Yassmina Youssif

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Yassmina is Lebanese and Egyptian, born in Dubai, UAE, where she grew up. She moved to the US for college and is now in her junior year at George Mason University, studying graphic design with a minor in design thinking and user experience.

She has a life-long love for sports, and putting this together with design is where she finds excitement and curiosity, and she hopes to work in this joyful intersection. Another aspect of herself that she brings into her work is her culture. Being Arab and growing up in Dubai, a multicultural hub where she was exposed to many cultures and perspectives from an early age, have shaped her design sensibilities, making her appreciate the beauty in diversity and allowing her to blend different elements into her work seamlessly.

Her designs are a fusion of cultures and ideas, reflecting her commitment to exploring innovative ways of integrating sports, culture, and design, pushing the boundaries of what these elements can achieve collectively. With each project she undertakes, she strives to tell a compelling story that celebrates diversity, athleticism, and creativity.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?

I am inspired to create and learn from anything that catches my eye and I try to take away as much as I can from each project to be a better designer.

WHAT ARE YOU READING, LISTENING TO, WATCHING (BOOKS, MOVIES, TV, SOCIAL MEDIA, MUSIC)?

I enjoy “That Triathlon Life,” a podcast by pro triathletes discussing races, products, and news in the triathlon world during my long runs. Additionally, I’m re-reading Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog, the story behind Nike.

DO YOU CURRENTLY, OR DO YOU PLAN TO, DESIGN FOR ANY CAUSES OR CHARITIES?

I’m actively seeking opportunities to contribute my design skills to causes or charities that align with my values. Integrating design with impactful causes is something I care about, and I aspire to lend my expertise to initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the world.

DO YOU FEEL THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS PREPARED YOU TO SEARCH FOR AND FIND A JOB?

Dr. Miriam Ahmed’s Writing for Designers and Josh LeFevre’s Design Thinking 101 have helped me prepare for the design world, through their teachings and projects that I felt directly apply to real-world scenarios after college.