illkya is a (creative)(ambitious)

latina multi-disciplinary graphic designer working in philadelphia hailing from the jersey shore. 🐚 
she is available for freelance projects.
she is currently creating at mighty engine.

her focus includes editorial design, typography, and photography. she would like to work more with art direction, book cover design, design for music, and branding & identity. she uses her intrinsic sensibility to create evocative work. she channels her love for art, music, and culture to inform her process.

illkya also believes in beauty as a driving force for transformation— beauty of all kinds— the overlooked, unconventional, traditional, rough-around-the-edges— the beauty that is taking refuge within the shadows— and beyond.

illkya holds a bfa in graphic design from the university of the arts in philadelphia. 

during her down time, illkya enjoys going to concerts, surveying the culinary scene, staying attuned to the local community via art & design events, photographing the world around her and taking self-portraits.

¿curious for more?

for one-offs and self-initiated design you haven’t seen check out her metaphysical studio ⤷ @illkyaa ⤶

if you want to get a little more intimate...
feel free to follow on my personal IG for glimpes of my life, inspiration, etc. ⤷ @gothprima ⤶

download resume

hablo español. ︎︎

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to." —Jim Jarmusch

find me

are.na
behance (ancient work)
instagram 
linkedin 
vimeo
working not working

collab?
comment?
critique?

please get in touch. ︎

services

album artwork & design

graphic design
concept development
branding & identity
print & digital
social media design
creative direction
art direction
photography
film/video

skills

adobe creative suite
typography
typesetting in spanish
editorial design
html, css, wordpress
drawing & illustration
painting

experience

mighty engine, philadelphia, pa
graphic designer, feb ‘21 — current

starr restaurants, philadelphia, pa
lead production coordinator, june ‘19 — feb ‘21

curious ways (fka back to front design) 
london, england
freelance graphic designer, nov ‘18 — dec ‘18

gdloft, philadelphia, pa
design intern, sep ‘18 — dec ‘18

underground pool, philadelphia, pa
lead designer, sep ‘17 — mar ‘18

sedso design, philadelphia, pa
design intern, may ‘17 — aug ‘17

notable

crafted/
member showcase, philadelphia, pa
featured artist, oct ‘21 

crafted/ 
member showcase, philadelphia, pa
featured artist, feb ‘20 

the university of the arts
mentor match up, philadelphia, pa
volunteer, feb ‘20

the bridge magazine, issue 3,
philadelphia, pa
featured contributor, april ‘19

fight for human rights t-shirt campaign, philadelphia, pa
t-shirt designer, dec ‘18

designphiladelphia, philadelphia, pa
volunteer, sep ‘18


nj mega meet, atlantic city, nj
featured photographer, may ‘17

“this is my philly” | spells writing lab workshop
aigaphilly, philadelphia, pa
volunteer, sep ‘16

organizations

crafted/, philadelphia, pa
general member, nov ‘19 — present

design activist institute, philadelphia, pa
general member, aug ‘18 — present

aigaphilly, philadelphia, pa
general member, sep ‘16 — present