My Story

Created with Snap

It all began on a summer evening in 1989. This year will be forever remembered by my glamourous entering in the world of course, but also because It was a year of radical changes. The latter’s influence resulted in unique and diverse art and design projects.

I was lucky enough to grow up in the ’90s when things were still simple but the technology was advancing. It was then when I discovered graffiti and was mesmerized. The desire to improve my drawing skills led me to a local painter’s atelier and going to the lessons became the most anticipated events of the week Gradually I shifted from graffiti to pencil and charcoal drawing discovering new tools and media over the years. Then the big question arrived. What will be my undergraduate education?! I was certain I wanted something to do with art and design. At the time Engineering design seemed like a good idea.

Study that, they said... You will become an industrial designer and land a highly paid job they said... Of course, I received valuable knowledge, but it was also then when I got my first reality check. There was very little demand for that kind of qualification. It was also around this time when I had my first encounter with Photoshop and the magical world where ctrl+z exists. My direction was clear. The year was 2009.

I got my first job in an international media agency but was downsized a year later. It couldn’t be better timing! I was accepted for a long-term European voluntary service in Spain. I spent a year living la vida de pueblo and helping people with mental disabilities develop their artistic skills. Although I paused my design career this experience helped me grow in so many other ways. I returned to Varna with a different view of life.

The certainty to pursue a graphic design career was bigger than ever. I started my next journey in a cybersecurity company. Yes, it was cool. I contributed in interesting projects. One of them was a social network to develop an address system in Libya because sadly many streets and buildings were destroyed. Another project was creating a manual for the UAE government to guide the employees’ transition from e-government to a mobile one. My next job was equally challenging. I dived in the online marketing funnels and got to learn how I sometimes end up buying stuff I don’t need. And while working in agencies I never missed an opportunity to collaborate in an interesting project. Do you have something in mind?

P.S. I’m quite surprised you read through all this!

Cheers, Iliana