About
I am a graphic designer, illustrator, and history/research enthusiast from St. Louis, Missouri. I currently work as a graphic designer at PGAV Destinations, an architecture firm downtown that does work for zoos, aquariums, family entertainment centers, theme parks, and more. As a designer there, I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects that include wayfinding graphics, interior design, animal exhibits, branding, and more. I've had the opportunity to work with clients ranging from Anheuser-Busch InBev Breweries, SeaWorld, Georgia Aquarium, South Carolina Aquarium, and many more. Though my background is in traditional graphic design and illustration, I am thoroughly enjoying working on a larger scale and at an experiential level. I also serve as the President of AIGA St. Louis, where I have been working hard to ensure that our chapter is inclusive, diverse, and truly representative of the local creative community. I also serve as a member of the National Design for Democracy initiative, and the National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative. For the past year, I’ve served on the AdClub St. Louis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force as their Partnership lead, and have also continued to serve on the SafeConnections Young Professionals Board, primarily doing graphic design work for annual events.
I graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2015 with a BFA in graphic design and a minor in art history. While in school I took a variety of different graphic design and illustration classes that challenged me to think about my work in different ways both technically and conceptually. Throughout my career, I’ve focused primarily on print with an interest in creating illustrative, clean and colorful designs. I have also enjoyed creating detail and pattern driven illustrations that have an emphasis on concept. I’ve been lucky enough to work with several clients including 3M, The Clinton Foundation, Camp Harborview, Crossroads College Preparatory School, AidenLab, Redux Eyewear, ThirftyHipster, Fox Springs Lodge, and others. I’ve also enjoyed working at a variety of different companies and organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Cheree Berry Paper, and the Modern Graphic History Library at Washington University Saint Louis.
In my spare time I enjoy watching documentaries, reading autobiographies, taking Chinese language classes, learning about a variety of different topics ranging from fairy tales to European monarchies, and doing a little bit of creative writing. I love trying to incorporate everything I learn from my hobbies into my design and illustration, and I look forward to seeing where my curiosity and love of graphics take me in the future.
Awards
2 pieces accepted into the Society of Illustrators West 53 Competition (2015)
1 piece in the semifinals of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards (2013)
TypeHike Arch: Poster Show participant
APART Poster Show participant
Contact
If you would like to make an inquiry, please e-mail me at ahkarpinski@gmail.com
You can also follow me on Facebook here, or you can follow me on instagram at @akarpinski92
Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn here.