Hello, I'm Kayla Volner

Concept & Story: 

Stagnation is a powerful piece of work that comes from a very significant and personal time in my life. In 2023, while I held my first design job creating photo albums, I often heard discouraging voices saying, "you can't." They made me feel my art wasn't enough to succeed in the design world. I felt trapped, as well as overwhelmed by these outside voices and my own confusion about my path. This piece reflects that sadness and my strong desire to prove them wrong. It captures a common feeling of being stuck, where moving forward seems impossible, but also highlights the crucial moment of choosing to break free. That year, driven by the wish to make an impact and reject limits, I quit that job and returned to finish my degree after a 7-year break. I proved that my creativity knows no bounds and that I alone can set my limits. 

Design Intent & Execution:

My goal was to show the mental and emotional barriers that block progress. The word "Stagnation" is central to this piece; it serves as both text and a key design element. I chose the words like "stuck," "locked," "dead," "despair," and "entropy" and organized them to build a heavy, almost impenetrable barrier around the central silhouette. This careful arrangement of text turns language into a visible barrier, reflecting the heavy burden of negative thoughts and limitations. This represents how she feels; these thoughts press against her, keeping her in place and stopping her from moving forward. 

The faceless silhouette symbolizes everyone who struggles with this feeling, including me. She turns away from the harsh words, seemingly wishing to go in the right direction, but her stance hides her deep emotional struggle. The tension in the piece is important: The smooth, clean outline of the figure stands in stark contrast to the rough, broken typography. This contrast mirrors the inner battle of wanting freedom while feeling trapped by hidden emotional and psychological barriers. 

Technical Details: 

This piece was created using Adobe Illustrator on a desktop computer. The control provided by these tools enabled the detailed rendering of the silhouette and the careful arrangement of the typographic elements to create the intended psychological effect. 

Impact & Takeaway: 

"Stagnation" aims to create a deep sense of sadness. It is a piece to mourn over. At some point, everyone faces this feeling. The piece reminds us that while the struggle is common, the choice to move forward or stay stuck is personal. This project highlights my technical skill and ability to combine art with meaningful graphic design. It also shows my skill in deep thinking and emotional awareness, as well as the ability of design to inspire though and build connections through a relatable story.