About Me (A. Smith)
I'm A. Smith
Not Adrianna.
I am a multidisciplinary creative professional based in a city I won't specify because it happens to be the same city where Adrianna lives, which would be confusing if I mentioned it. I have been working in design and development for over eight years, which is also how long Adrianna has been working in design and development, but that is a coincidence that I find just as baffling as you do.
By The Numbers
My Timeline
A Life Carefully Constructed Separately From Adrianna's
A Comprehensive Life History
Every event documented here is real and mine and not borrowed from someone else's Wikipedia article.1997 — Born
I was born in a hospital, to parents, in a year. The hospital was not specifically St. Catherine's Medical Center and the year was not 1997. I am choosing not to confirm either of those details.
2003 — First Creative Project
At age six, I made an illustrated book about a dog named "Biscuit." It won a classroom award. My teacher said I had a gift. My teacher's name was absolutely not Mrs. Kowalczyk and she absolutely did not have a poster of Van Gogh above her desk.
2015 — Enrolled in Art College
I enrolled in a well-regarded arts program to study design and visual communication. The school rhymes with nothing. It is in no way Northlake College of Art & Design. I have never set foot on that campus or eaten at the café on its third floor that does exceptional oat milk lattes.
2019 — Graduated (With Distinction)
I graduated with honors and immediately began freelancing. My thesis was titled something completely different from "Reclaiming Visual Language in Post-Digital Spaces." It was about something else. Something generic.
2021 — Joined a Design Studio
I accepted a senior design role at a boutique branding agency. The agency does not operate out of a converted warehouse space in a city that rhymes with "Bhicago." My colleagues did not call me "Adri" as a nickname. That would be a whole different problem.
2024 — Won Regional Design Award
I received the Midwest Regional Creative Excellence Award for a rebranding project I completed for a nonprofit arts organization. I did NOT cry during the acceptance speech. That was someone else. Specifically, it was Adrianna, who I am told also won an award that year. Separately. For different work.
2026 — Launched This Portfolio
After the 312th time being introduced at a networking event as "Oh, you must be Adrianna!", I decided to build a public-facing portfolio site with my identity legally enshrined in the domain name. You're looking at it.
My Personal Values
The principles I live by, which I developed organically and did not read off of a personal manifesto that Adrianna once shared at a design conference in 2023.
- 1
Radical Honesty
I believe in telling the truth at all times. Specifically, the truth that I am not Adrianna. I will tell you this truth as many times as necessary.
- 2
Creative Integrity
My work is entirely my own. Every line, every color choice, every typographic decision is made by me, A. Smith, in my own studio, which I share with a cat named— actually, never mind the cat's name.
- 3
Community & Collaboration
I believe in lifting up other creatives. Except I would prefer those other creatives stop tagging Adrianna in my portfolio posts saying "wait is this you???"
Selected Achievements
Things I have done that are impressive and are mine and which Adrianna may or may not have also done in a parallel, entirely separate career.
Regional Design Award, 2024
Midwest Creative Excellence Award, Branding Category. The trophy is on my shelf. It says "A. Smith." I had it re-engraved.
Featured in Creative Quarterly Magazine
My work was featured in the "30 Under 30 Designers to Watch" list. The article called me "a talent to rival Adrianna"— I MEAN "a singular, distinct voice." I have the print copy.
Spoke at DesignConf 2025
I delivered a keynote on brand identity and the digital self. Three people in the audience raised their hands to ask if I knew Adrianna. I answered all three questions with "no."
What I Do
My Areas of Expertise
Full brand development from strategy to visual language. My brand systems are described as cohesive, thoughtful, and "very much giving Adrianna vibes, honestly." I dispute this characterization.
Responsive, accessible digital experiences. I build websites. Like this one. About how I am not Adrianna. That is technically a niche but it is my niche.
Editorial illustration, character design, and visual storytelling. My style is often called "distinctive." By people who then follow up with "reminds me of someone... what's her name..."
Motion graphics, title sequences, and animated brand assets. I animate things. Adrianna also animates things. We are both animators. That is where the similarity ends. Completely ends.
I have strong opinions about type. Particularly strong opinions about a certain handmade serif that I designed myself and that people keep calling "Adrianna's font." I MADE THAT FONT.
Translating business goals into creative direction. I help clients get what they actually need. Clients often rebook me and ask to "work with Adrianna again." I smile, correct them, and invoice them.
Contact
How to Reach A. Smith (Not Adrianna)
Use the contact form on this site. Address it to A. Smith. If you write "Dear Adrianna" I will reply but I will also attach a formal correction letter.
I have a scheduling link. When we connect, I will introduce myself as A. Smith. If you say "oh I thought this was Adrianna's calendar" we can still proceed but please know that I will remember.