I was tasked with writing and designing a biography for a chosen design mentor. I created a custom-designed brochure based on the theory, aesthetic, and ideals of the internationally-renowned Astrid Stavro as my mentor for this work. To pay homage to Stavro’s unique design style I implemented many of her signature design elements such as grids, negative space, as well as her infamous use of bold colours. I created this brochure using Adobe Illustrator.
Language of Design
Italian-born graphic designer Astrid Stavro is a multifaceted talent who has made her mark in the design community. From her wide variety of works, Stavro designs in all mediums, from typefaces to exhibitions, from magazine layouts to cereal boxes; Stavro has truly done it all. However, this is not necessarily what has set her apart from other designers throughout her career. Due to her affinitive love for language, literature, and philosophy, Stavro has a critical approach to communicating through design. “Language and design are as indivisible as words and music in a song”.
Stavro’s unique concept-driven approach to design has come from her background. Born to printing-press owners in Trieste, Stavro grew up with a love of books and literature. This love for language made her originally move to America to attend Boston University to study English and Philosophy. It wasn’t until she returned home one summer that a friend of hers introduced her to Interview magazine. This was the catalyst that steered her towards pursuing an education in design. Stavro went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts at Central Saint Martins in London before attending the Royal College of Art and graduating with a Master of Arts. The designer began to gain traction in her career and eventually co-founded the Astrid Stavro Studio, as well as co-founding and becoming the creative director of Atlas. Stavro is also an elected member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI), the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD), and a partner of Pentagram.
