Portfolio
Longform Storytelling · Editorial Design · Human-Centered Media
I shape ideas into fully realized editorial experiences. My work lives at the intersection of investigative storytelling, editorial design, and emotionally resonant brand communication.
ExploreI started as a writer, but what fascinated me was never just the writing itself. It was the way stories shape memory, identity, and human connection.
Over time, that instinct expanded far beyond the page.
Today, my work lives at the intersection of editorial storytelling, visual design, and human-centered communication. I develop publications, campaigns, films, environmental graphics, and narrative systems designed not just to inform, but to create atmosphere, preserve legacy, and help people feel connected to each other.
My creative philosophy is rooted in a simple question: How will someone experience this story? Inspired by the visual storytelling techniques I admired growing up in publications like National Geographic, I approach creative work from the perspective of the audience. Whether through writing, design, imagery, or information architecture, I believe the most meaningful work creates pathways that help people discover, understand, and connect with ideas. I call these pathways Storytelling Systems™.
Much of my work has been created within nonprofit and community-centered spaces, where storytelling carries real emotional weight. I’ve interviewed founders, documented organizational history, shaped executive narratives, designed commemorative pieces, and built long-form editorial experiences rooted in lived experience and institutional memory.
Whether I’m designing a publication, directing a video, developing a campaign, or building a physical memorial piece, I approach creative work as an act of connection.
At the center of everything I create is the same belief that first led me into storytelling:
Good stories do more than communicate.
They help people remember who they are.
Custom editorial experiences designed to help readers discover, understand, and connect with complex stories.
Featured Publications
Annual Report Strategy · Information Architecture · Publication Design
Created the annual theme, editorial strategy, information architecture, and publication design for WestCare’s 2025 Impact Report spanning 17 U.S. states, U.S. territories, the Republic of Palau, and the Dominican Republic.
Role: Annual Theme Development, Creative Direction, Information Architecture, Editorial Direction, Narrative Strategy, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling Systems, UX Design
Executive Storytelling · Publication Design · Leadership Narrative
A feature edition of Leading With Purpose exploring the leadership journey of Senior Vice President Maureen Dunleavy through narrative storytelling, archival photography, environmental storytelling, and custom editorial design.
Role: Executive Interviews, Narrative Writing, Editorial Direction, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling Systems, Environmental Storytelling, Creative Direction
Leadership Storytelling · Publication Design · Culture Communication
A special edition transforming WestCare’s Shared Principles from a leadership framework into a human-centered storytelling experience through executive interviews, narrative writing, and visual storytelling systems.
Role: Concept Development, Executive Interviews, Narrative Writing, Editorial Direction, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling, Culture Communication Strategy
Developed as part of WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, these long-form editorial features transformed institutional history into human-centered narrative experiences. Through investigative research, executive interviews, archival reconstruction, writing, and publication design, the series explored how communities across the country responded to addiction, homelessness, trafficking, youth vulnerability, mental health crises, and recovery through the evolution of WestCare’s programs and partnerships.
Inspired by the visual storytelling techniques I admired growing up in publications like National Geographic, each feature was built around custom Storytelling Systems designed from the perspective of the reader. Rather than simply presenting historical information, these narrative frameworks used timelines, geographic maps, historical comparisons, feature callouts, and visual wayfinding to help audiences discover, understand, and connect with complex stories. The result was a series of immersive editorial experiences that transformed organizational history into journeys of people, place, purpose, and impact.
Editorial Feature Package · Narrative Journalism · Publication Design
The inaugural feature in WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, this longform editorial publication traced the organization’s evolution from Fitzsimmons House, a small residential treatment program in Las Vegas, into a multi-state behavioral health and human services network. Developed through executive interviews, historical research, archival storytelling, narrative writing, and publication design, the piece established the visual and editorial foundation for the anniversary series while transforming institutional history into an immersive, human-centered narrative experience.
Role: Creative Direction, Executive Interviewing, Historical Research, Narrative Strategy, Writing, Editorial Design, Timeline Development, Publication Layout, Visual Storytelling
Editorial Storytelling · Publication Design · Narrative Editing
Created as part of WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, this commemorative editorial feature explored the evolution of WestCare California from a single residential treatment program in Fresno into one of the organization’s largest behavioral health providers. The publication combined archival photography, historical timelines, narrative editing, and longform editorial layout to transform institutional history into a visually immersive storytelling experience while maintaining continuity across the larger anniversary series.
Role: Creative Direction, Editorial Design, Narrative Editing, Publication Layout, Visual Storytelling
Editorial Feature · Narrative Journalism · Publication Design
A dual-feature editorial package created for WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Special Edition of The Express. The Arizona feature traced the founding of Colorado River Region Youth Services and the creation of a sanctuary for runaway teens in the tri-state desert region, while the Georgia feature examined how the disappearance of a young girl exposed trafficking networks and contributed to the founding of WestCare Georgia. Together, the pieces blended investigative research, executive interviews, historical reconstruction, editorial writing, and publication design into a unified storytelling experience.
Role: Executive Interviewing, Writing, Editorial Direction, Narrative Structuring, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling
Editorial Feature Package · Publication Design · Legacy Storytelling
A dual-feature editorial publication exploring the histories of WestCare GulfCoast-Florida and The Guidance/Care Center in the Florida Keys. The Guidance/Care Center feature examined the growth of behavioral health services across Monroe County through archival storytelling, historical timelines, and interviews with executive and legacy leaders. The WestCare GulfCoast-Florida feature explored the expansion of community behavioral health programming across Florida’s Gulf Coast region. Editorial direction, publication design, narrative cohesion, and visual storytelling systems were fully developed and unified through a consistent creative framework.
Role: Publication Design, Editorial Direction, Executive & Legacy-Leader Interviews, Narrative Structuring, Visual Storytelling, Historical Timeline Development, Layout Design, Editorial Coordination, Feature Editing
Narrative Journalism · Editorial Design · Publication Development
A dual-feature editorial publication exploring the origins of The Village South in Miami and The Village VI - Partners in Recovery on St. Croix. Through executive interviews, archival research, historical reconstruction, and long-form narrative writing, the publication traced how two pioneering treatment organizations emerged to meet critical community needs and evolved into lasting pillars of behavioral healthcare. The project unified investigative storytelling, editorial strategy, publication design, and visual narrative systems into a cohesive historical feature package.
Role: Writing, Investigative Research, Executive Interviews, Historical Reconstruction, Editorial Direction, Narrative Structuring, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling
Narrative Journalism · Editorial Design · Organizational History
A long-form editorial feature package documenting the origins of WestCare Kentucky and WestCare Tennessee. Combining investigative research, executive interviews, regional history, and publication design, the project explored how local leaders, communities, and WestCare worked together to address the growing opioid crisis across Appalachia. The resulting publication transformed organizational history into a human-centered narrative about resilience, recovery, and community impact.
Role: Writing, Co-Authoring, Narrative Journalism, Historical Research, Executive Interviews, Editorial Direction, Publication Design
Editorial Feature Package · Narrative Journalism · Information Design
Created as part of WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, this commemorative editorial feature explored the history and expansion of WestCare Pacific Islands across Guam, Palau, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The publication combined executive interviews, historical research, geographic information design, custom timelines, and longform editorial storytelling to transform organizational history into an immersive narrative experience. Through visual mapping systems, milestone timelines, and human-centered storytelling, the piece illustrated how culturally responsive behavioral health, youth development, Veteran services, and community outreach programs expanded across the Pacific region while maintaining strong local partnerships and island identity.
Role: Writing, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Editorial Direction, Narrative Structuring, Information Design, Timeline Development, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling
Editorial Feature Package · Narrative Journalism · Historical Storytelling
Created as part of WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, this commemorative editorial feature explored the founding and growth of the Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA), tracing how a grassroots effort by families of struggling Veterans evolved into a multi-state support organization. Drawing from executive interviews, organizational archives, Veteran perspectives, and historical research, the publication combined longform narrative storytelling, custom timelines, historical photography, and visual editorial design to transform organizational history into a human-centered story of service, resilience, and community support.
Role: Writing, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Narrative Development, Editorial Direction, Publication Design, Timeline Development, Visual Storytelling, Information Design
Editorial Feature Package · Storytelling Systems
A dual-feature publication exploring the origins of WestCare Illinois and WestCare in Maryland. Through historical timelines, geographic storytelling, employee spotlights, archival research, and longform editorial design, the project transformed complex organizational history into an immersive, reader-centered narrative experience.
Role: Editorial Writing, Narrative Development, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Storytelling Systems Design, Publication Design, Visual Storytelling, Editorial Direction
Editorial Feature Package · Publication Design · Community Storytelling
A dual-feature editorial publication exploring the histories of WestCare Wisconsin and WestCare Texas. The Wisconsin feature examined the revitalization of Milwaukee’s Harambee community through housing restoration, violence intervention, youth programming, and the legacy of Dr. James White. The Texas feature explored the organization’s expansion through community development, Promise Zone initiatives, and neighborhood revitalization. Together, the features blended executive interviews, archival storytelling, historical timelines, and custom-designed narrative systems to illustrate how community-centered leadership creates lasting impact.
Role: Writing, Publication Design, Editorial Direction, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Narrative Structuring, Visual Storytelling, Historical Timeline Development, Layout Design
Editorial Feature Package · Publication Design · Veteran Storytelling
A dual-feature editorial publication exploring the histories of VETcare Oregon and Operation Military Family. The VETcare feature traced the transformation of a struggling facility into a thriving Veteran transitional housing program. The Operation Military Family feature explored the evolution of a purpose-driven organization helping Veterans and families rediscover identity, mission, and belonging after military service. Together, the stories combined historical timelines, editorial sidebars, original interviews, and immersive narrative design to create a unified exploration of resilience, service, and renewal.
Role: Writing, Publication Design, Editorial Direction, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Narrative Structuring, Visual Storytelling Systems, Historical Timeline Development, Layout Design, Feature Development
Editorial Feature Package · Bilingual Publication Design · International Storytelling
A dual-language editorial publication exploring the origins and growth of Guara Bi across Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The feature transformed organizational history into a human-centered narrative, tracing how a grassroots effort that began in a private home evolved into an international network of housing, treatment, and recovery services. The publication included parallel English and Spanish editions, multilingual navigation systems, executive interviews, historical research, custom timelines, and publication design developed to serve diverse audiences across multiple countries and cultures.
Role: Writing, Bilingual Publication Design, Editorial Direction, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Narrative Development, Visual Storytelling Systems, Timeline Design, Layout Design, Feature Development, Publication Production
Editorial Feature Package · Publication Design · Community Transformation
Created as the concluding installment of WestCare’s 50th Anniversary Origin Story Series, this feature explored the history and evolution of East End Community Services and its partnership with WestCare Ohio. Through executive interviews, historical research, archival storytelling, and publication design, the feature traced the transformation of an East Dayton neighborhood into a model of community-centered support and renewal. Combining historical timelines, community narratives, archival photography, and visual storytelling systems, the feature served as both an origin story and a forward-looking portrait of community transformation.
Role: Writing, Publication Design, Editorial Direction, Executive Interviews, Historical Research, Narrative Development, Visual Storytelling Systems, Historical Timeline Development, Layout Design, Feature Development
A short documentary-style piece exploring the aftermath of catastrophic flooding in Planada, California, through the voices, experiences, and resilience of the families impacted. Created with a human-centered storytelling approach, the film focuses on emotional authenticity, environmental atmosphere, and the lasting effects of disaster on everyday lives and communities.
My Role: Creative Direction, Cinematography, Interview Production, Editing, Story Development, Post-Production
A documentary-style interview created to elevate the voice and lived experience of a DACA recipient through compassionate, human-centered storytelling. Produced in support of an Immigration Services Program, the piece focuses on authenticity, emotional resonance, and mission-driven communication designed to inform, connect, and inspire understanding.
My Role: Creative Direction, Interview Production, Writing, Editing
A cinematic event film created to capture the spirit of community, compassion, and human connection during a Christmas outreach initiative in Fresno. Through layered storytelling, ambient visuals, heartfelt music, and excerpts from a bishop’s speech, the piece was designed to transform event coverage into an emotionally resonant narrative experience centered on dignity, service, and belonging.
My Role: Creative Direction, Cinematography, Story Development, Editing, Audio Layering, Post-Production
Campaigns • Identity Systems • Outreach • Recruitment • Public-Facing Communication Design
This work focuses on public-facing communication systems designed to inform, engage, and support diverse communities through accessible visual storytelling. Projects include campaign identity systems, event branding, recruitment communications, and mission-driven outreach materials created for nonprofit and community-based organizations.
The emphasis is on strategic thinking, problem solving, and communication design — why each piece was created, how challenges were solved, and the outcomes achieved.
Campaign Identity System
VETcare Red, White & Retro Gala
WestCare Florida Hiring Campaign
WestCare Village South Superhero Campaign
Presence • Spatial • Commemorative
This work explores design beyond the screen through physical, environmental, and large-format applications created for public spaces, memorialization, community visibility, and real-world interaction. Projects include vehicle wraps, commemorative pieces, signage, promotional installations, and print-based environmental graphics developed with attention to scale, material presence, readability, and emotional resonance.
The work emphasizes how visual communication functions within lived environments, balancing durability, visibility, atmosphere, and human connection.
These stories were written while living in Italy within an overseas military community shaped by movement, service, sacrifice, and adaptation. Published through the Panorama Newspaper, the work focused on the people behind the structure: families, volunteers, leaders, and individuals building connection and meaning far from home.
Through interviews, observation, and community storytelling, these pieces became an early exploration of documentary-style writing rooted in empathy, atmosphere, and lived experience.
Publication: Panorama Newspaper, Italy
Narrative & Editorial
Strategy & Communications
Human-Centered Design
AI & Emerging Technologies
Digital & Web
Production & Multimedia
M.A. — Consciousness and Human Potential
Maharishi International University
Admitted · Start: February 2027
Bachelor of Arts — English, Professional Writing
Grand Canyon University
2019 · Summa Cum Laude
Associate of Arts — Music as an Instrumentalist
Mendocino College
2014
Add a short contact note here — what kinds of projects you're open to, how to reach you, etc.
rlanehernandez@outlook.com