Hello There!
Nice to meet you.
How can I help?
My name is Elayna Speight (pronounced “Sp”+ 8) and I would like to personally welcome you to Inked Designs. I am the founder and principal designer. How can I help you?
Inked Designs is a black woman-owned graphic design and art studio based in the Washington, DC Metro Area. We view ourselves as small and plucky but never short on creativity.
Design is our passion. We truly love what we do and we bring that passion to every project we take on. We are sticklers for simple, clean design and we are devoted to crafting the best design to meet your needs.
Inked Designs can handle anything you can throw at us. We have experience creating all manner of design collateral to accomplish marketing goals. Collateral which includes posters, brochures, direct mail postcards and publications. Services also include: branding and digital and traditional illustration.
We also do custom art commissions: Watercolor wedding portraits; portraits; fashion illustrations; you name it.
And head over to the shop to get prints and originals of my artwork as well as pins and stickers.
About Me
Instead of playing sports which a tall girl is expected to do, I was always more into art. Drawing, painting; it was only a matter of time before I got into graphic design and advertising.
I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the Art Institute of Washington in Arlington, VA. I greatly appreciate the time I spent there as I learned both the creative and strategic sides of design. Not only the “Who” and the “What” but the “Why” and “How” of a project.
I am a skilled and talented graphic designer dedicated to my craft. A craft honed through real-world experience working for such organizations as DC Public Schools, Washington Performing Arts and Shakespeare Theatre Company. Commended for my efficiency and creativity, I have become known as a capable, hard-working designer who can be depended on to get things done and done well. I have proved to be able to handle any challenge thrown at me. My extensive knowledge of both marketing and advertising strategy and graphic design principles has proved to be an asset in my work. Awards for my work include a Gold DC Student ADDY.
My intention with my artwork is to show positive images of black women, featuring various skin tones and natural hair styles, to instill confidence and self love and the assurance that you are beautiful as you are in a society where often black women are shown the opposite. My art is inspired by the strength, vulnerability, royalty, joy, and magic of black women. I am inspired by the Carefree Black Girl. She's an individual, not weighed down my the ever present negative stereotypes of black women. She is multidimensional with a mix of whimsy, laughter, intelligence, magic, the chicest fashion sense and passion.
I am also a Pinterest fiend, who loves movies, cartoons, and anime. My favorites include: Steven Universe, Craig of the Creek, Phineas and Ferb, The Princess Bride, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, One Punch Man, and My Hero Academia. I also love to cook and bake.
Photo credit: Danielle Flowers Photo