Independent designer & creative lead Lawrence, KS · Available remotely

Ky
Novak.

I make thoughtful visual worlds for stories worth sharing.

Art direction / Creative direction / Editorial design / Digital storytelling

In Libraries We Trust collage of library patrons, a library building, and colorful stacks of books
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01 / Selected Work

Design in practice.

02 / A little context

Ky Novak smiling in a pink polka-dot shirt

Design for people
who love a good story.

I’m Ky Novak, a multidisciplinary designer and creative lead based in Lawrence, KS. I have a soft spot for the details that make a story feel unmistakably itself. Sometimes it’s the type that sets the tone. Sometimes it’s the way an image draws you in before you’ve read a word.

At Kirkus Reviews, I lead a small creative team and work across editorial, brand, web, social, print, and video. I’m hands-on with the design and thoughtful about the art direction. I like figuring out what makes a piece work in its own format and which details can carry through a whole campaign. A magazine spread and a social graphic ask different things of a reader, but they can still feel like they belong to the same story.

I earned a BFA in Graphic Design & Art Education from Colorado State University. That combination still shapes how I work. I think about what someone needs to understand first, where their eye goes next, and what might make them want to spend a little more time with a piece.

Based in Lawrence, KSWorking remotelyGraphic design · Art direction

03 / What I Bring

Creative range.
A clear point of view.

I bring an adaptable toolkit and a thoughtful eye to the story, the team, and the details that give each project its own character.

Explore Selected Work
01

Art & creative direction

Set a visual direction, shape the concept, and guide the craft from first idea through finished work.

02

Editorial design

Give stories a clear rhythm and expressive structure across print and digital formats.

03

Visual systems

Build cohesive design languages that bring clarity and character across channels.

04

Digital storytelling

Translate ideas into engaging web, campaign, and multimedia experiences.

04 / Get in touch

Open to creative leadership opportunities

Let’s make
something
meaningful.

I’m open to creative lead, art direction, and design opportunities. If you’re building a team that values thoughtful storytelling and strong visual craft, I’d love to talk.

Start a conversation