Alina Carballo is a brand designer and artist based in sunny Santa Monica, California. Born in Russia, she'd been creative for as long as she can remember. As she told us, "I started drawing when I was young and got into design by making memes of my friends in Photoshop—just messing around and having fun with it." That "messing around" eventually led her to study graphic design, where she earned her degree before leaving Russia at 20. From there, her travels took her to stops in Bali and Central and South America, and ultimately to Southern Califonria. When asked about what inspires her as an artist, Alina told us, "Nature is definitely my number one inspiration—it has so many layers, from the way different landscapes create their own unique vibe to the colors, shapes, and even the animals that belong to each place. I love how every environment tells its own story." She is also heavily influenced by vintage design, from packaging to classic cars. Blending these elements of organic beauty and nostalgia gives Alina's work it's unique look and feel. When she's not designing for your next favorite brand, you can usually find Alina outside surfing or skateboarding in the California sunshine. As she explains, "being in nature keeps me grounded and inspired, and I find that my best ideas often come to me when I'm out in the world, experiencing everything it has to offer."