PRATT MUNSON COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Alena Revinskaya, a designer from Chicago, is a second-year graphic design student. A childhood interest in art quickly morphed into her passion when Alena realized that she could use her work to enter a world of her own. One where she could portray her values and enthusiasm. Art and design has helped her relate to the community around her. With her community in mind, Alena leveraged her love for art to create distinctive designs and illustrations for t-shirts, posters, children’s books, and murals. Her designs have also been featured on custom-ordered clothes, shoes, accessories, ornaments and greeting cards. In addition to using her experience in the arts to lead workshops for community artists, she has sold her work at various shops and shows locally. Outside of design, Alena loves reading, listening to music and boxing.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?
I find the most inspiration in personal values and passions, whether that is messages and morals that I believe in or hobbies, as well as the people and environment around me. When brainstorming ideas for projects, I tend to focus on things around me that are important in my life or things that the people around me might relate to or find use in. If I am ever stuck in “art block” I like to go on walks and see examples of art in real life and take pictures to make mental notes of what I like or don’t like in design, and how those things can improve my own work.
WHAT AREA OR AREAS OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN OR SPECIALIZE IN?
When I first applied to design school I knew I wanted to do something in this field, but found it very difficult to answer the question of “What do you specifically want to do?” To some extent that may still remain true, since design is such a broad field and you can take it to so many different paths. However, I have grown more and more interested in the idea of branding. I love the idea of all of the historic aspects and/or moral research that goes into creating a brand identity, and I have really been enjoying thinking about what design aspects go into a brand, especially this past semester.
