Recent graduate Paula Volchok’s thesis project, The Female Gaze, is an exploration of self-portraiture by female artists that takes the form of a risographed book. Paula’s goal was to focus on the lives of five distinctly diverse (in terms of time period, content, circumstance, level of fame, medium, method, etc.) female artists and the way they have used their art to represent themselves.

What were your favorite classes at Parsons? 

I didn’t think this at the time, but looking back the class that was the most challenging and simultaneously the most rewarding was Thesis (with Pascal Glissmann). The thought of developing and perfecting one idea over the course of a year sounded painful at first but taught me how to marry concept and design through iteration.

I also really enjoyed Ethan Robey’s Graphic Design history course because I learned a tremendous amount within the span of one semester and Ethan was extremely passionate and knowledgeable.

What did you wish you knew as a student that you know now? 

That your learning process is more important than a grade. Don’t dwell on things!

Who do you look up to in the design community? 

All of my classmates – they taught me a lot through countless hours of critique, discussion, and collaboration.

What are your plans/goals for the next couple of years? 

To experience design outside of New York. And to keep learning of course!