Who I am
Alena Zakharova
Graphic & Media DesignerHi, I’m Alena, a graphic and media designer.
I create books, magazines and visual identities for independent creators, small brands, musicians and design studios.
I’m drawn to minimalism, precise typography and clear structure. My approach combines careful planning and attention to detail
with room for experimentation
and unexpected ideas.
I’m a fourth-year BA student at the HSE Art
and Design School.Available for freelance projects and creative collaborations.
Books, magazines and visual identities.
I turn ideas and information into clear and expressive design.
How I work
01 — Understanding your project
We discuss your goals, audience, deliverables and timeline.
02 — Developing the concept
I explore references and develop a visual direction based on your brief.
03 — Designing and refining
I develop the design and refine it through your feedback.
04 — Preparing the final files
I prepare and deliver the agreed files for print or digital use.
Editorial Design
I shape the structure, navigation and visual rhythm of books and magazines, from the overall concept to individual spreads.
MASS
A magazine about materials · Editorial Design · Student Project
Brief. Explore the materials that shape our surroundings through their history, production and use in architecture and design.Idea. Examine one material from multiple perspectives, connecting its technical properties with its aesthetics and cultural context.Design. A consistent section structure brings together different types of content. Expressive headlines, object photography and shifts in image scale create the publication’s visual rhythm.Outcome. A printed magazine with each issue dedicated to a single material. The project was a finalist in the March 2026 DAFES Choice competition.
NEWMEN
A men’s fashion magazine–newspaper · Editorial Design · Student Project
Brief. Create a publication that helps readers navigate men’s fashion, its key figures and current trends.Idea. Combine the information density of a newspaper with the visual expression of a fashion magazine.Design. Contrasting typography and oversized letterforms organise text-heavy spreads. Photographic features introduce changes in scale and reading pace.Outcome. A printed men’s fashion publication combining editorial features, profiles and an alphabetical presentation of fashion terms.
The Graphic Language of Emotions
Visual Research · Book Design · Student Project
Brief. Investigate how people represented emotions graphically before contemporary messaging apps and emoji.Idea. Present the history of emotional symbols through the familiar language of a digital interface.Design. Windows, folders and navigation elements become part of the book’s composition. Historical examples appear within a visual environment associated with contemporary digital communication.Outcome. A printed research publication connecting the history of graphic expressions of emotion with familiar ways of communicating.
