Heather Besemer-Schulz is a designer and multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of architecture, digital media, photography, and branding. With a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor's degree from Cornell University, she has built a dynamic career shaping visual and spatial narratives across industries.
Instead of buying a convertible for her midlife crisis, she made the far less practical (and significantly more expensive) choice to pursue graduate studies in architecture—an ambitious pivot that redefined her creative practice. After graduating, she co-founded Vanity Project, a Brooklyn-based art studio that challenges design norms through concept-driven installations and cultural commentary.
Heather’s career began in New York’s fashion industry, where she discovered her passion for photography. This path took her to London, where she spent several years working alongside renowned fashion and music photographers before returning to the U.S. as a freelance photographer and artist. As the industry shifted toward digital, she became captivated by emerging technology and the creative possibilities of Photoshop. This fascination led her to specialize in photographic retouching, working in high-end studios and ultimately spending a decade at Sony Music, where she collaborated with some of the industry's most influential artists. Her foundation in image-making and digital media informed her perspective on design, ultimately shaping her approach to architecture and spatial storytelling.
Now based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, she lives with her husband, their teenage son, two dogs, a cat, and a bearded dragon who considers himself an architecture critic—offering nothing but silent, unyielding judgment. She continues to explore materiality, perception, and narrative, still holding out hope for even the smallest sign of his approval.