Makena Janssen is an artist, designer, and educator working at the intersection of cultural, civic, and educational contexts. Her practice combines environmental graphic design with a teaching approach grounded in visual literacy, generative making, and critique-based learning. At Handbuilt Studio, she develops environmental graphics for institutions such as Los Angeles Unified School District, the Wahiawā Public Library, and Gloria Molina Grand Park, collaborating with cultural organizations to translate their unique identities into rich visual languages. Her work is driven by a strong interest in the power of language in design and in translating complex, non-visual ideas into spatial and material experiences, ranging from murals and wayfinding systems to large-scale installations.

Her printmaking work has been exhibited at Colorado Springs 802 Gallery,  Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s Lane Family Gallery,  and UCCS’s Gallery of Contemporary Art. Her design work has been featured at the DIS Copenhagen Library, and in 2020 she was awarded the faculty selected, Lorraine Wild Scholarship in Graphic Design at CalArts.

Alongside her professional practice, she is committed to teaching as a co-constructed and exploratory process that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and sustained engagement with making.

Makena earned a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the California Institute of the Arts. Prior to her graduate work, she studied Fine Art and Education at Colorado College.

Check out her latest design work at @handbuiltstudio and @makenarjanssen

To get in touch, please email makenarjanssen@gmail.com