When I first moved to Prishtina in September of 2007, I became eager to know more about who is doing what; designers, artists, filmmakers, and other professionals. I am still amazed at how much talent there is and how things can improve steadily if only there was an open collaboration between these professionals.

…And then, grafikimi started!

I had the idea about having a blog like this way back when I was living in the States, but it somehow never took off from the coding stages, just because I was so far from Prishtina and had nothing to write about the town. It was also much harder to connect with anyone doing anything related to art in Prishtina, besides the ones that traveled and I met in New York.

So now I’m home and I hope to see more people working together in projects that will improve our environment. Why? Well, because I live in it and I want it to be good to live in.

Quick notes
I am currently working at Ogilvy Kosova (previously Karrota) with a bunch of talented people that not only create great stuff, but are great people to be around with. After a 9 year stint in the States of learning and working design I packed my bags and flew all the way from New York City to Prishtina City.

While in the States I was lucky enough to do design work for some major clients such as the National Basketball Association and Oxfam America. I worked for an advertising agency, an interactive firm, a global corporation, and had the great chance of owning and operating my own design firm (Lucid Vagabond, Inc.) for a bit over 3 years in New Jersey.

On the education side I was able to snatch a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design and Photography from Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Had few group gallery showings, got some awards, and traveled as much as I could.

One sunny August day while walking down Morningside Heights up by Columbia University in New York City I got a call from my immigration lawyer telling me that I had been denied my application for the green card based on the fact that I didn’t have enough grounds to receive it. I called it a blessing in disguise, packed my bags, got the ticket and flew 9 hours over the Atlantic and Western Europe just to find Kosova in a promising shape with a potential to be a great center for the arts and all things progressive.

Now, I’m living the dream in the least likely place in the world. But, as the saying goes — “You take some lemons and you make lemonade.” — Well, I just adjusted this whole thing a bit along the way, but what I’m trying to say is that as a designer we’re always taught to look at each opportunity as a great potential for success while considering all its limitations and shortcomings.

The Works —
Lucid Vagabond, Inc. (quick portfolio)
Lucid Vagabond, Inc. (company website)
Personal Flickr Photos

See you around,

Valoni.

—
Details:
Valon Sopaj
valoni (at) grafikimi.com
+377 (0)44.688.776
grafikimi.com