ELYA STUMBAUGH
Elya Stumbaugh is a graphic designer and multimedia artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Design at its best connects and enriches our experience of the world —something she constantly strives for in her work as a designer. She loves experimenting with different mediums in her work, and, when she can, combining her illustration experience with her designs.
SALTWATER
Saltwater is an Itameshi (Italian-Japanese fusion) seafood brand designed to stand out in crowded grocery aisles. Its visual identity balances simplicity with boldness, combining strong geometric forms and delicate details inspired by woodblock stamps. A primary black and white palette reinforces a sense of quality associated with luxury brands while cutting through the saturated colors of competing products.
GREEN, BROWN, ORANGE AND PINK MAGAZINE
GBOP showcases and celebrates the diversity of Chicago’s local artists and creative community. It utilizes the L (CTA Loop) as a unifying theme, acknowledging the fact that many local artists use the L to move through the city and connect. The final design draws inspiration from various qualities of the train: its movement, color cues, sound, and even structural elements like the rounded windows—all while keeping a sophisticated, readable layout.
ANTHOLOGY
A result of long-distance friendship full of handwritten letters and a mutual love of reading, Anthology puts a humorous spin on “snail mail” for young adults and teens. The final design pairs medieval inspired illustrations with modern stationary, creating an approachable design for those who want to connect offline.
MUSIC IS ALIVE!!!
Music is Alive!!! samples from preexisting albums to create a new, visually compelling and cohesive album cover and merchandise system. The resulting concept (Music is Alive!!! by Allies and Friends [and enemies]) explores how design can express community and bridge the gap between Holly Near’s softer, introspective sound and the bold, playful energy of Sid Feller and Company. The repeated exclamation marks celebrate Feller’s exuberant style, while a restrained color palette reflects Near’s contemplative tone.
