***Olya Belleri, Tan Lines’ Lead Graphic Designer***

Meet Olya Belleri, Beacon Quarterly’s lead graphic designer for the Tan Lines issue. Olya, currently residing in Portland, showcased her specialty in custom typography when she was with us, in addition to adding her own flair and vast experience from the marketing industry. With a great eye and attention to detail, Olya has a talent for bringing a vision and story to life, through her graphic design work. Today we re-visit Olya’s time with us, highlighting everything we love about her- especially how she spoke our language when it comes capturing and combining words with visual art.

1. Could you introduce our readers with a little bit about who you are and what being a graphic designer and visual artist means to you?

I’m a graphic designer with a business and marketing background. Originally, I’m from Russia, but for the last 5 years I’ve been living in Portland, OR. As a graphic designer, I mostly focus on custom typography. I was intrigued by a graphic design career because it lets me use my experience in marketing and be creative at the same time. I enjoy helping businesses communicate their vision, ideas, and products to their customers through images, color and typography.

2. It goes without question that since you were the graphic lead for Tan Lines, what does the term Tan Lines actually mean for you?

Back in 2018 when I was working on the Tan Lines issue I had to think about many things associated with tan lines — sun light, shadows, UV index, sunburns, skin tones, even skin imperfections. Now, in the end of 2020 when I hear about tan lines all I want to picture is a vacation somewhere tropical.

3. What strengths do you think you brought to the Tan Lines issue?

I hope that I contributed my typographic skills and attention to details.

4. What did you find challenging when starting your role within Beacon and how did you manage to get past it?

I loved every aspect of being Lead Graphic Designer at Beacon. I enjoyed how much trust was bestowed on me, how much independence I had, and how much support I received. Critique was always very inspiring and professional. I loved working with highly creative, talented and fun people. The most challenging part for me was to find a style for the issue that would connect all the different art projects. All thanks to the editor-in-chief Cha-cha Sands, with her guidance and design sense I managed to create a color palette that emphasized the individuality of each artist, while also allowing them to be seen as a whole.

5. What was your favorite design component that you contributed to Tan Lines?

I love custom typography, so I enjoyed creating the headlines for each editorial piece. They all are quite unique and say much more than the text alone would. I think the typographic solution for Tami Fiore’s poetry that we put on the back cover is very contemporary and caries a very appropriate mood for the issue.

6. What design process did you go through within Tan Lines and how has it changed since your time with Beacon?

I would first brainstorm to understand the message of each art project and decide how to highlight its unique style. Then I would share my thoughts and sketches with the team. After getting some feedback from the team I would ether revise and polish my ideas, or start over and rethink them. Since I left Beacon I’ve been working as a freelance designer and sometimes miss the constructive critique I used to get from the Beacon team!

7. How have you applied your Beacon journey towards your career path and what did you learn from your overall experience?

During my internship at Beacon I learned a lot about how to work with other creatives. I think I got a lot from the opportunity to do such a large undertaking, putting elements from various sources together to form a cohesive whole, and working with a creative team. I’m pretty proud of the work I’ve done for Beacon. I bring the Tan Lines issue to my job interviews and show it to my potential clients as one of my portfolio projects.

8. Is there anything you would have done differently, perhaps for a particular design that you don’t resonate to?

I love each design solution of the Tan Lines issue, but today I would do every single page different. Graphic design is like music. My favorite song today is different from what I listened a year ago. This is also the case with fonts, colors, moods, ideas, layouts. I am not cemented in one style. I evolve, change, and sometimes start over from scratch.

Do not forget to check out all of Olya’s work in the Tan Lines issue, which is currently available to preview online!

You can also find Olya on her website: olyabelleri.com