Isabelle Brown

Kansas City Art Institute

I am a sophomore in design at the Kansas City Art Institute and I’ve grown up in and around the Kansas City area. I come from a family of musicians, artists, designers, and overall crazy people and seek much of my inspiration from them. I have a strong fine arts background and wasn’t originally seeking a career in design. I honestly wanted to be an illustrator or a fine artist up until a while ago when a mentor convinced me otherwise, and I changed my major last minute. I found that many of the things that I was interested in were elements and modes of design that I had not fully come to realize until the beginning of my studies at KCAI. I have a passion for both the fine arts along with the design and I hope to continue my practice in both throughout my life and my career.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born and still live in Liberty Missouri

LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty

MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Unfortunately a morning person. I’m not great at parties.

FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU’VE ALWAYS IDENTIFIED WITH?
Junie B. Jones, for sure. I’d like to think I’m equally as crazy.

ARE YOU MUSICAL AND/OR DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
I play cello, bass, guitar, amongst other things

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?
Probably either Dragon Tales or anything Strawberry Shortcake related

LAST BOOK YOU READ?
Yes Please by Amy Poehler. Good Stuff.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
A dog named Beans who has a severe underbite and smells weird. But hey, gotta love em.

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE YOU FLUENT IN?
Only English but I’d love to learn more

FAVORITE MOVIE?
Old school Ghost in the Shell

FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
James Jean, El Anatsu, Gustav Klimt

FAVORITE CHARITY?
Save the Music Foundation is pretty cool.

FAVORITE ACTIVITY DURING YOUR FREE TIME?
Drawing or printmaking

WHAT’S THE LAST COMPLIMENT YOU GOT?
Someone at a coffee shop said my drawing was pretty. It made me blush a little.

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?
Old notes, pamphlets, letters, images or anything of that nature

COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Yellow

TYPEFACE USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Recently I’ve been using Futura but it changes quite a bit.

GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
I’m hard working and I don’t stop until I know it’s the best work I can create, I think high craft and dedication to the work is important. My weakness is that I sometimes get stuck in a mode of working and it’s hard for me to break away from it. Experimentation and risk taking is vital and it’s something I need to improve on.

IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
Probably a musician or full time illustrator

A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
There’s nothing to lose, so why not try?

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