✶ hey friends! ✶
I’m Alyssa an illustrator, graphic designer, activist, & fashion enthusiast ready to change the world. A proud z-illenial in the last of the 90’s babies, when I’m away from the screen you can find me in a bookshop, cafe, park or protest.
I use my skills to create work which amplifies diverse stories that inspires others to make change in their communities. Creating meaningful impact is something that is extremely important to me. As an advocate for prison reform, upholding human rights, facilitating climate reform and countless other initiatives, I’m eager for my work to aid in the creation and implementation of solutions to these issues.
I am a firm believer that taking individual action is a catalyst for mass change. Whether creating, boycotting, educating, or protesting, when tens, hundreds, millions or billions of people decide to take individual action, it leads to change on a much larger scale, whether that’s the intention or not. So I challenge you to do something new today whether that’s being open to a new perspective, speaking up when you see injustice, or simply saying hi to a stranger. You never know, you could change a life or even the world.
- Alyssa Monet
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Ok so how’d I get here ?
Well honestly, a career in the arts was the last place I thought I’d be. Starting at Temple University as a Biochemistry major I had dreams of emulating Maggie Pierce and going to medical school. Outside of academics though I had always had a passion for crafting, creating art, music, dancing, or enjoying fantasy books and films. I began to find myself surrounded by creatives who were shocked at my choice in career.
By the end of my freshman year I was convinced I was on the wrong track but I didn’t know what the right one was yet, until I stumbled on a silly little comic page called @eggandbee. Chronicling life in derpy comics Abby Nguyen Steinour had me enthralled. In between comics Abby posted some of the work they had been doing in the GAID program and I was so excited by all the things they were working on. That was the first time I really discovered design. It combined all sorts of creative thinking in a way I had never seen before. So, right before my junior year, after feeling out of place for so long I took a leap and applied to switch to Tyler School of Art to major in Design. I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Since then, I’ve graduated with my Bachelors in Graphic Design and Entrepreneurial Studies from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. 🥳 Subsequently I moved back home to Brooklyn, New York where I currently reside taking on freelance work and commissioned projects as I build my design studio. As a designer in a city like New York I’m constantly thinking of all the ways we could improve this city from accessibility to pedestrian and bike infrastructure to increasing public and permanent art displays. I hope to build a network which allows me to play a role in implementing some of these changes and otherwise uplifting my community.
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Screaming Where are the Black Designers ‘til somethin’ change!
Where are the Black Designers is a volunteer-run, non-profit design advocacy organization created to make space for Black Designers and creators and decolonize design. According to the 2019 AIGA Design Census, only 3% of designers across all fields are Black.
I hope to create space for Black voices and experiences to be heard wherever I go. Many places I go, especially in professional or educational settings, I’ve been the only person who looks like me. I want to change that and be an example of Black excellence and success to encourage my family, friends, and little Black kids everywhere to chase their dreams, take up space, and be their most authentic selves while doing it.
✶ My Fav Books ✶
