Capitol Communicator is running “Up Close and Personal” profiles of communicators in the mid-Atlantic.  In this profile we feature Katherine McDonald.  Photography for the series is by Cade Martin, wardrobe styling by Pascale Lemaire and Sybil Street for THE Artist Agency; and hair and makeup by Patti D Nelson, Janice Kinigopoulos and Lori Pressman for THE Artist Agency.

Katherine, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am curious and I thrive on information. I enjoy bringing beauty and interest to my work, whether I’m directing photography or designing a book. I work as an Art Director on branding, digital and editorial. My full-time spot as Art Director of Publications for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation lets me guide every visual component of the work and contribute to a really neat place. Before here, I most recently worked in New York for Mens Health and Condé Nast Traveler.

Are you involved in any other organizations?

I’ve taken a couple of classes at Studio Two Three in Richmond, Virginia. It’s a great non-profit that empowers artists. Through the years I’ve been involved with Folio, SPD and AIGA.

Who are your role models?

My border collie because of her excessive excitement for everything.

What did you learn from your border collie that helped you in your career?

When you do a job you love, you should find excitement in each opportunity, even if the challenge seems outsized. And no, she didn’t verbalize this to me. Call it an interpretation.

What professional advice do you have for others?

Have an idea of where you want to be in 5, 10 and 20 years. Don’t lose sight of your own personal and professional goals.

What’s on your Spotify and Pandora playlists?

Radiohead, Cherry Glazer, Madonna, Big Thief, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Patsy Cline, Julia Holtner, Freshkills, My Bubba, Joywave. I listen to a lot of podcasts, too, though. American History Tellers, Fresh Air, A Taste of the Past from Heritage Radio. The list is long.

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Stella’s in Richmond, Va, is so indulgent. I love the tiropita and the avgolemno soup. Mesa Coyoacan in Brooklyn, NY, has tacos you can’t soon forget. Green Sage is a less formal restaurant in Asheville, NC, whose menu and ambience I adore! But I also love a home-cooked meal that someone made for me. It takes time and effort and that’s a gift.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

Enough about me. What about you?