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Designing Our Impact: Teo and Isabella on Creativity, Collaboration, and Growth
Creativity takes many forms at 1001 Colors, including the design work that helps translate our impact to the community. Last Summer, Teo and Isabella, two talented graphic design Apprentices, played a key role in shaping the visual layout and design language for our 2024 Annual Impact Report under the mentorship of designer Kate Tepe.
The Impact Report captures a year of projects, programs, and progress. Teo and Isabella worked collaboratively to bring that story to life through graphic design, turning data and outcomes into an engaging, artist‑centered publication.
Hear directly from Teo and Isabella in the video below as they share their experience working on the Impact Report and what being a 1001 Colors Apprentice has meant to their creative and professional growth.
The scope of the project was extensive. As Teo explains, the report includes 13 project spreads, spans over 40 pages, and features a poster insert designed to speak directly from the apprentice perspective. Alongside storytelling and visuals, the report also includes financial information and highlights key milestones from the year.
The design process itself was intentionally hands‑on. Teo and Isabella experimented with physical materials, cutting paper, layering tape, and assembling textures to create a layout that feels immersive and personal.
“We wanted it to feel like as you’re turning pages, you’re stepping into the artist studio,” they share.
For both apprentices, the project offered meaningful professional experience that aligns directly with their future goals. Isabella, who aspires to work in graphic design, describes the opportunity as a critical step toward building a creative career.
“Getting professional experience in the field I want to go into is exactly what I was looking for,” she says. “I feel very well prepared for future jobs.”
Beyond technical skills, the experience supported creative confidence and personal growth. The collaborative nature of the work allowed both apprentices to learn from others while continuing to develop their own artistic voices.
“I’m always learning,” Isabella explains, “but I don’t feel like I’m becoming what someone else wants me to be as an artist. I know I’m going to take this into my own unique style.”
Teo also reflects on the ways the program built confidence outside of design work. Through collaboration, weekly learning sessions, and professional development workshops, she gained skills that extend far beyond the studio.
“I’ve grown as a person,” Teo shares. “Not just through the design work, but through learning things you wouldn’t get anywhere else, like building credit or making a resume. They’re really here to support young people who want to be artists.”
Their experience designing the Impact Report is a powerful example of how 1001 Colors invests in rising artists, offering paid, real‑world opportunities that connect creativity, career readiness, and community impact.
Support Rising Artists
Projects like the Annual Impact Report, and opportunities for young designers like Teo and Isabella, are made possible through community support. By giving to 1001 Colors’ Rising Artists, you help provide paid creative jobs, mentorship, and professional development for young people exploring careers in the arts.