Design Thinking: Vanessa Lena

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)

In Graduate School, one of the buzzwords professors love to discuss is "Design Thinking." Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be instantly apparent with our initial level of understanding (Dam and Siang). Design Thinking enables a company to understand consumer needs to serve their audience better. For this project, I contacted different companies to learn how the organizations apply Design Thinking into their market offerings. I had the opportunity to talk with Vanessa Lena to learn more about her brand.

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)

1. How do you define art?

Each artist has a definition of art. For me, art is a way to express your inner emotions and feelings. It's about finding your way, delivering a message, creating emotions, and arousing senses.

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)

2. What makes Vanessa Lena's work different from other works on the market?

Everybody has their style and mark. My signature is, “Nothing is lost; everything turns into art.”

I’m exploring different themes such as fashion, luxury, entertainment, sustainability, and societal overconsumption. My art derives from the recycling and diverting shopping bags into either manufacturing (sculpture piece) or fifty bags (painting). The pieces are an explosion of colors utilizing graffiti and dripping techniques to seek harmony with shapes to arouse positive emotion.

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)

3. How do you incorporate your mission and vision into your work?

My work reflects my mission and vision in many ways. The medium I use represents the nexus between art, society, and sustainability.

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)

4. What is the future of the business?

I focus on the present moment. But, I imagine expending, sharing my work and spreading my message by collaborating with other artists and brands.

(Image courtesy of Vanessa Lena)