KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE (KCAI)
Katelynn Stevens is a Graphic Design student from the Kansas City Art Institute. She is inspired by details found in the world around her from coffee cups to highway signage. Focusing on collaborative design initiatives, whether it’s wayfinding, publications, or crafting identity systems, she believes that design is best when made together. She uses her work to bridge the gap between education, communication, and emotional connection to reach people wherever they are.
WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN YOUR FIELD?
Lisa Maione, a professor and mentor, is someone I look up to as a designer with immense knowledge and wisdom of the field, but also as a practicing artist. That balance is something I’m seeking in my own practice
WHAT ARE YOU READING, LISTENING TO, WATCHING?
Currently flipping through the New York Transit Authority: Objects book by Standard Manual (picked up at Secure Attachments in Lawrence), spinning Charm by Clairo on vinyl, with the Roku TV fish lock screen scrolling in the background.
DO YOU DESIGN FOR ANY CAUSES OR CHARITIES?
My multimedia practice explores my relationship with education, communication, and emotions, with the hope that sharing my experiences helps others feel seen. I’m also currently interning with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art whose mission is to make art accessible for all, and in the past, I’ve collaborated with a local elementary school to support education funding.
DO YOU FEEL THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS PREPARED YOU TO FIND A JOB?
The opportunities provided to me by KCAI like my internship at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art or building my network through local chapters of AIGA and KC Ad Club, have led me to an award-winning portfolio that feels adaptable to the design landscape.
