hello and welcome!
WHO: My name is Ilona Ratajczak. I’m a visual communicator, a designer, an expressive artist.
WHAT: Creative Directions, Visual Communication, Branding, Graphic Design, Photography, and Art.
WHY: I believe in the power of visual communication that brings value, solves problems, and creates a better world.
ABOUT:
I grew up in Poland, surrounded by works of art and the smell of paint. I remember always playing with pencils and brushes. I was inspired by my father's passion for painting and design. My formal journey into the world of art, shape and color began when I studied the History of Art at the University of A. Mickiewicz in Poznan.
In time, I relocated to New York City, and continued my education in visual communication at both the School of Visual Arts and Fashion Institute of Technology. I have over two decades of experience working as a designer and creative director in New York City.
In 2010 I moved to Sarasota, Florida, a very different place from the city I left behind. I continue to work on behalf of international clients, sustainable local businesses, and not-for-profit organizations. In 2012, I co-created reALTO, an international company that focuses on developing innovative 'healthy habits' products for children.
After receiving a Certificate in Art and Healing from Sarasota's renowned Ringling College of Art and Design, I’ve been creating healing programs for children in our community— combining expressive arts with a non-invasive therapeutic modality called craniosacral therapy. The success of this hybrid approach guided me to co-found sparKIDs, Inc., a not-for-profit organization with a big mission— to create a better world through integrative eco-somatic programs that spark transformation and improve the well-being of children, their families, our community, and the world. I’ve been inspired by the true human stories, the magic of nature and the animal kingdom, healthy eating, simplicity, and the sustainability of life.
CLIENTS:
HEAD, DKNY, MoMA, reALTO, the Ritz-Carlton, Walmart, Bonjour, Razkulz, Laird+Partners, Big Cat Habitat, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Girls, Inc., Omega3Innovation, Kombucha 221BC, The City of Sarasota, and Sarasota Magazine.
THANK YOU! Ilona