Darcie is a professional designer and marketing expert with a wide range of experience including art direction, branding, creating design and marketing content, website management, and product development. As a professional with more than 13 years of experience, Darcie is able to manage the entire design and marketing process, from initial idea to strategy and development to final production and implementation.

Her portfolio includes work for private sector companies and nonprofit organizations that range from local small business owners and mid-sized nonprofits to corporate clients with a global reach.

Darcie co-founded Women Unite! in 2016 and served as a board member and our Director of Design and Marketing until 2020. During her time with the organization, Darcie played an instrumental role in developing WU!’s brand identity and visual marketing.

Where do you work?
I am a Marketing Director for an architectural glass company responsible for new product development, graphic design, and marketing and advertising.

How long have you been involved with Women Unite!?
I have been involved with WU! since its birth in a group text thread after the 2016 election results were announced. At the beginning, we each took turns choosing organizations to support and holding small fundraisers at local bars. When we became an official 501c3, I joined both the board of directors and staff.

What do you like most about WU!?
I absolutely love the community that has grown surrounding Women Unite! The organization itself is made up of a group of people who are compassionate, inclusive, and just downright amazing. The same can be said about the friends, family, and businesses that have shown support, and I just love being a part of it.

What’s an issue you care deeply about? Why?
I care deeply about abortion rights for all people and believe that the decision to have an abortion is one that should be made between the pregnant person and their medical provider. I was pregnant before I planned to be and was able to make the decision and drive 15 minutes to have the procedure done by a doctor that was covered by my insurance. I recognize that I had it very easy: being a white female in a liberal city/state and having insurance to have free access to this service. This is NOT the experience everyone has, but the one everyone deserves to have.

What’s a hobby you have?
I love filling my time with projects around the house (handyman, design, and DIY) and figuring out how to make something or solve a new problem. I especially love working on my front and backyard gardens. I could sit out there and pull weeds for hours every day!

What are 2–3 ways you’ve been getting through this pandemic?
I found out I was pregnant about a week into quarantine, so I have kept busy by organizing the house, decorating the nursery, and going to a new doctor appointment every 5 minutes. Giving me the extra boost: book orders from Semicolon book store (I’m finally reading Maya Angelou’s autobiography), burgers and fries from The Moonlighter, and distance (and masked!) meetups with friends in the park.

Fun/random fact you want to share?
I really like plants! I have a collection of about 90 houseplants that have gotten a lot of extra attention in 2020 (check out my house tour).

What’s one of your favorite local Chicago businesses?
It’s got to be Bird Trouble! A one-woman operation creating beautiful hand-made leather and vegan leather bags and goods.