SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (SAIC)
Nina Perez (she/her) is a Chicago-based graphic designer pursuing a bachelor of fine arts with a focus in Visual Communication Design. Her design practice integrates hand-driven elements and analog processes with digital materials, and often aims to understand the power of design to author and re-contextualize popular historical narratives to incite dialogue and critical engagement. She was placed among the top 10 percent of bachelor of fine arts applicants in 2018, is a Distinguished Artist Scholar at SAIC, and was a 2022 finalist for the Justyna Palka Memorial Scholarship. She has exhibited work at the Oak Park Art League, the Gene Siskel Film Center, the Siragusa Gallery, and Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin among organizations and institutions. She continues to explore the capacity of design to act as a meaningful praxis toward social engagement through collaborative work with community partners and other emerging artists and designers. She has also worked professionally in-house as a web/ecomm focus designer at CB2 | Crate & Barrel, and has freelanced with Boston-based design studios Colossus Creative Co. and A&Co., as well as other small businesses and local nonprofit organizations.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?
Within my design practice, I’m often most inspired by good stories — I think design in its essence is a sort of visual storytelling, and having powerful stories to tell often feels like the most empowering thing to have in your toolbelt as a designer.
WHAT AREA OR AREAS OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN OR SPECIALIZE IN?
Professionally, I am hoping to continue developing a broad and diverse design portfolio that spans a wide range of disciplines from brand identity and packaging to web design and motion graphics, although I am also hoping to continue a personal print-based design practice. I have fallen in love with Risography during my time at SAIC and I would love to continue that work moving forward, even if it’s just for myself.
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