Sarah, a 2020 alumna of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, isn’t just any Tar Heel—she’s a super proud one. Majoring in Photo and Video Journalism and minoring in Studio Art, Sarah found her way to 1893 Brand Studio her senior year, and it completely altered her career path. Her time as a multimedia team lead steered her towards advertising, inspiring her to attend graduate school at the Brandcenter in Richmond, Virginia. Now, Redmond is an Art Director at Anomaly in Los Angeles. 

Reflecting on her time at the Brand Studio, Sarah responds with an infectious joy for her work. “Oh my gosh, the vibes were so fun!” she laughed. “One of my favorite memories was filming spots around Chapel Hill and getting to drive a golf cart at a tournament shoot. I didn’t quite meet the dress code, but hey, I got to drive a golf cart!” For Redmond, 1893 was more than an extracurricular; it was a taste of agency life, a real-life challenge that prepped her for the working world. 

“Working locally with people impacted directly by what we did—like helping small businesses—was incredibly rewarding.” She remarked. 

“It was a microcosm of what I do now,” she explained. “Managing teams, meeting deadlines, and learning to communicate ideas— I did that all at 1893.” This experience helped her build skills in video editing, storytelling, and client relations, providing a foundation she continues to draw upon as an Art Director at Anomaly in Los Angeles.

Today, Redmond credits her 1893 experience for building the confidence she needed to handle her current work at Anomaly, where she collaborates with high-profile clients like Buffalo Wild Wings. “I learned to pitch ideas, articulate my vision, and think through every step from start to finish. That’s huge as an Art Director. You’re basically a Swiss Army knife in this career,” she said.

Even now, Redmond knows the sky is Carolina blue. “UNC gave me everything I needed for my career,” she said. “Every time I meet someone, I tell them, ‘I’m a Tar Heel,’ and it means something everywhere.”  

Her advice to current students? “Lean into 1893, invest in it, don’t just treat it like any old extracurricular. You’ll get so much more out of it than you ever expected.”

All in all, Redmond is a shining example of the Tar Heel spirit. She is happy to let everyone know: once a Tar Heel, always a Tar Heel.