CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART
Kelsey Elder is a MFA candidate in the 2D Design Department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and is working towards a thesis for graduation this spring ‒ a typographic family called Varnish. Hailing from the true North (Minneapolis MN), Elder’s studio work combines a lifelong participation and knowledge of lowrider car culture with an emphasis on typography and language. Through commercial vernaculars and materials, Elder’s work addresses automobility as a compulsory ritual of contemporary ‘Americanism.’ After graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Elder incorporated a small clothing company focused on supporting the european car modification community, Lowered Values. Now in its fourth year, Lowered Values runs a website and travels the country during the summer to sponsor car shows ‒ where it has a pop-up shop with merchandise for sale.
FAVORITE COLOR?
Fluorescent (burn your retinas, high visibility, day-glo) yellow
FAVORITE TYPEFACE?
I have a soft spot for Antwerp by Village
FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Top Gear, specifically the (OG) original BBC version.
FAVORITE BOOK?
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
FAVORITE MOVIES?
the ‘Fast and the Furious’ franchise‒if only for the pull quotes!
FAVORITE MUSICIAN OR BAND?
Doomtree, Aesop Rock, GRRRL Party, Hippo Campus
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA?
Instagram! (@loweredvalues)
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
That’s tough ‒ Ed Atkins, Isa Genzken, Lawrence Weiner
YOUR DESIGNER HERO?
Emigre
TALENT YOU WISHED YOU POSSESSED?
20/20 vision!
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Working as a auto mechanic at a specialty/performance shop.
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
Hustle, hit, never quit – Nicole Killian
