Daria Lebedyeva: Prioritizing Love and Happiness
Graphic Designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|09 Oct 2024
For Daria Lebedyeva, Product Stylist and Photographer, Graphic Designer, and unofficial Professional Enthusiast, the most important thing is that every life decision be aligned with her values. “Every day, I try my best to be very kind to myself and make myself happy,” she says. “I really prioritize love and happiness in my life. It just makes sense to me. Why are we here if not to be happy? This personal philosophy is why I love deeply, read with pleasure, experiment with my art, and find joy in every day.”
Lebedyeva was born in Ukraine and lived there until she was 20, but she had her sights set on exploring the world. “If I am being honest, I always knew that living in my home country was not something I wanted,” she says. “I grew up watching my parents and almost everyone around me struggle financially. So, I dedicated my whole school career to getting into a university that would let me study abroad on a scholarship. This influenced my work in many ways. I am, like many immigrants, even though I left by choice, looking for ways to connect with my roots, childhood, and upbringing.”
She also learned how to value beauty in all shapes and forms. “Little things like early morning walks, flowers blooming in spring, and people-watching at my local beach on a Saturday morning inspire so much of my work,” Lebedyeva says.
"The Lovely Bones", Daria Lebedyeva
Lebedyeva’s unofficial title of “Professional Enthusiast” comes from her childhood ambition to dive into everything creative. “I wanted to be a million things when I was a kid, and this stayed with me,” she says. “I wrote ‘books,’ went to an art school on the weekends, did digital drawing, and briefly learned how to play guitar.” She still dabbles in many artistic pursuits, especially creative writing, and has published a short story. “When I think about it, I still can’t believe I earn my living with creative work,” Lebedyeva says. “My younger self would be so happy. I feel like I’ve done her proud.”
She also has some advice for designers looking to break into the field. “Look for other sources of inspiration that aren’t graphic design to differentiate your work,” she says. “Read, watch TV and movies that make you feel things, go for walks and look around you, visit an art gallery or museum, or do a random collaging secession with some old magazines.” Lebedyeva also encourages novice designers to find a community of like-minded peers to bounce ideas off. “Learning to lean into other designers and be okay with getting feedback and critiques is so important in this industry,” she says.
Lebedyeva also believes in the importance of stepping away from screens and getting some well-needed downtime, especially to keep burnout at bay. “Every morning, I have two to three hours of uninterrupted off-screen time,” she says. “I wake up early, go for a walk, chat with my dad, listen to a podcast, and read a book. This helps me reset and reminds me that life doesn’t only consist of work.”
Submit your work for Indigo Design Award competition
