About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About the artist
About me
Designer based in Chicago
Zakia is a vessel for change - A passionate Creative with a love for process and storytelling through digital and print media. She studied traditional Graphic Design, which is the epicenter of her artistic approach. This led her into a career as an Art Director and Production Artist involving collaboration with Copywriters, Creative Directors, Producers, Strategists, and clients across various industries.
Through these experiences, she’s cultivated a versatile skill set including brand identity, advertising campaigns, OOH material, activation production, collateral, UX/UI design, and book/magazine layout. She excels in turning complex ideas into concise, visually stunning solutions for
multicultural audiences.
Her artistic practice manifests in the mediums of printmaking, woodwork, image manipulation techniques, typography and video documentation. With each piece she creates she explores the nuanced realm of self-exploration. She uses her artistic practice as a display of how courageous and resilient the act of honoring one's life is.
Through these experiences, she’s cultivated a versatile skill set including brand identity, advertising campaigns, OOH material, activation production, collateral, UX/UI design, and book/magazine layout. She excels in turning complex ideas into concise, visually stunning solutions for
multicultural audiences.
Her artistic practice manifests in the mediums of printmaking, woodwork, image manipulation techniques, typography and video documentation. With each piece she creates she explores the nuanced realm of self-exploration. She uses her artistic practice as a display of how courageous and resilient the act of honoring one's life is.
My timeline
6+ years as a creative designer
2018
BFA - Graphic Design
Illinois Institute of Art Chicago
current
third ear
Art director
Conceptualizing 360 campaigns, create moodboards, storyboards, provide insight and feedback on concepts / production.
2022 - 2024
fluent360
Art director
Collaborate with Creative Directors, Copywriters, Producers, and Strategist in conceptualizing and guiding the creation of campaigns, experiential activations and complex user metric inspired projects. Perform quality control for visual elements and ensure assets align with overall brand, concept & messaging. Lead Artistic Direction with keen eye for detail and effective communication in fast paced timelines. Proofing artwork. Daily use of Adobe Suite.
2019 - ONGOING
gumbomedia
art director / graphic designer
Create visually captivating & cohesive designs across various mediums, including print, digital/social media, UX/UI and environmental design. Daily use of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. Brand Identity & Collateral Design.
Gumbo Website
2018 - 2022
luckyprints
production artist
Prepare digital files for printing, color separations, refining artwork, adjusting resolution, and creating print ready files while adhering to technical specifications. Quality control print & film results, printer maintenance, as well as manage projects, files, and orders.
ONGOING
media experience
Jade Short Film 2022 // CCTASI at
Northwestern University
Credit: Assistant Stylist
View Project
Tastemade Series 2023 // Tastemade+
Credit: Field Production Assistant
View Project
I Didn‘t Mean To Go Mental 2023 // Short film
Credit: Assistant Stylist
View Project
Northwestern University
Credit: Assistant Stylist
View Project
Tastemade Series 2023 // Tastemade+
Credit: Field Production Assistant
View Project
I Didn‘t Mean To Go Mental 2023 // Short film
Credit: Assistant Stylist
View Project
2019
Public programming
Spudnik Press Fellowship // Tessellate 2019
Tessellate, a night of collective art making and installation building with the Chicago community. Hybridizing the fellows’ individual artistic practices, Tessellate invites guests to experience a variety of print-based techniques considering collage as a tool for creating narratives.
Through screen printing, paper embossing, risography, and relief printing, guests construct their own prints into never-ending books as part of a collaborative viewing library at Spudnik Press.
Self promoted / created / & marketed.
Tessellate - The Visualist
Tessellate, a night of collective art making and installation building with the Chicago community. Hybridizing the fellows’ individual artistic practices, Tessellate invites guests to experience a variety of print-based techniques considering collage as a tool for creating narratives.
Through screen printing, paper embossing, risography, and relief printing, guests construct their own prints into never-ending books as part of a collaborative viewing library at Spudnik Press.
Self promoted / created / & marketed.
Tessellate - The Visualist
2021
Certifications
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: Chicago Women In Trade 2021
CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADE [APPRENTICE]
With a rich background in the design industry, Zakia’s expertise seamlessly extends into the realm of construction and fabrication. Her skill set encompasses a diverse range of hands-on experiences and technical proficiencies from woodwork , commercial/ residential painting to the intricate processes of sign fabrication and installation. She has crafted abilities to meticulously translate design concepts into tangible structures.
Chicago Women In Trade
CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADE [APPRENTICE]
With a rich background in the design industry, Zakia’s expertise seamlessly extends into the realm of construction and fabrication. Her skill set encompasses a diverse range of hands-on experiences and technical proficiencies from woodwork , commercial/ residential painting to the intricate processes of sign fabrication and installation. She has crafted abilities to meticulously translate design concepts into tangible structures.
Chicago Women In Trade
january 25, 2022
PUBLICATION
In Collaboration with Gumbomedia
Systemic Racism 101: A Visual History of the Impact of Racism in America
Credit: Infographic and Design Arrangement
Systemic Racism 101: A Visual History of the Impact of Racism in America
Credit: Infographic and Design Arrangement
View Book
ongoing
public speaking
Arts & Public Life 2023 Presenter:
Forging Your Own Path
Conscious Conversations Panelist 2024
Gary Comer Youth Center 2022:
Career Day Speaker
Chicago Women In Trade
Guest Speaker 2021
Forging Your Own Path
Conscious Conversations Panelist 2024
Gary Comer Youth Center 2022:
Career Day Speaker
Chicago Women In Trade
Guest Speaker 2021