Molly McElwain
Art Director
What I do here
As art director, I integrate design, storytelling and strategy to develop visuals that effectively engage audiences. Leveraging my extensive background in graphic design, photography and event coordination, I meticulously craft our visual representation for the community. My primary objectives include maintaining visual consistency, enhancing brand identity and ensuring all creative decisions align with our mission of providing accessible, inclusive journalism. I engage in close collaboration with editorial and outreach teams to produce design that informs, resonates and accurately reflects the essence of the communities we serve.
My Background
Creativity has always been a constant in my life. From a young age, I was surrounded by music, movement and storytelling, singing, performing, dancing and creating. My early exposure to the arts was how I made sense of the world. I’ve always been drawn to forms of expression that evoke feeling and give shape to experiences that words alone can’t. Art, in all its forms, felt like a way to tell the truth without having to explain everything.
I spent years working across creative and service-driven fields, each one shaping how I see people and purpose. I ran my own photography business for five years, capturing moments that live in the in-between. I’ve directed visual identity for grassroots publications like Canary Collective Magazine and worked with small businesses to build brands that reflect their roots. My path has never been linear. Along the way, I’ve worn a lot of hats and learned to move fluidly between creative leadership and hands-on execution.
Before stepping into the design world full time, I was a firefighter for the city of Tulsa. I also worked as a program manager at a group home, having spent time in one myself as a teenager. These roles showed me the realities of how people live, survive and adapt in systems that are often indifferent to their needs. I don’t just create for the sake of aesthetics. I create because I believe that beauty, truth and clarity should belong to everyone.
Where can you find me in Tulsa?
You’ll find me at any new restaurant concept that’s a part of Tulsa’s booming food scene: Boston Title & Abstract, SOMA, Lofi, Bird & Bottle and any place I can get my hands on sushi or Asian food. If I’m not scouring the city for the best dumplings with my daughter (a dumpling connoisseur) then you can find me running on Riverside with my Great Pyrenees, Poe, and my muppet-of-a-dog, Reba Snackentire. I love to hike Turkey Mountain or take a This Machine bike on unplanned, afternoon adventures.
If I’m not out and about, you can always catch me watering my plants, working in the yard, painting or enjoying a Sauvignon Blanc in the hammock while spending time with my husband and daughter.
Journalistic ethics
I am committed to the core principles of ethical journalism: accuracy, accountability and transparency. I believe visual storytelling carries the same responsibility as written reporting and must communicate with clarity, honesty and respect. I prioritize accessibility in all design choices to ensure that content reaches and resonates with diverse audiences. Every creative decision is made with a focus on truth, cultural sensitivity and the public interest.