Makena Janssen

How would you define making it big?

I think making it big is when my work can do more than exist just for me. When there is heart behind it and it can touch even just one other life, that's when it gets big.

What's a big move that has shaped you?

I lost my Dad this year and in a lot of ways it has inspired me more than ever to deeply live; to love more, give more, notice more, laugh more, cry more, and just be more everyday that I get to be here.

What's your next big move?

The next big move is to become a sponge for knowledge while at home. I'm going to dive head first into learning, seeing, reading, and exploring as much as I can this summer! I also really want to be able to hold my handstand (:

Biggest influence on your work?

I think my work is still to malleable to really answer this question! I'm influenced all the time!

Weirdest thing encountered at CalArts?

The "boy scout camp???" set up... remember the cones, random tent, and assortment of other items that lived on our graphic design grass for a while...

Funnest memory from a crit?

When Michael kept referring to Zhen's adorable Zingy logomarks as "Popcorn Butts"

Dream job?

I have two (actually probably many more) 1. Make design that can help the Environment and 2.To be a really good Teacher

Name an important lesson you've learned so far in your academic career.

That you can learn a lot from making work that you don't like

Three words that describe your current work?

Under-construction, meaningful, hopeful

Typographics Final Poster, “A Noble Cause; Reimagining the Future After a Pandemic Trump America.”

Type-Specimen Booklet, Johnston Sans.

This type specimen investigates the wayfinding roots of Johnston Sans and riffs on the concept of signs both in terms of directions and language