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Column Four
Typography
Ada Zielińska is a graphic designer and illustrator who blends modernity with 70s and 80s nostalgia.
A graduate of Interior Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and Graphic Design in Gdańsk, she now teaches at the latter.
She has exhibited in Poland, Germany, Spain, the USA, and Japan, and collaborated with brands like Adobe, Netflix, Levi's, Spotify, Domestika, and institutions like the National Museum in Gdańsk.
Adobe, Netflix, Spotify, Levi's, The North Face, Domestika, Nature, New Scientist, Fast Company magazine
30/30 Awards, Decibels of Design, KTR Awards, Polish Graphic Design Awards
Polish design culture is deeply rooted in a rich tradition of poster art, known as the "Polish School of Poster Art," a movement that combined bold graphics and a strong sense of symbolism to convey complex messages with minimal resources. Contemporary Polish design often draws inspiration from this heritage, including "designing by hand", while blending it with a modern, digital aesthetic.
While the most known and celebrated inspirations from the Polish graphic design history is the 1950-80s Polish School of Posters, there is also a less known history of great logo design and typography, which we only started discovering recently. Nowadays Poland has amazing and internationally renowned designers in different fields - illustration, branding, typography and more. The community of professionals - individual designers and studios - is strong and friendly, we learn from each other and give each other advice, but also consciously build market standards together.
People from other countries might not know that the design culture in Poland is deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. The iconic Polish School of Poster, which emerged in the mid-20th century, remains influential, known for its unique blend of surrealism, symbolism, and minimalism. Another lesser-known aspect is the role of graphic design. While Polish posters have gained international recognition, graphic design, including elements like logos, packaging, and printed materials, has only recently been rediscovered and appreciated. Polish graphic design icons such as Karol Śliwka, Jerzy Treutler, and Roman Duszek are behind these influential works.
It's not unique to Korea; a one-sided relationship has no future, so please work with people who respect and acknowledge each other's value.