“I sold everything, packed my dogs, and moved to Charleston because I refused to let fear of the unknown stop me. I had to stay creative and find a way to help my community at the same time.”
Tonya Gore, Director of Enhancement and Design, Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance. From artist to urban designer: Tonya Gore’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and rootedness. After a devastating flood hit her hometown, Tonya left behind a two-decade career in graphic design to pursue a new path in Resilient Urban Design. Now serving as Director of Enhancement and Design at the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance, she fuses her artistic background with a deep commitment to community-building, proving that creativity can shape not just art, but entire cities.
About
Tonya Gore’s career is a study of creative reinvention and community commitment. After two decades in graphic design while moonlighting as an adjunct instructor in digital arts. Gore watched historic floods devastate her family’s hometown of Nichols, SC. The double blow convinced her that art and design could serve a larger civic purpose. She enrolled in Clemson’s accelerated Resilient Urban Design program, sold most of her belongings to finance the year-long course, and immersed herself in streetscape and placemaking theory.
Today, as Director of Enhancement & Design at the Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance, Gore oversees branding, way-finding, pocket-park activations, and public-art initiatives that aim to make downtown walkable and welcoming for residents and visitors alike. Her weekly routine spans supervising digital-arts interns, refining Pantone palettes for signage, coordinating “Nights at Nance” concerts, and liaising with neighborhood-watch groups to keep redevelopment transparent.
Gore’s advice for aspiring creatives is two-fold: master the fundamentals then keep learning. “Technology changes fast,” she says, “but draftsmanship, curiosity, and the willingness to network never go out of style.”
