Meet Claire Selinske | Graphic Designer

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

Hi Claire, why did you pursue a creative career?
Growing up, my mother worked at Paramount Studios, where she managed the facilities in the early 2000s. As a child I would often go with her to work on days I had off from school or was “sick”. While there, I was exposed to art in many different forms, from movie posters, to set designs, and everything in-between. My creative curiosity started then and has never stopped. I have always had art as a tool to express myself and when it came time to decide on a career, I chose a path that would be fulfilling and foster my creativity.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My creative career started during college when I interned for the Academy of Motion Pictures and worked under my amazing mentor and friend Krislam Chin. This was the first time I got to work on outward facing projects as well as work with a team of designers. As an intern with the Academy, I was also enrolled in the Academy Gold Rising Program which connects students and young creatives to industry professionals. Through this extensive program, I got to meet and work with so many amazing creative professionals and was exposed to the inner workings of the entertainment industry. I quickly learned what a graphic designers role could be in the entertainment world. Through this program I was connected with Dawn Baillie, an incredible woman and mentor, who gave me so much wisdom and perceptive of what it takes to work in the industry.

I currently work as a Graphic Designer at BLT Communications based in Hollywood, California. I think what sets me apart from other designers is that I am able to work in multiple digital design mediums as well as use my strategic thinking to elevate and expand projects beyond normal creative scopes. I thrive in collaborative environments and I am lucky enough to constantly be working on new and exciting projects with my fellow colleagues. We’ve got to create beautiful, expansive and successful multimedia campaigns that have been shared worldwide. All this to say, it has not been an easy road working in the industry. We’ve had to persevere working through not only Covid, but the writers strikes as well, which is no small feet yet we have still come out on top.

Since working in the creative entertainment industry for the last five years, I’ve learned so many lessons in regards to how important effective communication is in design as well as working with a team. I’ve learned to not be afraid to take risks and that your work does not define who you are as a person. I hope my story can inspire young designers, especially women, to start building their own creative communities. Reach out to that old professor or colleague, build a creative community around you that can elevate you as a professional, but more importantly create a strong collaborative environment for your artist practices to thrive in. Your passion for design and art can be take you to unimaginable places, don’t be afraid to dream big!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was born and raised in Pasadena/Altadena and have lived here my whole life. I normally would have a lot more items to add to an itinerary for showing someone around my area but the Eaton Fire has taken so much from my family and community. But one things for sure is that Altadena’s heart and soul remains. Our resilient town still has so much to do and see as we heal.

I would start the day with grabbing a coffee from Unincorporated Coffee Roasters in Altadena and then drive down to the lower Arroyo Seco area to take a nice stroll. There are numerous trails all framed by beautiful oak trees, and you’ll also get a great taste of Pasadena’s neighborhoods and rich architecture. After that drive back up to Altadena and have them checkout our local library that survived that is a peaceful retreat away from the LA chaos. Then would head over to Miya’s Thia food on Lake Ave, that recently reopened, where you’ll find the kindest people and most delicious food. After some food would then over to Good Neighbor Bar for a drink and a quick cry. I would end the night with a drive down to Highland Park to have some drinks and have some fun at Barcade.

As a bonus I would also recommend checking out our local art museums, and galleries such as The Norton Simon, and The Huntington Gardens.

Needless to say there is so much to do in the Altadena and Pasadena area. It’s so important that people come and support our local businesses. I hope this itinerary inspires people to come visit! Our beautiful community will rebuild. Altadena forever. Thank you!

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?
If I could climb to the tallest mountain and shout out anyone in my life, it would have to be my parents. They have always supported my dreams and delusions, instilled hope and optimism into my life and have nurtured a loving environment for me to grow into the woman I am today. Both themselves are artists and as creativity runs through their veins, so does their love for people and community. They’ve shown me the importance of empathy and connecting to the world around you. All these things I carry with me in my career and life. Other than my family, I also want to credit the arts program I was in at PHS (Pasadena HIgh School) that taught me the basics and showed me I could have a career in the arts. I also want to shoutout The Light Bringer Project in Pasadena, where I interned with early on in my creative life. Also shoutout to ArtCenter College of Design for instilling in me foundational design principles that I use everyday, as well as gifting me with so many opportunities that let me explore and push the boundaries of my creativity. And last, but not least I have to shout out my love for video games, which opened my world and got me excited to create and design. My passion for the arts and my community has shaped me into the confident communicator and artist I am today.

Website: https://claireselinske.com

Instagram: @claireselinskedesign

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-selinske-aa8a70198

Image Credits
All taken by me except for the screenshot taken of my work on my companies website