Buky Illustration

At the beginning of 2024, after a few years of break, I returned to one of my inspirations: Glagolitic script. This time I started working on a street wear collection with prints based on the characters of this ancient scripture. While working on this collection, at the same time, I began design tests to apply the same design concept to different types of clothing. Being fascinated by the combination of traditional illustration approaches and the use of new technologies, I created a series of illustrations with a more elevated look.

The main focus was to create a series of images with pronounced clarity of visual expression, simple design, obvious placement of inspiration, fascinating design play with modernity and tradition, etc.

This digital artwork has already been placed in the home section of my personal website. The winning design also served as a catalyst for further design research in digital art and digital illustration, resulting in a new illustration series.

The concept of incorporating Glagolitic script, the oldest Slavic alphabet, into my designs is not new. Years ago, I created textile patterns and prints inspired by Glagolitic characters. However, at the beginning of 2024, I decided to develop a sportswear collection featuring prints based on these unique letters. While working on the designs, I began sharing proposals for both men's and women's clothing on social media to gauge the response. The designs garnered significant attention, reinforcing that I was on the right track with my creative process. Throughout this journey, I found myself connecting with the past—particularly the rich Slavic culture and its literacy—while also embracing contemporary shapes and pieces that fall within the international sportswear category.The second letter of the historical alphabet, Buky, represents the sound /b/ and signifies letters. This fact added a new layer to my creative process.

When the idea for a new collection came to me, I immediately began considering which fashion category would resonate with a wide audience across various traditions and diverse social, economic, and cultural contexts. I initially decided to focus on sportswear, as it has the potential to attract a broad target group. To effectively convey my concept and provide a clear background for the prints inspired by Glagolitic characters, I chose simple yet striking clothing shapes. After designing several looks, I aimed to elevate these designs further by transforming basic items like hoodies, blouses, jackets, and pants into more refined pieces that transcend the typical boundaries of sportswear. I introduced ideas for more stylized forms, utilized higher-quality materials, refined the overall look, and incorporated accessories, all while placing the illustrated model against a clean, white background. This approach led to the creation of the Buky illustration.

I have a strong background in both visual arts and fashion design, which has given me a solid understanding of the technical and aesthetic aspects of various visual disciplines. Since the early days of home computers and the development of personal technology, I have also been fascinated by technological advancements. The emergence of AI technology and the possibilities it offers quickly captured my interest. When I began the project "Glagolitic Stories," I started by creating rough sketches using Pixlr. I explored various poses, experimented with different types of clothing, and suggested colors, shapes, and details. In the next stage of the project, I generated multiple image iterations based on specific prompts derived from my initial sketches. After selecting the best images, I analyzed them in Adobe Photoshop to better understand their potential, identify areas for improvement, and ultimately carry out the final editing.