A bit about me, Misha Donohoe
Technical, conceptual, people person
I am a design geek with professional expertise in visual science communication.
As a scientist, I’m curious and experimental by nature. I’m a nerd for the nitty-gritty and rigorous in practise.
As a creative director, I work with clients and production teams to develop concepts that are expansive and inclusive.
As a designer, I’m driven by ideation and innovation, distilling details to express the essence and vibrancy of a shared vision.
As a colleague, I am trusted, trusting and supportive. I thrive working with – and learning from – smart people in different disciplines.
As a person, I am reflective and collaborative. Creativity is in my DNA.
I hark from the North and from Downunder. I admire my amazing, courageous friends (longtime and new). If I am not out hiking or skiing, I usually have a sketchbook, a paintbrush, or a book in my hand.
Experience
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Creative producer – “Beringia: Crossroads of the Continents” (science film). Client: Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Artistic director – “UnFurled” (event branding and public education campaign with 1,000+ attendees and $70,000 in direct sales). Site: Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, Yukon, Canada.
Artistic director – “Stream of Dreams” (primary school programming). Client: Yukon Salmon Sub-committee, Canada.
Business feasibility plan manager – Capital infrastructure investment proposal. Client: Sydney Science Outreach Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Australia.
Manager, program designer, researcher, trainer – Science mentoring program (500+ participants annually). Employer: Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Australia.
Award portfolio manager –Editorial, publishing and marketing units. Employer: Allen and Unwin, Sydney, Australia.
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Communications advisor – Territorial budget, carbon pricing, fiscal policy, website. Employer: Dept. of Finance, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Communications strategy and infographics – Landscape Hazards Mapping Project (geology). Client: Northern Climate unit, Yukon Research Centre, YukonU, Canada.
Social media campaign manager – “Yukon’s cultural heritage”. Client: Yukon Historical and Museums Association, Canada.
Social media campaign manager – “North and the First World War” (conference and public education campaign). Client: Yukon Historical and Museums Association, Canada.
Museum resources – Audience research, online collections, mobile apps. Employer: The Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia.
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Illustrations and brand package – Broccoli Farm (album). Client: Claire Ness, Yukon, Canada.
Brand design and publicist – Two Piano Tornado (international tour and album release). Clients: Annie Avery and Grant Simpson, Canada.
Brand labels – Athlete uniform, toques (beanies) with locally-made pom-poms. Client: Arctic Winter Games, Yukon, Canada.
Brand package – Film production logo, brand assets, funder collateral. Client: Giv’er media, Yukon, Canada.
Brand assets – “not about me” (documentary film and digital resources). Client: Giv’er media, Yukon, Canada.
Corporate design – Reel showcase (promotional print publication). Client: Shot in the Dark productions, Yukon, Canada.
Corporate design – “Fur Industry Action Plan” (print report). Client: Canadian Northern (CanNor) Economic Development Agency, Yukon, Canada.
Illustrations and merchandise – Arts in the Park event. Client: Music Yukon, Canada.
Illustrated cover and brand package – Theatre production (45th anniversary program). Client: Frantic Follies, Yukon, Canada.
Illustrated logo and brand package – Artisanal cheese retail business. Client: Cultured Fine Cheese, Yukon, Canada.
Illustrated logo and brand package – Organic agriculture business. Client: Sarah’s Harvest, Yukon, Canada.
Logo and event branding – Non-profit. Client: Yukon Imagination Library, Yukon, Canada.
Logo – Elementary school. Client: École Whitehorse Elementary School, Yukon, Canada.
Logo – Wellness services business. Client: Cloudberry Wellness, Yukon, Canada.
Logo and brand package – Solar panel installation business. Client: Sow’s Ear renewable energy co-operative, Yukon, Canada.
Design and brand package – “Gritt” (album). Client: Gordie Tentrees, Yukon, Canada.
Design and brand package – “Stay in the Dream” (album). Client: Jim Vautour, Yukon, Canada.
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Interpretive panels – Geology of the silver trail region (2 panels: 4ft x 2ft). Client: Heritage branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Chinook salmon life-cycle (educational poster and board game). Client: Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, Canada.
Scientific diagram – Yukon’s heritage resources poster (public education). Client: Archaeology branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Archaeology illustrations – 30+ research-quality scientific illustrations, including a 6ft long dart drawn to scale. Client: Archaeology branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Fossil hyena teeth (popular science). Client: Palaeontology branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Moose scapula artefact (popular science), North of Ordinary magazine. Client: Archaeology branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Infographic and workshop facilitation resources – Grizzly bear management consultation. Client: Dept. of Environment, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Introduction to Yukon Birds (cover illustration). Client: Wildlife viewing branch, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Infographic – Muskox and caribou (public education and engagement). Client: Wildlife Management Advisory Committee, Yukon North Slope, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Porcupine caribou herd (popular science). Client: Porcupine Caribou Management Board, Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustrations – Chinook salmon poster and interactive maze (popular science). Client: Northern Climate unit, Yukon Research Centre, YukonU, Canada.
Infographics – Fish and Wildlife Highlights Report. Client: Dept. of Environment, Government of Yukon, Canada.
Scientific illustration – Macropodid digestive tract (research-quality physiology illustration). Client: A/Prof Adam Munn, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
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Diploma in Botanical Illustration, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, UK. (Completion: March, 2024.)
Natural History Illustration (High distinction), University of Newcastle, Australia.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) Science Communication (First-class honours), University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
Watercolour course, Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, Australia.
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Hand-painted sign – Gold leaf brewery signage. Client: Woodcutter’s Blanket, Yukon, Canada.
Honours wall (40ft x 10ft) – Student awards with 50+ custom-made plaques (multi-year project). Client: YukonU, Canada.
Hand-painted event signs – Corporate Kid’s Challenge (multi-year project). Client: Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, BC, Canada.
Hand-painted event signs – Yukon Imagination Library (multi-year project). Client: Yukon Imagination Library, Canada.
Hand-painted museum signage (10ft x 16ft). Client: Miles Canyon Historic Railway Museum 2016
Hand-painted signage, chalk art and wall mural (50ft x 10ft). Client: Dirty Northern Public House (restaurant and bar).
“Misha is an insightful and creative individual. She brought fresh perspectives on the way that the Faculty of Science engaged with our current students.”
Prof. Trevor Hambley | Former Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney
Toolbox
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Acrobat Pro
AfterEffects
Illustrator
InDesign
Lightroom
Photoshop
Premier Pro
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Adobe CC
Dropbox
Google Workspace
iCloud
Monday
Office365
Teams
Slack
weTransfer
Zoom
Other service providers (as needed)
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AfterEffects
Illustrator
Photoshop
Premier Pro
Procreate
Other IOS apps (as needed)
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Acrobat Pro
Illustrator
InDesign
Lightroom
Photoshop
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Illustrator
Photoshop
Procreate
Other IOS apps (as needed)
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Gouache
Graphite
Pen and Ink
Watercolour
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Gold leaf and enamel signs
Murals and scenery
Event branding and way-finding
Chalk art
“Misha helped me see the projects we worked on together in new ways. She turned our communications ideas into a coherent, cohesive strategy with beautiful results.”
Bronwyn Hancock | Associate Vice-President, Research Development Yukon Research Centre
Recognition
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Cultural Industries Training Fund (2021)
Above and Beyond Award (2020)
Yukon Innovation Prize (2018)
UNSW research scholarship (2006)
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Crop Diversity Canada (national coordinator), international exhibition for Botanical Art Worldwide (2025)
Silence, the art and science of bird migration, collaborative exhibition (2024)
Flora and fauna, group exhibition, (2024)
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators juried awards (2020, 2021)
Artful Evolution, solo exhibition (2015)
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Australian Science Communicators (ASC)
American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA)
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI)
Graphite
Yukon Art Society (YAS)
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Art teacher – Scientific illustration: beginner, intermediate, advanced. Delivered to adult students at Arts Underground, Yukon, Canada.
Facilitator – Outdoor education camp (high school programming). Client: Yukon Fish and Game Association
Facilitator –The all-girls science club. Client: YukonU, Canada.
Art teacher – Art nature camp. Delivered to youth at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Canada.
Wildlife interpreter – Visitor experience tours and education. Employer: Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Canada.
Course lecturer – Scientific literacy. Employer: Faculty of Science, University of Western Sydney (UWS), Australia.
Laboratory Tutor – First-year biology. Employer: Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia.
Ceramics teacher – Painting with glazes: beginner, intermediate, advanced. Employer: Colour Me Mine, Sydney, Australia.
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Benkert BE, Donohoe M, Davey T. 2014 ‘Comics, communities and geoscience: Creative science communication’. ArcticNet, Arctic Change 2014. Ottawa, Ontario. Poster presentation.
Donohoe M and Taylor CE. 2010 ‘Integrating undergraduate students into the science research culture’. First Year in Higher Education Conference, Adelaide, Australia.
Donohoe M, von Hippel W, Brooks RC. 2009 ‘Beyond waist–hip ratio: experimental multivariate evidence that average women's torsos are most attractive’. Behavioral Ecology. 20(4):716-721.