‘Design Roots’ is a magazine spread that celebrates the unique journey of collaborative friendship through rediscovery and empowerment.
Reflecting on our middle school days, we aim to recapture the spirit of what was lost, what was once considered ‘too much’ –the girly, gay attitude that we, as aspiring designers, once repressed.
“Purlll” is a nod to those formative years, transforming what was once a source of embarrassment into a wellspring of creativity.
Our project is an homage to our roots, showcasing how our ‘guilty pleasures’ and unbridled enthusiasm have shaped our design sensibilities.
It’s an exploration of how embracing our true creative selves leads to creative empowerment.
It’s a story of how we’ve come full circle, turning our past insecurities into our greatest strengths as designers.
Foreword
Design Roots Manifesto
Pink-ness
Academia
Cunty;* Moments
Extra Treats
LEAN INTO THE *PINK!*
In the dawn of our friendship, blushing cheeks whispered tales of new discovery and vulnerability. Now, nestled within the pages of our shared memories, that same rosy hue takes on a new glow, symbolizing the unspoken connection between us.
It’s the color of genuine emotion, a sweet emblem of our journey together. Each blush tells a story – from shy beginnings to moments of boldness, we’ve grown side by side. Where once we blushed with uncertainty, now we wear our emotions proudly.
IT MAKES YOU SWEEET :*
*DESIGN DESK*
STRATEGY
To cultivate a space where creativity thrives, begin with intention. Your environment should be a physical manifestation of your vision. You can embrace this philosophy by arranging each element to spark inspiration and foster a sense of empowerment that is both uplifting and deeply personal.
A GREAT PLAYLIST
Set the tone with a playlist that resonates with your design identity. Music is not just background noise; it’s a rhythmic companion that can elevate your mood and enhance creative flow. Choose tunes that echo the energy you want to bring to your work.
GREAT COLLABORATORS
Surround yourself with people who challenge and complement you. The right collaborators can transform your work desk from a solitary station to a dynamic workshop where ideas are exchanged, and innovation is born from collective genius.
GOOD SMELLS
Never underestimate the power of a good scent. It can transport you to different places and times, invigorating your senses and enriching your creative environment.
DESIGN SYSTEMS
In constructing your design systems, think of them as a palette which you can paint your world. Mood boards act as your inspirational canvas, color palettes set the emotional tone, typography dictates the voice, and curated images guide the visual narrative. These elements are the vocabulary of your design language, allowing you to communicate with clarity and beauty.
TEA!!!!!!
Incorporate rituals into your work routine. A cup of tea can be a moment of tranquility or a spark of caffeine-induced clarity. It’s about creating a ritual that signals to your mind it’s time to blend the comfort of tradition with the thrill of creation.
AS A YOUNG DESIGNER, I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO CREATE MY VERY OWN FONT.
Introducing…
by Alyssa Leven
Creating Serifina was an adventure in itself. A journey of an idea, experimentation, and final refinement. As it took shape, I acknowledged each curve, point and individual letter in relation to its whole. I did this so I could transform an abstract idea into a tangible, expressive reality.
The fabric of our school experience is often colored by the policies that govern it, notably the dress code. For years, students like myself have faced the constraints of these codes, penalized not for disruption, but for daring to deviate from the norm.
My story is one of bold fashion choices in the halls of public school, a personal runway where expression met education. Yet, time and time again, these sartorial risks were met with reprimand, not because they hindered learning but because they challenged established boundaries.
In my efforts to question certain norms through articles and posters, I encountered resistance that reflected a wide-spread societal adherance to established rules. This often leads to the reinforcement of archaic standards that wrongly link self-expression to inappropriateness. At the heart of this issue is the problematic and subjective notion that specific clothing can ‘sexualize’ a student. This belief disproportionately affects young women and underscore the need for a reevaluation of how dress codes are perceived and enforced.
It’s time for a discourse on how dress codes can evolve to reflect the diversity and individuality of the student body. We must advocate for policies that recognize clothing as a form of personal expression, devoid of any implication of sexuality, especially at an age where learning and growth should be the only focus.
Through this article, I reclaim the voice that was once silenced. It is call to action for not just students, but educators and parents, to foster an atmosphere that celebrates creativity and individuality. It’s time our dress codes mirror the values of the world we are preparing to enter, one where freedom of speech and personal flair are cherished and valued.
MOMENTS ;*
The queer and gay community has a history of redefining language, transforming words that were once derogatory into symbols of strength and identity. ‘Cunty’ is a prime example of this linguistic evolution. Historically laden with negativity, this term is being reclaimed with a new, empowering connotation. In this context, ‘cunty’ embodies a range of attributes celebrated in queer culture.
FIERCE * DIVA * SLAY * QUEEN *
BABYGIRL * FEARLESS * GIRLBOSS *
MOTHER * LOVER *CONFIDENT*
EXCEPTIONAL * STRUT! * HOT *
EMPOWERED * DARING *
Embracing #cunty resonates with the spirit of other empowering terms like ‘diva’, ‘queen’, and ‘girlboss’. It’s a celebration of exceptionalism and self-assurance, a nod to those who dare to embrace their uniqueness in its full glory. This reclaiming is not just about a word; it’s a statement about owning one’s identity, about being fearlessly oneself in a world that pressures conformity. The words now stands for someone who is not just confident, but daringly so, a person who commands attention and respect through their sheer presence and authenticity.
In reclaiming ‘cunty’, the queer and gay community is doing more than altering the lexicon; they are challenging societal norms and asserting a powerful form of self-expression. This reclamation is a testament to resilence, for those striving to find their voice in an ever-changing world. It’s a celebration of being unashamedly bold, sexy, and empowered, an affirmation that everyone deserves to shine in their unique way.
ROOTS
*outing myself lol
In the pixelated realms of Tumblr, where nostalgia and neon dreams blend, is where I first learned to channel my insecurities into art, to find beauty and a sense of belonging. Each small image I designed or reblogged was a step toward embracing myself, a piece of a collage that helped me feel part of something greater.
From the guilty pleasures of watching romantic dramas to sketching out mood boards that felt so personal, these were my building blocks as a designer, helping shape my aesthetic and approach. This is about celebrating those roots and showing how my past experiences have crafted me into who I am.
It’s an invitation to connect with me through these expressions, to share my authentic origin story that made me the designer I am today.
In the digital realms of my childhood, gaming became a gateway to discover enchanting worlds as captivating as those flourishing within my imagination.
Even as the external world around me plunged into uncertainty, my love for gaming remained a constant.
Fueled by a deep affection for feminine characters, I found myself gravitating towards the likes of characters like
Zelda, Princess Peach, Blaze, Chun-Li and Samus.
Being able to see my essence reflected in my favorite characters is something that kept me hooked. It has created a thirst to create my own characters, and my own worlds. Interacting with characters I could relate to became a refuge from loneliness, a solace that enveloped my heart during this time of exploration and play.
EMILY AND ALYSSA’S
*Q&A*
Growing up living in suburbia my sister and I often found it challenging to find creativity and inspiration in our everyday lives. When we gamed however, we discovered that there are already worlds built for us to explore...but we wanted more. In my many years of digital experience, I always found ways to make connections, looking for hidden details and hoping to solve each game in its entirety. I did this with my sister, and together we formed a bond that is driven by curiosity, methodology, compassion and patience.
I asked Emily what her thoughts are in relation to our experiences in the Q&A below
How do you think your shared gaming and dancing experiences with Alyssa influenced your perspectives on creativity and expression?
Dancing with Alyssa on Just Dance has been an amazing journey in exploring how movement can be a form of self-expression. We’ve discovered so much about ourselves through those moments of synchronizing our steps and being absolutely crazy. What’s even cooler is how the character customization in our games has sparked our creativity. Alyssa wants to work in the game design world, and I tend to live in these fantastical places. Having that spark when we were young has lead us to creative paths.
Can you recall a specific moment or game that you feel has had a lasting impact on your creative interests or career paths?
Ah, reminiscing about playing The Last of Us Part II with Alyssa brings back a lot of memories. That wasn‘t just a game; it was about bonding over an emotionally charged narrative that hit us right in the feels. Seeing Ellie and Abby navigate through their complex emotions taught me so much about storytelling and character development. We got to spend so much time with each other when we played this game, I miss it.
In what ways do you believe that play and entertainment contribute to developing design sensibilities and creative thinking?
Games aren’t just about having fun; they’re inspiration for young designers like my sister. It’s not just about how the game looks; it’s about understanding how every detail contributes to the overall experience. Alyssa and I loved to pick apart the lore, the details. Playing games has definitely sharpened my eye for design.
Looking back, how do you see these experiences as a form of creative education or learning?
Looking back at all the games I’ve played with Alyssa, I realize just how much they’ve taught me. It’s like stepping into different universes and learning from the masters of storytelling and design. I learn a lot about myself playing games, and a lot about the world I want to live in.
What advice would you give to others about the importance of nurturing creative bonds and shared passions?
Whether it’s gaming, dancing, or any shared interest, let it consume you in the best possible way. Because when you’re surrounded by people who share your passions, magic happens. So, don’t hold back!
Nurturing Creativity
through Everyday Objects:
A conversation with Artist & Educator,
by Kalyana Gallagher
For artist and educator Suellen, nurturing an inclusive spirit of creativity often begins with the simple objects around us. A treasured family heirloom - a century-old ceramic bowl portraying Chinese children - sparked profound reflections on disability, enabling others, and her own educational philosophies.
“This bowl has a child figurine with its head missing,” Suellen, my grandmother, explains. “For the longest time, I haven’t used it because I’ve always wanted to have a ceramic artist make a new head for that disabled figure.” The missing head symbolizes far more than just a flaw in the bowl’s design.
It represents her lifelong commitment to elevating and empowering those who might otherwise be disregarded or underestimated due to disability or circumstance.
This drive came from proximity - her younger brother, born in 1953 with Down syndrome at a time when society pushed such children to the margins. “Everybody just said, put him in an institution or don’t pay attention to him,” Suellen recalls of her brother’s birth.
Rather than accepting that cruel societal prejudice, her parents charted a path toward changing public perceptions. Her father, a lawyer, launched The Arc to advocate for the rights and inclusion of those with developmental disabilities.
“It’s because of my father that advocacy group exists here in Colorado,” Suellen says proudly. “He knew as a lawyer, he could do something about this situation rather than just resigning to how things were.”
That formative experience instilled in Suellen a fundamental belief - that with innovative, compassionate education and commitment to accessibility, anyone can find empowerment to live their fullest creative life.
“If you think of things in a stereotypical way, you’ll never create new solutions,” she explains. “But if you start thinking about how to make things accessible for those with disabilities or other challenges, that’s when buildings, curriculums - everything - becomes far more creative.”
For my grandmother, this inclusive creative spirit blossomed from her own rebellious, hands-on childhood. Despite teachers’ insistence, she refused to learn cursive writing if it meant compromising her beloved printed style and embellishments like dots-as-circles.
“I told my teachers, ‘I’m not going to write cursive. I’m going to keep doing this printing’,” she recounts. “I wanted to make my printing skills excellent since that form of writing resonated with me.”
This impulse to find one’s own creative voice, to embrace uniqueness rather than falling in line, remains a core tenet of Suellen’s educational approach decades later. She delights in children’s innate inventiveness when untethered from rigid expectations, encouraging them to explore their interests and orientations organically.“Little kids are totally doing things originally if they’re not told how to do them,” my grandmother affirms.
“And that originality is very inspiring - it reminds you not to just do what you’re told, but to find your own authentic way.”
Whether ceramics or writing, textiles or other tactile arts, Suellen’s nurturing guidance is a masterclass in cultivating a lifelong devotion to creative symbiosis - between ability and disability, freedom and discipline, our pasts and our most boldly imaginative futures.
As she adds, with a philosopher’s poignancy, “The idea is - how can you shape someone’s mind by challenging them with problems not necessarily related to any curriculum or grade, but to their own growth and original perspectives?”
EXPERIENCE,
EXPERIENCE,
EXPERIENCING!
The true artist sees the world in unique ways and when given the tools their vision and inspiration can come to life.
Kalyana always had an eye for order as well as unique flair with her final results. As a very small child I gave her paper and crayons everywhere we went. She was always very focused, intent and observant. She took to all arts in all mediums inside and outside, musical, design of her clothes, ideas for her dolls, what to draw and how to place it just so. She had to accessorize everything. First she would observe something and then she was inspired to copy it - until she felt she got it down, usually on paper, then she would redo it in her own “storyboard” way and tweak and accessorize it as her own.
Kalyana would have fantastic creative themes she wanted for all aspects of her life and how she wanted to express herself, from what she wore that day to her placement of her dolls beds or how her birthday party would unfold and all the integrated elements it would take to carry the theme through.
We of course had a blast doing all the decorations, games, outfits, cake and invitations with her to pull off a full project with her vision in mind.
