Irina Voulgari
Founder of Tilde Design
An early love of books, typography and all things creative led me to pursue a career in design. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Arts from the University of Western Attica and an ΜΑ in Visual Communication from the University of Kent, she I worked as an editorial/layout designer and visual identity expert in her native Athens, collaborating with a wide range of esteemed institutions such as publishing houses, universities, and museums.
Following my relocation to Mykonos with my family, in 2016, I worked extensively in projects that pertain both to the tourism and hospitality industries, and to the fields of arts and culture.
Since 2023, I’ve been living in Syros with my husband and daughter, where I founded Tilde Design. T.D. is the next logical step in my timeline as a design practitioner, making great use of my experience and expertise to create a dynamic network of professionals in both the applied arts and in production. With my coordination, Tilde offers services that are well-rounded, tailor-made and truly state-of-the-art.
BACKGROUND
Growing up in a family that encouraged creativity, I developed an interest in books and art from an early age. Later on I enrolled at the Department of Graphic Design and Visual Communication of the University of Western Attica. As a student, I interned at the renowned Kastaniotis Editions, and received first-hand, well-rounded education in typography and editorial design. However, not wishing to limit my expertise to one field, my thesis was focused on visual communication and its applications on city streets.
EDUCATION
My IKY (the Greek Scholarship Foundation)-funded MA in Visual Communication, along with Britain’s vibrant creative scene, further deepened my passion for art and design, while at the same time introducing me to a whole new world of skills and professional capabilities. My years at KIAD familiarized me with the process of extensive research and formed the basis for further development. My student projects covered everything— from purely artistic to strictly business-oriented, from analogue and hand-made to multimedia—and showed me the fascinating future of an already exciting field.
EXPERIENCE
Back in Athens, I worked extensively in the culture and publishing industries. I also had long and multi-faceted collaborations with the University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens and partook in many research programs. My roles in all these projects were varied and included layout design, digitizing books and works of art, visual and brand identity, UX research. At the same time I continued my education in a wide range of graphic arts-related fields. I taught typography and layout design-related courses for more than five years. In 2019 I relocated my practice to my beloved Cycladic Islands – first to Mykonos and then to Syros, where I founded Tilde Design.
VISION
My approach to design—whether for books, visual identity, illustration or any other kind of project—is that it should be simple, distinctive and functional. In other words, it has to be to the point. Of course, this cannot be achieved without applying three crucial principles: attention to detail, meticulous research and a clear understanding of the client’s vision and specific needs.
NETWORK
But my involvement in each project does not stop there. Having developed a network of collaborators—printing houses, photographers, programmers, copywriters and more—I can also help you find the right person for each job. So, apart from the design aspect, I can manage each project from start to finish, taking the weight of looking for other professionals off your shoulders. And although I’m currently based in Syros, this community of collaborators hails from all over Greece, making it easy to complete projects without having to think of geographical limitations.
An early love of books, typography and all things creative led Irina to pursue a career in design. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Arts from the University of Western Attica and an ΜΑ in Visual Communication from the University of Kent, she became a highly sought-after editorial/layout designer and visual identity expert in her native Athens, collaborating with a wide range of esteemed institutions such as publishing houses, universities, and museums.
Following her relocation to Mykonos with her family, in 2016, she worked extensively in projects that pertain both to the tourism and hospitality industries, and to the fields of arts and culture.
Since 2023, Irina has been living in Syros with her husband and daughter, where she founded Tilde Design. T.D. is the next logical step in Irina’s timeline as a design practitioner, making great use of her experience and expertise to create a dynamic network of professionals in both the applied arts and in production. Coordinated by Irina, Tilde offers services that are well-rounded, tailor-made and truly state-of-the-art.
BACKGROUND
Growing up in a family that encouraged creativity, I developed an interest in books and art from an early age. Later on I enrolled at the Department of Graphic Design and Visual Communication of the University of Western Attica. As a student, I interned at the renowned Kastaniotis Editions, and received first-hand, well-rounded education in typography and editorial design. However, not wishing to limit my expertise to one field, my thesis was focused on visual communication and its applications on city streets.
EDUCATION
My IKY (the Greek Scholarship Foundation)-funded MA in Visual Communication, along with Britain’s vibrant creative scene, further deepened my passion for art and design, while at the same time introducing me to a whole new world of skills and professional capabilities. My years at KIAD familiarized me with the process of extensive research and formed the basis for further development. My student projects covered everything— from purely artistic to strictly business-oriented, from analogue and hand-made to multimedia—and showed me the fascinating future of an already exciting field.
EXPERIENCE
Back in Athens, I worked extensively in the culture and publishing industries. I also had long and multi-faceted collaborations with the University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens and partook in many research programs. My roles in all these projects were varied and included layout design, digitizing books and works of art, visual and brand identity, UX research. At the same time I continued my education in a wide range of graphic arts-related fields. I taught typography and layout design-related courses for more than five years. In 2019 I relocated my practice to my beloved Cycladic Islands – first to Mykonos and then to Syros, where I founded Tilde Design.
VISION
My approach to design—whether for books, visual identity, illustration or any other kind of project—is that it should be simple, distinctive and functional. In other words, it has to be to the point. Of course, this cannot be achieved without applying three crucial principles: attention to detail, meticulous research and a clear understanding of the client’s vision and specific needs.
PRACTICE
But my involvement in each project does not stop there. Having developed a network of collaborators—printing houses, photographers, programmers, copywriters and more—I can also help you find the right person for each job. So, apart from the design aspect, I can manage each project from start to finish, taking the weight of looking for other professionals off your shoulders. And although I’m currently based in Syros, this community of collaborators hails from all over Greece, making it easy to complete projects without having to think of geographical limitations.