How graphic design led to Katie Hardy's TV career

Before Katie Hardy learned to draw and illustrate, she expressed herself through steps and stanzas. She became enamoured with ballet as a child, and in her teens, she started writing poetry before eventually focusing on design. Regardless of the medium, her passion for the arts has remained central to her identity.

“Having a creative outlet has always been core to who I am,” says Hardy, 24.

In 2019, she decided to pursue her artistic calling by turning her pastime into a profession. Using the pieces she produced as a hobbyist and high school student, Hardy developed a portfolio that helped her land multiple freelance gigs as a graphic designer.

While these experiences helped Hardy hone the talents she used to break into design, her aspirations for becoming a creative director led her to seek formal training—a pursuit that brought her to Concordia Continuing Education in 2021.

Exploring creative tools

From her apartment in Saint John’s, Newfoundland, surrounded by vibrant spools of thread and a compact sewing machine, Hardy delved deeper into the Adobe suite during virtual graphic design courses at Montreal-based Concordia Continuing Education.

Through these classes, Hardy learned to connect design theory with practice.

“You sometimes have an idea in your head, but you’re not sure if it’s going to turn out that way,” explains Hardy. “When you have a good handle on all the tools, and you can execute and make it what you want to be, it’s exciting and special.”

During an InDesign course, Hardy tapped into layout, hierarchy, and typography to create a cat-themed gossip magazine called ‘Meowtrageous.'

Hardy’s clever approach to classroom projects impressed instructor Selvin Cortez.

“What stood out the most was her level of creativity,” explained Cortez, who guided Hardy through multiple design courses. “She is an incredibly talented and gifted artist.”

Getting a dream job in TV

In 2022, Hardy began working on the Canadian police drama series Hudson & Rex as a production assistant in the art department. In her first season with the show, she created numerous graphics for the set, showcasing the skills she polished in the classroom.