Portfolio of Alena Zakharova

Brief. Explore the materials that shape our surroundings through their history, production and use in architecture and design.Idea. Examine one material from multiple perspectives, connecting its technical properties with its aesthetics and cultural context.Design. A consistent section structure brings together different types of content. Expressive headlines, object photography and shifts in image scale create the publication’s visual rhythm.Outcome. A printed magazine with each issue dedicated to a single material. The project was a finalist in the March 2026 DAFES Choice competition.

Brief. Create a publication that helps readers navigate men’s fashion, its key figures and current trends.Idea. Combine the information density of a newspaper with the visual expression of a fashion magazine.Design. Contrasting typography and oversized letterforms organise text-heavy spreads. Photographic features introduce changes in scale and reading pace.Outcome. A printed men’s fashion publication combining editorial features, profiles and an alphabetical presentation of fashion terms.

Brief. Investigate how people represented emotions graphically before contemporary messaging apps and emoji.Idea. Present the history of emotional symbols through the familiar language of a digital interface.Design. Windows, folders and navigation elements become part of the book’s composition. Historical examples appear within a visual environment associated with contemporary digital communication.Outcome. A printed research publication connecting the history of graphic expressions of emotion with familiar ways of communicating.