Leipzig-based illustrator and graphic designer focused on creation of visual identities, branding, and ready-to-use illustrations for print and digital media. The working process ranges from creating editorial illustration to design with clean layouts to communicate clear messages and support meaningful projects. Collaboration with cultural organizations, NGOs, and multidisciplinary teams across borders is a central part of my practice. I'm currently in the final stage of studies at Leipzig’s art academy and open to interesting side projects and collaborations.…

Darija Zubakova

PRO

Leipzig-based illustrator and graphic designer focused on creation of visual identities, branding, and ready-to-use illustrations for print and digital media. The working process ranges from creating editorial illustration to design with clean layouts to communicate clear messages and support meaningful projects. Collaboration with cultural organizations, NGOs, and multidisciplinary teams across borders is a central part of my practice. I'm currently in the final stage of studies at Leipzig’s art academy and open to interesting side projects and collaborations.…

Available to hire

Leipzig-based illustrator and graphic designer focused on creation of visual identities, branding, and ready-to-use illustrations for print and digital media. The working process ranges from creating editorial illustration to design with clean layouts to communicate clear messages and support meaningful projects.

Collaboration with cultural organizations, NGOs, and multidisciplinary teams across borders is a central part of my practice. I’m currently in the final stage of studies at Leipzig’s art academy and open to interesting side projects and collaborations.

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Language

Ukrainian
Fluent
English
Advanced
German
Advanced
Polish
Intermediate
French
Beginner

Work Experience

Graphic Designer at BDO Centers LLC
September 1, 2020 - February 28, 2021
Developing visual material based on project specifications; discovering and developing ideas, logos, and other designs for software.
Graphic Designer at Dnipro-m
May 1, 2021 - November 30, 2021
Design and development of concepts, graphics, and layouts for the advertising presence of a tool manufacturer; determination of the design and size of illustrative material for advertising purposes, including font, style, and size.
Senior Graphic Designer at Royalton USVI
November 1, 2021 - May 31, 2022
Work in a project team on the final design following the requirements; develop concepts, graphics and layouts for printing products.
Graphic Designer (Freelance) at NABU Leipzig
January 1, 2023 - Present
Digital and print design for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union; concept development for visual materials.
Art Teacher / Designer at Kunstschule Gera (Leipzig)
October 1, 2022 - October 31, 2023
Art teacher for Ukrainian children and designer; Notes from Abroad: exhibition project.
Graphic Designer (Freelance) at Nyanko Tee, Café
January 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024
Designer for print and digital media
Graphic Designer (Freelance) at Kulturbahnhof e.V.
June 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
Graphic design and artistic workshops for children for the project "„Notes from abroad“- ein mobiles Ausstellungs- und Kunstvermittlungsprojekt des Kulturbahnhof e.V." at the Engelsdorf Youth Club in Leipzig

Education

Bachelor of Arts at National Technical University of Ukraine 'Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute'
September 1, 2016 - June 30, 2020
Graphic Design and Book Illustration
Exchange program at HTWK Leipzig
October 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020
Faculty of Computer Science and Media - Printing technologies Exchange program of Georgius-Agricola-Stipendium des Freistaates Sachsen
Diploma at Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig
April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2027
Book art and Graphic Design Illustration class of Prof. Thomas Matthaeus Müller
Guest Studies at Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig
April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023
Guest Student, Fine Arts - Two Semesters Class of Prof. Kerstin Drechsel

Qualifications

Kulturförderung Leipzig
September 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022
Kulturförderung Leipzig, 2022 - Scholarship from the City of Leipzig for fine arts.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Software & Internet, Other, Non-Profit Organization
    uniE621 Flyer-brochure for art education project
    The creation of a flyer-brochure served as a conclusion to a series of events held as part of the mobil exhibition and art education program, which featured works by artists from Eastern Europe and included activities that engaged with them. Participants created works using their own techniques or offered their own interpretations. flyer graphicdesigner brochure designer…
    uniE621 A Blend of Art & Matcha
    Between pouring lattes and sketching ideas at Nyanko Tee, I developed a series of visual designs that captured the café’s atmosphere and identity. Building upon the existing logo, I proposed a cohesive polygraphic design system that extended into a full menu identity. The work also included designing custom stamp & gift cards, blending illustration with branding to create a unified aesthetic that reflected the café’s charm. illustrator graphicdesigner menu…
    uniE621 Zine about a cat
    October 2025, I was honored to be invited to the residence of the German author of children’sfiction Cornelia Funke in Tuscany, to Mulinaccio, for two weeks. One of these projects was the creation of a mini-zine, in which I came up with a noir story about a local cat named Lucretia who lived on the grounds of the residence. illustrator bookillustration zine bookdesign…
    uniE621 Zine about Fern Flower
    This risographic zine brings to life the whimsical childrens novell which tells the story of gramps Tymosh and the mythical Fern Flower, written by Ukrainian author Sashko Lirnyk. Dedicated to Ukraine’s Midsummer holiday, the zine was presented at the Midsummer Charity Festival in Leipzig, 2024. The illustrations were created using a combination of photographs taken in Kyiv Oblast, hand-drawn elements, and collage. Through vibrant illustrations and rich storytelling, the project seeks to preserve cultural heritage and fleeting moments in a tangible, artistic form. illustrator bookillustration graphicdesign bookdesign…
    uniE621 Work with NABU
    Following my semester project, I reached out to NABU Leipzig, an organization dedicated to local wildlife conservation, to share my work. They responded with an exciting opportunity — an invitation to design a poster for International Bat Night. Collaborating with them was not only an honor but also the start of an ongoing partnership, leading to further collaborations in 2023, 2024 and 2025. graphicdesigner illustrator poster…
    uniE621 Comic for the magazine
    A collaborative illustration project of the illustration class at HGB Leipzig for (Pop!) (Issues) magazine is dedicated to various situations that illustrators have encountered in their lives. The main concept behind my comic was the theme of remembrance and the ways in which we can tell the stories of those who have died. It tells the story of my friend Yarik who was killed by the russians in an impressionistic form of narrative.…
    uniE621 Postcards for Westflugel Theater
    A joint project with the illustration class at HGB Leipzig to create posters and flyers for the theatre festival Expedition ins Junge Figurentheater at Westflugel Leipzig. The main idea behind my work was to depict a spider that lives on the streets near the theatre itself.…
    uniE621 Borsdorf erleben project
    For the Kulturbahnhof e. V. initiative, I designed a unified visual identity for a series of posters promoting a variety of events held at the youth club in Borsdorf. The project involved creating a striking poster for Schwanenteichfest art festival, as well as tailoring postcards for each artist to capture their unique style and contributions to the event. The goal was to ensure a seamless aesthetic that tied the different events together while highlighting the individuality of each artist.…
    uniE621 Book Project with Maro Verlag
    “Im Ozean ein Mutterschiff” - is a collaborative illustration project of Maro Verlag for a science fiction book by Gu Shi. For the story “An der wilden Furt ist niemand”, I created two illustrations depicting part of the learning process and development of artificial intelligence. Cover by: Sebastian Voigt illustrator bookillustration…