Crystal Zapata is an artist, graphic designer, and art director based in Chicago.
Her work embraces an experimental approach that draws from a foundational interest in nature, craft, visual art, image-making and movement. Her reverence for these disciplines motivates a deeply exploratory process. She has designed objects as small as a watch dial and as large as a basketball court. While her work ranges in medium, scale, and discipline, the constant is intentionality, experimentation, and the thought processes dedicated to each project.
She has maintained an independent studio practice since 2020, encompassing art direction, the development of graphics, images, illustrations, wearables, objects and environments for cultural institutions, brands, and collaborators in fashion and music.
Her work has been recognized by the Type Directors Club, the Society of Typographic Arts, and the American Institute for Graphic Arts.
Her work embraces an experimental approach that draws from a foundational interest in nature, craft, visual art, image-making and movement. Her reverence for these disciplines motivates a deeply exploratory process. She has designed objects as small as a watch dial and as large as a basketball court. While her work ranges in medium, scale, and discipline, the constant is intentionality, experimentation, and the thought processes dedicated to each project.
She has maintained an independent studio practice since 2020, encompassing art direction, the development of graphics, images, illustrations, wearables, objects and environments for cultural institutions, brands, and collaborators in fashion and music.
Her work has been recognized by the Type Directors Club, the Society of Typographic Arts, and the American Institute for Graphic Arts.
Selected Clients:
4AD, A24, Calvin Klein, The New York Times, Saint Heron, SSENSE, Levi’s, Rapha, Nike, Adidas, On, Salt + Stone, LA Philharmonic, Figma, Ballroom Marfa, International Anthem, Paulin, Co–Star, Rimowa, PAPER Magazine, Highsnobiety, CRACK Magazine, and Apple, among others.
Talks:
Design lecture series at Pacific Northwest College of Art
Slow Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Space, Typographics at Cooper Union
Press:
It’s Nice That
Highsnobiety
Notre
Paper Magazine
Brain Japan
4AD, A24, Calvin Klein, The New York Times, Saint Heron, SSENSE, Levi’s, Rapha, Nike, Adidas, On, Salt + Stone, LA Philharmonic, Figma, Ballroom Marfa, International Anthem, Paulin, Co–Star, Rimowa, PAPER Magazine, Highsnobiety, CRACK Magazine, and Apple, among others.
Talks:
Design lecture series at Pacific Northwest College of Art
Slow Design, Carnegie Mellon University
Space, Typographics at Cooper Union
Press:
It’s Nice That
Highsnobiety
Notre
Paper Magazine
Brain Japan