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 disciplines.

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Instead of buying a convertible for her midlife crisis, she made the far less practical and more expensive choice to pursue graduate studies in architecture, a decision that redefined her creative practice. After graduating, she co-founded Vanity Project, a Brooklyn-based studio that merges art, design, and cultural critique through concept-driven installations and spatial storytelling.

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Heather’s career began in New York’s fashion industry, where she discovered her passion for photography. That path led her to London, where she spent several years assisting leading fashion and music photographers before returning to the United States to work independently as a photographer and artist. As the industry shifted toward digital media, she became fascinated by emerging technologies and the creative potential of Photoshop. This curiosity evolved into a career in photographic retouching, first in high-end studios and later at Sony Music, where she spent a decade collaborating with major artists. Her understanding of image-making and digital media continues to shape her approach to design, influencing how she builds visual and spatial narratives within architecture.

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Now based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Heather lives with her husband, their teenage son, two dogs, and a cat. Her work continues to explore materiality, perception, and narrative through the lens of both art and architecture.