I'm not only a
graphic designer, btw.
graphic designer, btw.
I’m an illustrator, a photographer, a video editor, an art director, and a musician, too!
My name is Alex Maniak and I am a 27 year old multimedia artist and graphic designer, living in and working out of Detroit, Michigan. I have a Bachelor's of Design from Wayne State University. Alongside studying for my degree, I have spent a lot of time playing music and touring around the world, which has rewarded me with unique insight on market trends, social media management, a true understanding of freelance and remote work, and most importantly, an eagerness to create even more.
I’m happily married to my husband, who works in marketing and music as well. I have two cats named Goo and Kyo. I grew up 20 minutes south of Detroit. I play all sorts of instruments. I am a big fan of the spring and the fall. I love to write. I'm currently upping my culinary arts game. You get the deal. So, about the art...
My Process & Proficiencies
My process is simple, no matter the creation. We find out what we want to communicate, why we want to communicate it, and we take whatever steps necessary to make it happen. I can design both for print and web, create vector illustrations as well as traditional illustrations, take photographs, film and edit together videos, make simple animations for things like spotify canvases... I make music, and can even create soundscapes for adwork and vertical videos (hello Tik Tok!).
I love toying with all of the mediums of art I can to synthesize them into unique and eye catching designs. After all, design is all around us. What's the last thing that made you stop and look?
We can cut and paste flowers together and wrap them in foil and overlay type for your mom’s steampunk wedding invitations. We can make invitations for your murder mystery night by modify bloody fingerprints into a psychedelic waterfall. I love mixing mediums together, fusing photography, illustration, and typography. The sky is the limit with graphic design, and if I don’t know how to do it, I'm keen to learn.
From conceptualizing to creating, I’m at your service!
My Education and Work History
As of December 2020, I am happily graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit with a Bachelors of Design. I studied design and played music alongside one another, touring the country and making assets from the road. I worked for the College of Education's Kinesiology department from 2017 through the early stages of the 2020 pandemic. I now work remotely part-time video editing for the COE's PLANE grant, creating physical literacy and nutrition education materials for kids with Autism in the city of Detroit (and their families).
My Ethics
I am a team player. While I can take on a multitude of rolls, I love (and prefer) working with other creatives, divvying up tasks to make the best end-result possible. I believe full collaborative efforts are important to meet deadlines and to work efficiently within brand guidelines.
I believe that graphic design is, before anything else, the trade of efficiently visually communicating ideas, and I take criticism as such.
Kindness, empathy, and open communication are very important to me. I believe that all people are important, no matter their gender or sexual identity, heritage, or physical or cognitive abilities.