Jaiden Kasaval

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Jaiden Kasaval is a Knoxville-based, senior BFA Graphic Design student at the University of Tennessee School of Design. He grew up in the rural Appalachian town of Dandridge, Tennessee, nurturing an artistic and creative background. College brought along with it the idea of design and simultaneously his cultivating passions for print, publication, typography, web design, and branding. The combination of digital and analog processes is constantly driving his work in new and exciting directions.

Though he often gets raveled up by the technical aspects of design, his love lies in storytelling. From a young age, he has consistently invested in his affinities for books and writing, which has consequently bled into his design applications. Whether its branding identities, archival research through web experiences, or practicing methods of print, he’s always searching for a story to tell; thoughtful design stands at the core of his values..

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?

My time studying through the UT School of Design has recently sparked a study abroad trip this past summer to Seoul, South Korea, in which I traveled alongside 12 of my fellow classmates. This entire experience was very enriching for me as I was able to explore my normal habits and art/design practices (like photography and typography), but in a whole new lens and amongst a totally unknown environment. I was able to perceive an entirely different side of design, one that wasn’t entirely Western-influenced.

WHAT AREA OR AREAS OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN OR SPECIALIZE IN?

Karel Martens is a role model whose work I find myself constantly referring to. I also look up to Na Kim, who was a student of Karel Martens and whose exhibition I was able to attend during my stay in Seoul. I enjoy their shared interests of bold, experimental design.