By Raven Ramsey
Staff Writer
Mira Costa senior Bianca Laurita shows the world her creative ideas through her graphic design business, Desingz by Bia.
Laurita originally discovered graphic design when she was younger and used magazine pictures to create an array of boards and collages. As she went into middle school, she found apps that would allow her to do a lot more with her designs, such as Pinterest.
“After seeing so many digital collages, I realized I could do so much more if I added a technology aspect,” Laurita said. “After that, I made it a goal of mine to take my artistry to the next level by learning how to create my very own digital art.”
Once she had improved her designing skills, Laurita began posting her edits on Instagram and VSCO. Not long after, businesses, such as Glowhaus, Shop Hearts on Fire, Kyde’s Tie Dye, and more began to notice her art and reached out to her to edit their photos.
“I had people that I had never even met messaging me on social media asking for me to edit their photos,” Laurita said. “Small businesses would also reach out to me to create fun and colorful ads, flyers, posts, and Instagram stories.”
Laurita does both photo edits and digital collages that can take her up to several days. It’s a very time consuming process, as she sometimes has to work with huge boards, unedited photos, and find a balance between all of the elements she would like to include.
“Digital collages take a lot of time to create, so I have to force myself to take breaks,” Laurita said. “I even had to invest in a pair of Blue Light glasses because my eyes hurt so much after editing for so long.”
But despite the long hours Laurita endures, she is always happy to be creating a new piece of art. Looking at different photos can inspire her and make it easier for her to visualize the outcome.
“The entire process is time consuming and takes a lot of trial, but if you truly have a passion for it and don’t give up, the end result always makes the entire design process worth it,” Laurita said. “I love being able to take a normal photo with unrecognized potential and turn it into a piece of art that makes the world seem a bit more colorful and creative.”
This past summer, Laurita was accepted into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), where she will be studying visual communications. Her dream is to one day become a celebrity stylist or start her own magazine publication.
“I haven’t thought about turning my hobby into a career,” Laurita said. “But luckily, I will get to utilize my skill of photoshop, coordinating, attention to detail, and creativity in all areas of my Visual Communications major.”
Leave a Reply