Meet Anastasiia Glekel | Art Director & Founder of the Branding Agency

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anastasiia Glekel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anastasiia, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
From a childhood, I have always had a strong connection to visual art and creativity. I would often imagine characters from books and draw them, as well as cut and collect beautiful pictures from my mother’s magazines. One of my most vivid memories of my childhood is when I was six years old. I was sitting in my grandparents’ backyard, surrounded by nature and trees, and I could visualize cartoon cats jumping around and playing around the yard. I dreamed of one day creating a computer game with illustrated cats-characters in it or draw comics with all these pictures

When I was a school student, I was interested in all creative and design things. I was always drawing wall posters, comics, and creating design materials for my classmates and studies. Although I didn’t finish Art School, I decided to pursue my passion further by enrolling in a Bachelor degree in Advertising at the University. At the same time, I also joined the Graphic Design Program at the British Higher School of Art and Design.

In addition to my studies, I also spent a lot of time photographing people, nature, and creating art images. This helped me to develop my creative skills and gave me a better understanding of the creative process and feelings

By the time I was studying in the University, I already had a few jobs in the creative industry. I worked in Ad Agencies, PR companies, design studios, and startups. After trying out different fields, I finally found my perfect and most inspiring field – brand identity.

When I moved to the USA, the first thing I did was find a job as an Art Director intern in a well-known international creative agency. This experience was a great confirmation of my skills and talents as a designer and creative thinker. The people I met and the projects I worked on during my time there inspired me to pursue my own creative practice and eventually I founded a branding agency in the USA.

Design – is a language that can connect people of all ages, nationalities and places of living. It is the bridge between people, communities, government, and brands. I am passionate about design and I’m proud to be able to speak this language in both beautiful and effective ways. Design is everywhere and it is a part of my life that I can’t imagine living without.

Brand and graphic design are powerful tools that can have a significant impact on how people think and perceive a company, product, service, person or nation.

Today, I have the privilege of working as a brand designer in a wide range of industries. From food and fashion to AI, medical, and non-profit organizations, I have had the opportunity to gain a wealth of experience and knowledge. I often feel like an encyclopedia, as I have tons of information about different businesses, projects, and people.

My primary goal as a brand designer is to show the target audience how they can use my clients’ products or services to solve their problems and reach their goals. This mission is incredibly inspiring to me, and I strive to make sure that my designs accurately reflect the message that my clients want to convey.

What should our readers know about your business?
As I mentioned in the first anwer – My choice of being a brand designer and artist wasn’t random or just because it is trendy or well-paid. And I am proud to say that I have been in the creative professional field since my student period. It is a part of me, like breathing. I never felt like it was my job. It is a kind of hobby that is growing into professional business.

I strongly agree with the statement that delegation of tasks is essential for growth and success in the creative professional field. As a brand designer and artist, I have experienced first-hand the challenges of trying to manage multiple projects while also handling the design, management and accounting process. It can be overwhelming, and often leads to burnout. Once I learned to delegate part of the work, the process became much smoother and I was able to cultivate a successful business. Delegating work is a key factor in managing a successful business and is essential for growth.

I believe that the key of success in all industries starts with the love for what you are doing. This is a simple yet powerful concept that can be applied to any field of work. When you are passionate about something, you are more likely to dedicate yourself to it and strive to become an expert in the area.

The first step is to educate yourself and communicate with experienced professionals in the industry. This will help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to be successful. Additionally, focus on the quality of your product or service. Don’t be afraid to put in the extra effort to make sure that you are delivering the best possible outcome.

Finally, never focus solely on the money. Sure, financial rewards are great, but they should not be the only motivation. Instead, focus on the joy and satisfaction that comes from doing something you love. Work hard and don’t give up, and you will eventually see the results.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
From the ocean in Santa Monica to the mountains in Sequoia National Park! I’d grab some coffee in Blue Bottle, salmon avocado toast in Tartine. I love nature and healthy food a lot. Also I’d visit the Broad museum and have some shopping in the Grove

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband – he ALWAYS supports all my ideas, my goals and helps me a lot with my business. He believes in me and my talent

My parents – they supported all my ambitions and gave me a chance to get high-quality education in the field that I really love

FredFarid – creative agency in Los Angeles. It was my first working place in the USA. They helped me a lot in my growth and in my self-awareness as an art director in the US market

Two Universities – British Higher School of Art and Design and RUDN – and all my tutors that helped me develop my skills that I can use everywhere in the world

My friends, who support me and my crazy ideas

My team! By their help I can provide high-quality design services for our clients

The USA – this country makes me powerful, unstoppable and confident

Website: https://www.glekel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.glekel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aglekel/

Image Credits
Eugene Glekel