Where Creativity Meets Purpose

For Ayanah Proulx ’18, creativity has always felt instinctive.

At Emmanuel, she began to understand how her work could do more than communicate—it could illuminate issues, shape systems, and help people. That insight ultimately guided her toward a mission. “Emmanuel helped me see that what I make can actually help people,” she said. “That idea changed the direction of my work.”

Photo courtesy of Ayanah Proulx and One Mighty Mill

Today, Proulx is Head of Marketing and Brand at One Mighty Mill, a company bringing back real, nutrient dense bread and bagels by stone-milling the old school way. Her work blends strategy, storytelling, and creative direction—rooted in the values she refined at Emmanuel.

Drawn to Emmanuel for its small classes and its location in the heart of Boston, Proulx began as a Communications major. An Intro to Graphic Design course quickly shifted her trajectory.

“I remember thinking, this is exactly what I want to do,” she said. “The faculty were incredibly generous with their time. You could walk into any studio, show your work, and get thoughtful feedback.”

Mentors like Professor of Art Erich Doubek nurtured her interest in design, but courses outside her major proved equally influential. A religion and environment seminar and a science course on infectious disease opened her eyes to food systems, waste, consumerism, and environmental justice.

“I was loving the art side,” she said, “but also this grander idea of how what I create can help people and create better systems.”

These classes helped her recognize that the liberal arts were not separate from her creative practice—but deeply connected to it.

“Emmanuel’s liberal arts foundation isn’t just an academic structure—it’s a creative advantage,” she said. “There is so much learning in the unexpected. Those courses made me think differently about the world—and about my own work.”

A Nonlinear Path to Mission-Driven Work

As a student, Proulx interned at the Design Museum and at The Food Loft, a co-working space for food startups. She transitioned into a paid role there, gaining experience in photography, social media, copywriting, and branding.

“That was my first real look at food brands,” she said. “It helped me see how design and storytelling shape something as essential as what we eat.”

After graduation, she worked in marketing at a private school in Maine, then moved into freelance consulting for small food and wellness brands. Her path was winding—shaped by curiosity, informational interviews, and a willingness to reach out.

“People are kinder than you think,” she said. “They want to share how they got where they are. A lot of my career came from those one-on-one conversations.”

She eventually joined One Mighty Mill, starting with hands-on design before moving into a leadership role overseeing brand, marketing, and a network of designers and content creators.

Design With Clarity and Purpose

Over time, Proulx’s understanding of good design has evolved.

“When I was younger, I wanted to make everything as intricate as possible,” she said. “Now, for me, good design is clarity. If you don’t know what you want to say and who you’re speaking to, nothing else matters. Color and typography are just icing on the cake.”

One of her most meaningful projects at One Mighty Mill was a yearlong consumer research initiative that led to a full packaging redesign.

“We asked what our current audience connects to—and what our growth audience would connect to,” she said. “Then we translated that into packaging used everywhere from Whole Foods to Walmart.”

The project showed her how to bridge insight and creativity, and how to guide large-scale brand storytelling with consistency and purpose.

A Senior Thesis That Still Resonates

When Proulx applied to One Mighty Mill, her senior thesis helped her stand out. Sustainable Diva, a coffee-table book linking thrifted fashion with recipes, allowed her to combine design, photography, writing and sustainability.

“It brought together everything I loved,” she said. “Working on something over months—not weeks—really prepared me for real-world brand and marketing work.”

It also reinforced a lesson she now shares often: long-term project management is just as vital as creative vision.

If she could speak directly to current Emmanuel students—especially aspiring artists and creatives—Proulx would encourage them to take risks and ask questions.

“People want to help,” she said. “Speak up in class. Follow the topics that spark something in you—even if they’re outside your major.”

She also believes Emmanuel students benefit from the strength of the Alumni network.

“If you’re curious about a role or an industry, reach out,” she said. “There’s so much you can learn from someone else’s path.”

Though she now focuses on creative direction rather than hands-on design, Proulx remains deeply connected to her artistic life. She paints in acrylics, draws in a sketchbook, makes jewelry, and is writing a book.

“Following my creative impulses outside of work keeps me energized,” she said.

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue working with mission-driven brands making meaningful change.

“There’s so much opportunity in how we show up in the market and tell our story,” she said. “Long-term, I want to keep building brands that are on the verge of doing something meaningful.”

An Emmanuel Approach to Work and Life

Proulx’s journey—from a small town in Maine to leading brand strategy at a national company—reflects the best of an Emmanuel education: mentorship that nurtures talent, coursework that broadens perspective, and a community that encourages students to use their gifts for the common good.

“Emmanuel opened doors for me,” she said. “It helped me understand the kind of work I want to do and the kind of world I want to help build.”

Below are samples of Ayanah's art: a painting, jewelry display, and a collage.