Emily Kucala is a graphic designer here at Nonahood News and Nona.Media. Her exceptional eye for artistic design and understanding of what it means to make a graphic both beautiful and practical have made her an incredible asset to our team, and we hope you enjoy getting to know her just as much as we do.
NHN: What brought you to the Nonahood?
EK: My family moved to the Nonahood when I was 13 from Houston, Texas. My dad is a pilot who got transferred to the Orlando base of his airline, so we packed up and moved with him. We’ve called Nona our home since 2010, so close to eight years.
NHN: What do you like writing about/taking pictures of/etc.?
EK: Well, as a designer, that is pretty hard to answer. Every project is different for me. Some days, I am designing logos for a new client, and other days I am creating an ad for a long-standing one. Each assignment is a new opportunity for me to make these people who create the community we reach happy, so in that way, I love the variety of projects and people I get to meet through them.
NHN: What’s your favorite thing about the Nonahood?
EK: That it’s familiar but still growing. When I come home there’s the thing I have always loved as well as all the new growth. Keeps me on my toes!
NHN: Where are you from originally?
EK: I moved around a lot as a child but started in Corpus Christi, Texas.
NHN: What’s your favorite hobby?
EK: I’m going to be broad and say anything creative. Photography, drawing, painting … even embroidery at one point!
NHN: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
EK: I can never remember the big moments of embarrassment, but any time I spill coffee on myself while talking to people is a normal and consistently embarrassing thing I do. You’d think I’d get better at just holding my cups at some point.
NHN: What’s your biggest dream?
EK: To tell stories through my art by surrounding myself with amazing people and visiting amazing places.
NHN: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
EK: I see myself as an art director either at a branding agency I’ve worked with for some time or a place that I found myself. I love working with people and creating stories for clients, and it’s where I am working every day to get to.
NHN: What are you most excited about in Lake Nona?
EK: The way that the community is connecting more and more as the area grows. It’s great to see more locally-owned businesses popping up in the area and the support that people are giving them.
NHN: Who’s your biggest inspiration?
EK: I can’t put one name on the people and things that I draw inspiration from. For me to only draw inspiration from one source would be extremely limiting. I always find that following lots of other designers who utilize all kinds of styles that I am always casually absorbing new ideas that get stored away for later. I listen to a lot of podcasts: comedy, news, and story-based shows. I cover the gamut of genres to always be keeping my mind fresh.
NHN: What’s your favorite book?
EK: The Dinner by Herman Koch.
NHN: What’s your favorite movie?
EK: Memento. I see something new every time I watch it.
NHN: What show(s) have you binge-watched?
EK: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Crown, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are my most recent three!
NHN: If you could add one thing to the Nonahood, what would it be?
EK: More coffee shops, always more coffee shops.
RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS:
Extrovert or Introvert?
Introvert
Indoors or Outdoors?
Outdoors
Sun or Snow?
Sun
Dogs or Cats?
Dogs, always dogs
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee. I legitimately have an entire Instagram account dedicated to it (@coffeepastiche).
Adventurous or Laid Back?
Adventurous
Canon, Nikon or Sony?
Canon
Books or TV?
Both and neither – podcasts are way more my jam.
