Ukrainian School of Dance is based in Chicago’s vibrant Ukrainian Village, this cultural dance school preserves and showcases traditional Ukrainian dance through seasonal performances and community events. According to the school’s artistic director, “Technique, choreography, music and costume, are the primary teachers that instill love for Ukrainian culture.”
Objective:
Create a visually compelling DVD case design for each of the school’s annual winter dance concerts, ensuring that the artwork is both celebratory and reflective of the performance’s unique theme.
My Role:
Art Direction
Design
Project type:
Packaging Design
Company name:
Ukrainian School of Dance
Completed:
2018-2025
My design process began with a collaborative brainstorming session with the client to establish a clear creative direction. A key request was to incorporate subtle elements of Ukrainian heritage into each design. I then created a rough draft, incorporating multiple illustrations to form a cohesive, themed scene. For example, in the The Wonderful Wizard of Oz cover art, a Ukrainian folk dancer was thoughtfully blended in with the story’s well-known characters. In How the Grinch Stole Letters for St. Nicholas, I illustrated a peaceful Ukrainian snowy village, proudly featuring a home with a Ukrainian flag—an intentional nod of solidarity with those bravely defending their freedom.