My name is Rachel Cifarelli. I'm a sophomore at Elon University, on track to graduate in May of 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Strategic Communications and Communication Design and a minor in Psychology.
I fell in love with Illustrator – and the entire Adobe Creative Cloud – in a course called Creating Multimedia Content. We learned the basics of Illustrator and Photoshop in that class, but like all other experiences in life, not everything lasts forever. We moved on to the next topic after about three weeks, but I wasn't ready to give up Illustrator so quickly. So I took advantage of what my university had to offer and started taking my own courses on Lynda.com, supplementing my learning with small random graphics and logos. Eventually, my love turned into an addiction, and now Illustrator is always open on my laptop –like, always.
I'm more than just an illustrator, however. I read. I sing in the shower. I love podcasts (some of my favorites include How I Built This and Schnitt Talk). I'm a good listener. I'm a Birkenstock-wearer. I'm a wanna-be entrepreneur. I sit outside and sleep in the sun like a cat. I'm a feminist and a friend and a sister and a daughter and a goofball who sometimes doesn't know when to stop being a goofball.
Originally from Westchester, New York, I grew up alongside my older brother (also a graphic designer) and my dog in a cute yellow colonial home. I've always had constant support from my mom and dad, and without them I would not be who I am today. My mom is my best friend; my dad is my comic relief.
I hope from this, you can gleam a little insight into my world, what I value and who I am as a person.