Nafisa Salima

graphic designer

Pennsylvania, USA

5 favorite musical artists of all time? 

• Burna Boy

• Tupac

• Lauryn hill

• Whitney Houston

• Ed Sheehan

What inspires you? 

My identities inspire my taste, being — black, Muslim and women.

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

Try different mediums and stick with it even if it’s gets hard the skills will help you later in life.

What industry blogs/websites/podcasts do you enjoy?

• Earn Your Leisure University (financial podcast)

• The Michelle Obama podcast

• BlackGirlsinMedia (Instagram/website)

What do you think the future holds for people of color in creative industries?

I think that there is definitely growth, and I can’t wait to see how more impactful we will be. We know that representation matters and we’re starting to see that shift, I think it will continue to grow and The next generation of kids will be able to see themselves more in media.

What is your dream job?

Owning my own multimedia design and diversity company. I would like to be in the end of deciding and planning advertising for companies (to involve more accurate depictions of color)  as well as shifting the stereotypical narrative that media has for black and Muslim people.

What skill(s) would you develop if you had more time? 

I would work more on my animation and editing skills.

What is the last thing you learned? 

Logo animation.

What are you working on right now?

I started selling graphic prints. I focus on black and Muslim culture. I try to create often as possible. I work with animations, videography, photography, logo design, and illustrations.

If you could talk to your favorite creative for an hour, who would it be? Why?

That’s a hard question to choose just one. At the moment I think I would go with Pharrell. I think he has a very unique way of visualizing art in various mediums, like music, graphics, and videography.  

But I would also choose Kendrick Lamar or Tupac 😆

What advice would you give to creatives of color looking to pursue their passion full-time?

Be consistent. Don’t let people talk you out of following your passion. If you believe it, you will succeed. Stay positive and keep being creative!

How do you keep your creative drip going? 

I listen to music, I watch my environment around me, sometimes I’m inspired by photography and I mix it up to fit my style.

Contact: nafisaxthorpe@gmail.com

Check out her portfolio for more of her work!