Meet L.A. based Visual Communications Specialist and Illustrator Kayla of Junie Studio!

Some people just radiate sunshine, even when the sun has disappeared into a midst of clouds. Kayla is simply one of those people. Emitting warmth, grace and kindness wherever she goes, one can’t help but feel the day has made a turn for the brighter after interacting with Kayla.

Kayla and I met at FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles when we were both students and working on campus. Her thoughtfulness, sincerity and diligent work ethic did not go unnoticed by any person. She imparts a distinct and professional signature to her connections with all people so when she launched her illustration brand I just knew that you would appreciate it as much as I do! I could not be more delighted to introduce you to the ever-lovely, Kindly Kaaayla!

Take it away darling…

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@kindlykaaayla

Follow Kayla on IG!

Tell us about yourself and your latest endeavours!

I’m Kayla,

“I’m 21 and I graduated with a degree in Visual Communications from FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2019. I got my start in Public Relations and Content Creation, but I found myself missing the type of unfiltered creativity I remember being so connected to during my childhood. Recently, I’ve been jumping back into drawing and working to improve my illustration abilities in ProCreate!” 

What are you presently grateful for, at this moment?

Kindly Kaaayla: “Love this question so much! I am grateful for my living space, to be completely honest. I’ve lived in about 5 different places since I moved from my family’s home at 18, and I’ve finally found and curated a space that feels like mine. I draw a lot of inspiration from the environments I’m in, so my little studio apartment full of plants and my favorite colors has been a godsend for my mental health. Having a roof over my head is also just such a privilege in a time where so many people are displaced from proper shelter, so I find myself counting my apartment twice when I count my blessings.”

You recently launched your illustration brand Kindly Kayla and are pivoting toward products, when did you start designing? How has your style progressed since then?

Kindly Kaaayla: “I’ve always loved creating visuals, but I think I really started to understand design during my senior year of high school. I was incredibly fortunate that my school offered an AP Studio Art class that required a portfolio for AP scoring. Having to create a collective body of work made me think a lot about finding my artistic style, composition, color palettes, etc. I was also fortunate to take courses in utilizing Adobe Suite and design theory at FIDM, but it’s nice to finally have time for creating personal work. My style is always changing and I think I still have a ton of refining to do, but I’ve definitely seen changes in subject matter and tone. I’m in a much happier place now, and I think my art has grown to reflect that.”

If you could design anything for anyone, what would it be and why?

Kindly Kaaayla:“I would love to design zines for my favorite fashion and lifestyle brands (Lazy Oaf, Fiorucci, Sporty & Rich, Glossier, and Lush Cosmetics would probably be among my dream clients.) As a kid, I had a slight obsession with flipping through catalogs and magazines to collage with, so I think the anthological aspect of creating modern zines is still inspiring to me, and I would love to find ways to hand draw products and branding assets in order to make a sort of publication that could be used for promotional purposes, product launches, email marketing, etc.”

How important is visual communication in your day-to-day life?

Kindly Kaaayla:“So important! Because everything I do career wise has to do with design, it’s crucial for me to be aware of the messages that are being communicated through my work. Studying Visual Communications allowed me to view my creative endeavors through a more intentional lens, and I’m forever grateful for the frame of mind that it sent me into the world with.”

How would you describe your aesthetic?

Kindly Kaaayla:“I would describe my aesthetic as bold, feminine, and youthful. I love taking traditionally “edgy” tropes and adding some color and fluidity.”

What is your favorite aspect of designing?

Kindly Kaaayla:“My favorite aspect of designing is definitely the ability to communicate without speaking. I’ve always preferred writing and drawing to talking because it allows me to be intentional and thoughtful with my message, which is something I struggle with when I don’t have the time to process and think through what I want to say.”

How has the lockdown influenced you and your illustrations?

Kindly Kaaayla: “It’s influenced me a ton! Especially because I don’t think I would have ever sat down and opened up ProCreate had it not been for lockdown. I was really fortunate in 2020 because my boyfriend gifted me an iPad for my 21st birthday and I’ve had the ability to self-reflect and take downtime to apply my love for visuals to a new medium. Digital drawing has really only been a part of my life for about 6 months, but it made me realize that I love creating imagery in the form of illustration. Though this has been such a dark time for so many, I have been incredibly fortunate to have remained safe and healthy. I have taken a lot of time to work on my relationship with myself, and that has been a huge help to my ability to produce new work. But not everyone is living an “inspiring” lockdown where they’ve been able to do so. It’s important that I always keep my privilege in mind. I hope that as I grow my illustration career, I am able to take part in projects that will be beneficial to others.”

What does being an ally mean to you?

Kindly Kaaayla:”It helped motivate me to finally create products and open a shop when I realized that I wanted to be able to make larger donations to charitable causes than I could afford throughout 2020. Opening an online store would allow me to run fundraisers and sell products that could profit bail funds, relief funds for Indigenous communities, and other causes that are in need of support.”

What is currently inspiring you/keeping you motivated?

Kindly Kaaayla: “I’m finding a lot of inspiration in the little things recently - watching my plants grow, scrolling through Pinterest, going on walks in my neighborhood, and all the self-reflection and growth I’ve worked on throughout the pandemic.”

Anything else that you would like to add?

Kindly Kaaayla: “I really enjoy being given a project but having the creative freedom to solve the problem in any way I’d like, so I hope to start fulfilling that by taking commissions and client work this year.”

Have you made someone’s day today? Take a page out of Kayla’s book and be the sunshine!

What did you think of Kayla’s interview? Do you have any further questions for her?
Please feel free to comment here or reach out on social! We would love to hear from you!

Works Cited

Allen, Kayla. Personal Interview. January 11, 2020.

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