24, designer
KyivWeil am Rhein (Germany)

This topic became relevant for me at my last job in Ukraine when I felt deep conflict inside and no desire to work. I faced a complicated life situation: being in love with design and the profession of graphic designer, I didn't like the working conditions and lifestyle of a designer in a Ukrainian agency.

This project is an attempt to understand how design agencies operate in Ukraine, what factors influence Ukrainian design, and, most importantly, how to work and stay happy in these conditions. Talking to the professionals in this area, I tried to learn how the first design agencies appeared, what events substantially impacted the Ukrainian design, and what the interviewees think of it themselves.

In the end, I concluded that I am proud of the Ukrainian design. It is one of the manifestations of Ukrainian resilience and engagement: with all the limited resources and difficulties of the current times, Ukrainian designers continue actively creating and launching businesses and projects and don’t wait for better conditions.

I tried to visually demonstrate how it is to be a graphic designer in Ukraine and what challenges they go through every day. It is a combination of anxieties, overload, disorganization, and confusion but also energy and speed. For some people, it might seem strange, but this is a formula of Ukrainian harmony, and I show it in posters of Japanese style.

The posters are created in an authentic technique using photographs, original drawings, and artificial intelligence.

Text, posters: Alina Borysova