Carol Lantis is currently a part-time graphic designer at Opus 59 Creative Group, LLC, and a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. Visit her site at www.carollantis.com. She has been an official member of AIGA since last December, but has been coming to BuzZ and other events for over a year.
What attracted you to the design profession? Did you have particular mentors or experiences that opened the door to the profession for you?
I grew up in a very artistically talented family, so I was always drawing and watching my mother paint and my father come up with crazy typefaces—even though he’s a mechanical engineer. But I actually started my first semester in college in a fashion design program. It wasn’t until I met this teacher who’s been a mentor and a great influence in my life ever since, that I even realized graphic design was an official profession (sad, I know). He showed me a bit of Photoshop and I started learning Illustrator on my own. One day I realized I could use the computer to bring my paper and pencil artwork to a whole new level and, since then, I have fallen in love with the world of digital illustration. I’ve always had—because of my dad, I guess—an infatuation with typefaces, so it was a very natural step to start combining artwork and type, abandon fashion completely and dive into graphic design.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’d love to be a forensic detective. When I was little, I had this long list of things I wanted to be when I grew up, which included being an artist, archeologist, singer, architect, and forensic detective. I obviously chose the artist path, but forensics is a close second. Too many Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie books, I guess. Although I doubt I’d be very successful at it, since I get queasy at the very thought of open wounds and the gory possibilities a crime scene would most likely offer.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
That I am Brazilian. When I say that, some people think that at least my parents are American and I was just born there or something. Maybe it’s because I don’t look the part and don’t have much of an accent. But no, my family is as Brazilian as they come, and I was born and raised there. Also, most people don’t know I’ve partly accomplished another item of my childish list of things I wanted to be when I grew up. I sing and write music; my husband and I do, actually. We even have a CD we recorded back in 2008, and is just now finally almost done.
If you could be any super hero (existing or new), who would you be and why?
I used to pretend I was Rogue, you know, from the 90’s X-Men cartoon. Never mind her original super power, I thought she was awesome because she was so strong and witty and she could fly! She didn’t have a Southern accent in Portuguese, so that part of her charm was lost in translation. Nowadays, though, I would be happy if I could just be Jane Foster or Lois Lane.
What are currently working on?
Right now I am working on a freelance packaging project for a new energy bar. I am also working on improving and developing my illustration portfolio, because one of my goals for the near future is to be more active as an editorial illustrator, and maybe be represented by an agent.
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About AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight
Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Charlotte Member. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to see who AIGA Charlotte is along with all the amazing things our members are doing. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and appear on AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight, please contact Patrick Saleeby, Membership Director.
