Meet Zuzia Kudasik | Freelance Sustainable Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zuzia Kudasik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zuzia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
While going through art school pursuing my Bachelor’s in Graphic Design, I realized the severe lack of environmental consideration throughout the design process. My passion for sustainable living began to trickle its way into my work until eventually, I was able to focus on creating sustainable design work. Since this is a rather new niche within the design industry, I decided to start my own business to push the boundaries of design and to allow myself to innovate outside industry standards. Overall, my mission is to bring a sustainable perspective to this industry and work with others to help reduce waste through thoughtful and meaningful design applications.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a sustainable Graphic Designer, I am one of the few professionals in my field that considers the energy output and materiality of all of my design work. In tracking this information, I aim to reduce my waste and energy outputs and promote ecological sustainability intentionally through design. I noticed a lack of consideration for materials and sustainability in other designers’ work, and I saw the opportunity to do better. My professional career is still blossoming, and I would never regret the years of work that I put in to get here. For me, this process was not easy, as I started working at an agency before I realized my passion. This led me to have to leave and reconfigure my goals and my career to align with my passions. Along the way, I learned that the planet is always worth protecting and that the impact that design work has on people should stretch to the environment as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver is an amazing city that truly has something for everyone! I would recommend going to Meow Wolf for some fun and unique artwork, which can suck you in for an entire day. I would also make sure to visit the Denver Botanical Gardens to take some unique photos and learn about the native plants from Colorado! Lastly, I would take a day trip to Salida, Colorado, and go hiking or rafting to let Colorado’s nature and wildlife speak for themselves!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This industry is reliant on collaboration, and without the support of my college, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, I would not have been able to push myself and my skills as much as I did. This school allowed me to grow as an artist while being supported by the best community of Graphic Designers. Their dedication to my experimental methods inspired and encouraged me to continue my “non-traditional” path. I would also like to give a shout-out to my family and my partner, for always supporting me and my artwork, and for listening to my constant discoveries about the world!

Website: https://zuziakudasikgd.com/

Instagram: @zuzia.creates

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzia-kudasik-3b68311b7/

Image Credits
Image Credits to James Reiman (“Which Planet do you Choose” and “Poster Triptych”)