on work that helps to build a better world for all through public focused endeavors and sustainable changes for good. Her previous clients include MIT, Princeton, The Smithsonian, and The American Writer’s Museum. Most recently she has started working on a Springfield based project with BetterBlockSGF, CoxHealth, and Mercy to better define and utilize the Medical Mile.
Her other design interests are digital illustration and interactive media including lighting, sound, video, and animated typography. She uses these to create personal stories and bespoke items. Outside of her teaching and design practice, Stevie is an aerialist, stilt-walker, and juggler. She continues to perform for the public alongside the circus troupe at Springfield Aerial Fitness. She is also an active team member with Climate Designers on the New Wave research project—a project that aims to enhance climate action curriculum in all higher-ed design programs.
