Location: Tel Aviv, Israel.
Duration: Three years.
Staff: Two plus. Shira Shechter, creative director, graphic designer and illustrator; Dan Anka, administration; plus copy- writers, photographers and graphic artists on demand.
Education: Wizo Canada Institute of Design, Haifa (graphic design and illustration), Honors Graduate, Winner of 1999-2000 award for excellence, plus a scholarship from the Israel-America Fund.
Cultural Influences: Range of eclectic influences based on indigenous art through Middle-Eastern curios, urban design and fashion. I am motivated by contrasts and moved by borders, beauty and words. I love looking at and collecting from old ads and magazines to early twentieth-century packaging, as well as label design, toys and pop culture. I am inspired by artists such as Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Tibor and Maira Kalman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gustav Klimt and Frida Kahlo.
Environment: A haven in the center of bustling Tel Aviv in crazy Israel. The city of Tel Aviv is literally an open museum of the Bauhaus architectural style—just hanging out can be a learning curve. My studio is surrounded by a patio, so it's chock-a-block with daylight (which I need overdoses of to survive). My studio is cool and calm but if you peek through the quiet, you can find gadgets, toys and collections of color on display. Cafe culture plays a big role in my life—that's usually where I meet clients and colleagues.
Philosophy: The combination of passion and professionalism is my basic truth for creation. Trying to reinvent myself in each new project. My approach is influenced by being open to new ideas, diverse projects, different thoughts. It's a privilege for me to be a graphic designer in today's world. I incorporate my love of art in order to create. For me, graphic design combines life and art perfectly—it is my beloved, creative passion.