NARINEH MOUSA

Inkspire (formerly 916 Ink) is a local nonprofit organization in Sacramento dedicated to promoting literacy among children and teenagers. During my time at Studio X-Height, I served as a junior design intern, collaborating with a cross-functional team that included three other talented designers: Josh Diaz, Cesar Cervantes, and Pa Dao Vang.

As part of this internship, I spearheaded the rebranding of 916 Ink to Inkspire, crafting a fresh visual identity to better align with the organization’s mission and values. This role provided invaluable experience in managing client relationships, participating in strategic planning, and overseeing projects from initial concept to final delivery. I gained hands-on knowledge in facilitating client meetings, incorporating feedback, and delivering high-quality results that met both creative and business objectives.

Minerva is a premium chocolate company dedicated to delivering high-quality products with a sophisticated brand identity. As part of the creative team, I collaborated with Ashley Simbulan, Dat Luu, and Trieu Nguyen to develop a complete corporate identity that aligned with the client’s vision and budget.

Our work included designing a distinctive logo, creating a cohesive business system, developing a comprehensive brand book, and crafting elegant packaging designs. We also produced prototypes of the packaging and branding materials, which were presented to the client in professional pitch meetings for feedback and approval. This process required strategic planning, effective communication, and attention to detail to ensure all deliverables met the client’s expectations while staying within budget constraints.

The 'Nizdos Playing Cards' project focused on creating a cohesive card system that balanced both functionality and visual appeal. Designed with a strict system, the deck incorporates subtle nuances to differentiate each card while maintaining a unified structure. This approach ensures the cards remain engaging without becoming predictable. As part of the project, I also designed a custom box to complement the theme and provide a seamless experience for users.

The theme of the deck centers around a bird kingdom. For the kings, I illustrated eagle feathers, while the queens feature peacock feathers. The jacks are designed similarly to the kings, reflecting both their youthful nature and shared gender. The numbered cards vary in color and background texture to add visual diversity. The joker contrasts with the rest of the deck by incorporating a nest instead of a feather.

This project allowed me to apply my skills in large system design, ensuring the cards fit within a well-structured framework, and illustration to bring the bird kingdom theme to life through detailed and thoughtful artwork. The process also highlighted my ability to combine creativity with functionality in product design.

The "Sacramento War Film Festival" was a conceptual project aimed at sparking reflection on the aftermath of war through a curated series of films. This two-day event was designed to engage the audience in a deeper consideration of the emotional and societal impacts of conflict. To support the event, I developed a comprehensive advertising system, which included multiple components to create a cohesive experience for attendees.

The campaign featured a 16x20 inch poster, a post card, website, mobile site, brochure, and a promotional piece to be distributed during the event. Each element was carefully designed to maintain a unified visual identity while highlighting the gravity of the festival's theme.

Through this project, I applied my skills in full advertising system design, overseeing multiple interconnected components to ensure a consistent message across various platforms. I also leveraged my expertise in poster design, post card design, and web design to create impactful, engaging materials that resonated with the festival's purpose. The result was a cohesive marketing campaign that effectively conveyed the festival's message and created a memorable experience for attendees.

The objective of this project was to design a series of postcards (three front designs and one back design) for the stage show The Heiress, focusing on creating a cohesive yet flexible system. The three front designs needed to work both individually and together, while the postcards were to be 4x6 inches in size.

The Heiress is a show revolving around themes of love, betrayal, and revenge. To visually capture the essence of these themes, I used images of paper in various forms, manipulating them to convey the emotions embedded in the narrative. Additionally, I produced a short ad for the show by filming a brief video and enhancing it using Adobe AfterEffects, adding animation and movement to bring the story to life in a dynamic way.

This project allowed me to apply a range of skills, including photography and photo manipulation to create compelling visuals. I also applied systematic thinking to ensure the designs worked together seamlessly while addressing the project's specific requirements. Additionally, I leveraged my proficiency in typography, Adobe AfterEffects, and video editing to develop an engaging ad that incorporated animation and movement to further amplify the show's impact.