Hey y’all! My name is Keiani Allen and I’m an Art Director and Graphic Designer. Above all, I’m a storyteller.
Committed to inclusivity, community, and diversity, I’ve always wanted to tell stories that not only challenge audiences to think but are visually captivating too. That’s when I decided to learn every software and skill under the sun from the Adobe Creative Suite to 3D Modeling and Printmaking. Every medium is an avenue to tell a story - the fun part for me is deciding how to tell it. Even an idea for a flyer or an ad campaign feels like an immersive open world in my mind.
Graduating from NYU in May of 2024, I have a degree in Integrated Design and Media, an amalgamation of technology and art. My coursework spanned multiple industries, taking classes in audio design, motion capture, game design, and more, expanding my skills as a “renaissance person” even further.
In this stage of my professional journey, I hope to work at a design studio or advertising firm that aligns with my focus on exploration of mediums, attention to craft, and diversity in media.
In my free time, you can find me immersed in a speculative novel, geeking out at a fine arts museum, or playing Animal Crossing on my Nintendo Switch.
My Values aka The 3C’s
Curiosity
The world is a curious place… and I love learning about it. That’s why all my work starts with a question. Who? What? When? Where? And most importantly: why? I feel such a profound desire to uncover the truths of the world by researching and listening, pulling that knowledge into what I create. A book, an article, a video, a class, a language - it doesn’t matter. I want to learn everything the world has to offer. Life-long learner FOR REAL.
Craftsmanship
For me, craftsmanship is a two-part concept: skill in a particular medium and an ability to refine something, resulting in an increase of quality.
Skill: I spent a lot of my middle school to college years learning so many different mediums like illustration, graphic design, photography, printmaking, etc. Why? Because different mediums can be used to tell an endless array of stories and I want to be a expansive storyteller, first and foremost.
Quality: Some of the best craftspeople in the world, Ray and Charles Eames, once said, “The details are not the details, they make the design.” I take pride in being the person who’s paying attention to the little things, painstakingly making sure every t is crossed and i is dotted. The big ideas are fun but it’s in the details where good design becomes great design and good ideas become game-changers.
Cohesion
Dramatic since childhood, I was always drawn to large-scale productions like ballet and opera shows, protests and parades, and open world games and animated movies. There’s something about the way each piece of a puzzle comes together to make a final scene that mystified me years ago and strikes me deeply now. Whether it’s 100 assets or only two assets, I strive for cohesion in every project: big or small. Clear and coherent concepts* at every step of the way.
*I love alliteration. Can you tell?
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