About Me
Fashion Accessory Design
My name is Ava Kaloustian and I am a Fashion Accessory Design graduate, with a minor in illustration, from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. My skills as a designer are versatile and motivate my curiosity towards different areas within art and design. I design, pattern, and construct all of my accessory pieces by hand.
Growing up in a creative family has positively influenced my enthusiasm towards art and design. From a young age, I was constantly inventing and crafting with a keen eye for color and perfection. At age of 12 I began constructing jewelry and selling it in a gallery. My drive for knowledge and success has led me to explore multiple areas within art and design, such as personally achieving my own design patent for one of my original pieces this year. A lot of my work is inspired by childhood and the inner child. I play with unique shapes and colors within my designs.
INSPIRATION
Oddball -Ode to Childhood and the Inner Child
An ode to childhood; one that may, or may not have, existed for you. Childhood (to me) is one of the most sacred human experiences. It is a privilege to be able to say you had a good childhood. Some may not remember their own, or do not want to remember it, and others might relish in the nostalgia of their youth. For me, childhood was fun, beautiful, innocent, and also terrifying. It seemed as if I could never catch up on “growing up”- always wanting to embrace my inner child even if I was told not to.
Fitting in is tough. When we are young and experience a sense of rejection with “fitting in” we are more likely to develop social fears and tend to self isolate. I found myself becoming immersed in YouTube communities, online games, and also diving deeper into my love for art and film. I liked to make creepy little dolls, watch scary movies, burn barbies, and do special effects makeup. These were the joys that kept me company when I felt like an oddball; things out of the norm that made me feel normal.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Final Collection, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Look Book Introduction
Concept Development
Color Palette for Collection
Material Process
Material Process
Material Process
Final Sketches of Pieces
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Accessories by Ava, Photographed by Rose Hohl
Creative Direction, Styling, Set Design, by Ava
DETAIL
A Closer Look
Growing up we are told that once we turn eighteen we become legal adults- but what does it really mean to become an adult? If “growing up” has taught me anything, it is that adults are just big kids. There comes a transition where you begin to view your parents as people- recognizing how they were shaped throughout their own lives and how they shaped you. Growing up is understanding. I have found myself growing with this collection, and it growing with me. When you look through my work, I encourage you to relate my pieces to your own nostalgia; allowing your inner child to run free and the work to grow with you too. This six piece collection came together over the course of a year- from concept development, research, inspiration, critiques, designs, more critiques, material sourcing, color exploration, prototyping, patterning, handcrafting, and final execution. The entire photoshoot was organized, directed, styled, curated by me. This made me realize how much I enjoy creative direction and curation.
I think it is really special when a complete stranger can find comfort or curiosity within your own work; to me, it means that I've done something right.
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