DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
Magda Wilhelm is a fourth-year student at DePaul University pursuing a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Photography. Though she was crafting, painting, and creating all her life, nothing ever felt “quite right” until her sophomore year of high school when Magda happened to spontaneously sign up for a Graphic Arts elective class. From the first assignment, Magda knew Graphic Design was the path she would pursue for the rest of her life. Everything clicked—typography, design principles, and color palettes were immediately second nature. As a designer, Magda incorporates themes of mental health in many of her projects, seeking to capture visually many of her personal experiences with battling depression and relate them to anyone who might come across her work. Though she was born in Chicago, her Polish heritage fuels much of her work as well—Magda believes her upbringing in Polish language and culture brought about an openness and appreciation of the world as a whole and its differences, especially regarding design. In her spare time, Magda enjoys exploring punk and grunge styles, as well as capturing snapshots of day-to-day life on film.
WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN YOUR FIELD? EITHER TODAY OR HISTORICALLY?
Though she is from the realm of photography, I look up to Vivianne Maier. Vivianne was a nanny with a passion for photography, though this passion was only discovered after her death. She captured moments of life as it was—fleeting moments of people walking by on the street, reflections in store windows, children smiling at a stranger. Her subject was just the normalcy of daily living, and yet her photographs still held a weight of beauty and charm. I seek to capture the same in my photography and design—the beauty of the simple, mundane, and the “little things in life”.
WHAT ARE YOU READING, LISTENING TO, WATCHING (BOOKS, MOVIES, TV, SOCIAL MEDIA, MUSIC)?
Though I would describe my music taste as a “chaotic haphazard mess”, you’ll most often catch me listening to DJO, Declan McKenna, or Weval! I am also currently rewatching both Criminal Minds and House M.D. for the umpteenth time in a row. I have also seen Pride and Prejudice (2005) nineteen times (it’s almost like it’s my favorite movie of all time).
DO YOU CURRENTLY, OR DO YOU PLAN TO, DESIGN FOR ANY CAUSES OR CHARITIES?
I, unfortunately, have not had a chance to design for any causes or charities yet, though I hope to come across such an opportunity. I would love to offer my capabilities in helping to bring some good into the world, I believe even small gestures can be extremely powerful.
