“In the middle of the first year at Law School I realised law is not what I want to do in the future, and I’m just wasting four years of my life. I decided to apply for graphic design a week before the application deadline and somehow I got in. So far it’s been the best decision of my life.”
In 2018, Julia moved from her hometown Warsaw to London, where she now studies graphic design at the University of Arts London. In the face of the recent political developments in Poland, she decided to use her art to express her frustration and raise awareness about the situation.
When did you start making art?
I know this sounds very cliché, but I started drawing when I was very young. I was mostly copying drawings, and I was terrible at it in the beginning. When I was in high school, I received my graphic tablet and got into a phase of very realistic digital drawings. Now I am slowly trying to get away from it, and explore different styles.
What do you think digital art offers that analogue art does not?
I love both, but I think digital art gives you more opportunities in the sense that you can always undo what you do not like, change colours, add layers, and in general explore more possibilities. I also really love that it is so easy to reproduce; you can always print hundreds of your designs when you do them digitally. With analogue art this is a whole process, you have to scan it or somehow make it look good in pictures. With digital art, you see straightaway what people will see on their screens afterwards. Right now, I believe digital art is growing because everything is going digital. You can quickly upload a picture online without having to worry about the quality or finding the right angle to take a picture of your final painting.
What would you say is your signature as a graphic designer?
My work is mostly illustration oriented. I wouldn’t say I’m set on a certain style, I’m still experimenting with what I’m doing. But illustration is very much at the centre of it, alongside with imaginary-based visualising. I am terrible at photography, which is why I think illustration is my main focal point.
What made you decide to use your art to convey political messages?
Now that I am in my twenties, I am very aware of the political situation in Poland, which is not great at the moment. While I am lucky enough to be in a different country, my friends and family still live in Poland, and I feel like it is my obligation to use the voice that I have to spread awareness about what is happening. Especially for all the international friends I have, because I think many people do not realise how bad the situation is. And it’s really sad to me, because even though I’m not considering going back, Poland is still my home country, and seeing what is happening truly frightens me. The least I can do without being there or being able to protest and get actively involved, is to express my frustration through my art.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working for a fashion magazine, ASBO, which pretty much came as a surprise. I am working with a group of friends from university; we do a lot of projects together. It started with a short film for a university project, and we decided that we complement each other very well in terms of working styles and areas of expertise. Now we are working on videos and editorials for this magazine. In the future, we are planning to design a new website for them and I was discussing some illustrative editorials, but I have no idea what is going to come out of this yet. It is very hard to work right now, because trying to organise anything during Covid-19, especially photoshoots, is a nightmare.
What do you want to achieve in the future?
Ultimately, I would like to have my own design studio, possibly with the people I am working with now, after we graduate. I have always wanted to work in fashion as well, so maybe have my own fashion brand. This is a little bit farfetched but hopefully when I get into the design industry, this will happen, and this is probably my biggest dream. I have always wanted to do that.
Good luck for all your projects!
You can find Julia's art on her Instagram profile (@jvkdesign) or on her website.
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