elyn kazarian

Stillness Within Every Piece: Q&A with Graphic Designer Elyn Kazarian

Use other peoples’ negativity as your fuel to create something positive.

Elyn Kazarian is a designer currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Her work provides an atmosphere of orchestrated pulse which effects people in a subliminal way. 

what is your craft? My heart will always be in the arts. Right now, I work as a graphic designer and creative director within the music industry, but who knows where I'll be in the coming years.

what are you most afraid of? I'm most afraid of not living up to my full potential. 

where do you get your drive from? My drive primarily comes from music. Besides nature, it's one of the few things that keeps me constantly curious.

what does mindfulness mean to you? Mindfulness to me means being aware of yourself, your abilities and potential, while also being aware of your surroundings and how you're affecting it. It's important to stay open minded, especially towards those around you.

what role does stillness play in your life and art? Stillness actually has always been an important aspect to my life and art. I never talk about it, especially in regards to my work, but it's there within every piece I create. People don't realize how powerful stillness is. Sometimes when I'm listening to music, the most catching moments for me are those exact moments of stillness in between the notes.

name up to 3 emerging visual artists, designers, musicians that inspire you right now. They all happen to be musicians: Innanet James, Smino, and The Code.

what is a book you have read / talk you have heard / video you have seen that has impacted your outlook on your life and art in the past year? There are 2 TED talks that I recommend: Janine Shepherd: A broken body isn't a broken person and Ramona Pierson: An unexpected place of healing.

what is a mantra or affirmation you are working on this year? Use other peoples' negativity as your fuel to create something positive.

how do you stay woke (awake/aware) on a daily basis? I listen.