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BREAKING the MOLD WITH ALEX PROBA BY ABBY MONTANEZ The do-it-all designer reflects on her unconventional career path and her graphic, artistic approach. ust like an artist, establishing a point of view as a designer is everything. Alex Proba, however, doesn't limit her unique aesthetic according to labels—lending her talents to all kinds of mediums from furniture and spatial design to illustration and architecture. Currently, she works out of her multidisciplinary design studio in Portland, since recently relocating from Brooklyn, but that wasn't always the case for the German- born designer. Like many people these days, I first came across Proba on Instagram and was instantly drawn to the playful nature of her work. Sometimes terrazzo-like in appearance, pastel colors are put against free-formed lines and shapes in a way that feels effortless. Organic, even. Her work, like her professional career, defies the norm and pushes the boundaries of what we know art and design to be. Studio Proba, as her firm is referred to, was originally a side hustle for the designer who started her online business as just a graphic design shop. Back in 2013, Proba embarked on a 120-day project she called "A Poster a Day," spending 30 minutes at her computer each night creating something she would later post online. e continuous series she uploaded to Instagram would last four consecutive years consisting of 1,460 posters, and propelled Proba to start thinking about pursuing art and design full-time on her own. She would then begin working on turning her graphic designs into tangible objects like furniture and wallpaper, until a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity fell into her lap. Nike came knocking at her door, with a proposal she couldn't pass up—art director. Following her year and a half stint, Proba knew the moment had finally come to pursue a career for herself. But this time, it would be for real. Her impressive client list, however, wouldn't stop there. Collaborations with big names such as Google, Lululemon, Sweetgreen Dropbox and Kickstarter have made their way onto Proba's portfolio. At the end of the day, her distinctive aesthetic is what binds all of these very different projects together. From painting murals across vaulted ceilings and swimming pools to designing basketball courts, 3D installations and craing mural-inspired rugs and tables, there's no telling what direction her work will go in next. I got the chance to speak with Proba who detailed her non-traditional career trajectory, her design inspiration and how she wants her work to make people feel. V U E N J . C O M 53

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