Kristina Shumilina
Graphic Design MFA
Boston University
Specialisms: Graphic Design / Digital Design / Typography
Location: Boston, United States
Kristina Shumilina
First Name: Kristina
Last Name: Shumilina
Specialisms: Graphic Design / Digital Design / Typography
Sectors:
My Location: Boston, United States
University / College: Boston University
Course / Program Title: Graphic Design MFA
About
I am a visual communicator passionate about expressing complex ideas through graphic design. I recently graduated with an MFA in Graphic Design from Boston University. I also hold a Master’s in Communication Design from Moscow City University, Russia, and a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Moscow State University, Russia. My professional journey includes a marketing retraining, years of experience as a correspondent, freelance design and marketing work, and a recent internship with AFS in New York City. As a Fulbright Grantee and Muskie Fellow, I’m committed to continuous learning, exploring new mediums, and pushing the boundaries of graphic design. My design process is deeply rooted in thorough research, iterative development, and the concept of multilayering — whether it's a straightforward physical layering as an art technique or a more complex and metaphorical layering of meanings or "creativities". My favorite projects are those that challenge me to experiment and innovate. Currently, I’m especially passionate about integrating emerging technologies like AI and AR into my work.
Create New Layer explores multilayering as a design approach at various levels, from physical to metaphorical. This project both analyzes and challenges my personal design methodology, examining its adaptability to current design trends and emerging technologies. Conceptually, it’s divided into three logical units — verbal, visual, and collaborative. The verbal and visual layers investigate how language activates visuals and vice versa. The collaborative layer, in my definition, is broad and includes creative collaboration with AI, "collaboration" with tools and technology (such as AR), and collaboration with people and audiences. One of the key elements is the TipArt Type System, a flexible typographic tool developed as a playful and versatile display typeface. It began with an interest in modular systems and evolved into an exploration of open-ended system design — predesigned yet flexible, thus offering endless possibilities (layers). Additional features include an AR experience, a complex color coding system, intended as an extra layer of depth for the highly interested reader, and bilingualism, with the text both in English and Russian, reflecting the multilayered thought process of a bilingual individual.
Competitions
