a glimpse behind the work

gabrielle koenig: creative, communicator, strategist.

My parents didn’t bat an eye when I asked for a calligraphy set — a fountain pen and ink — for my 12th birthday. I remember being so excited to sit at my desk and teach myself how to do calligraphy; I loved learning something new and challenging. I strived to perfect each letter, and I took so much pride in my improvement. It’s the latter that I now find inspiring: letting go of “perfection” and focusing on passion. What fun is success if you’re not also happy and excited about life?

Ten years wiser than the little girl with her calligraphy set, I see success much differently. The culmination of all my experiences at Clemson has made me successful: they’ve brought pride to my parents and left me feeling fulfilled. I’ve conquered things I never thought possible and live to seek out new experiences, knowing the feeling after is much worth any trepidation beforehand.

As you click through my portfolio, I hope my passion for my work — and life — shines through.

my creative process

Every project requires a different approach; however, I believe the best results stem from authenticity. To me, this means knowing the client and investing myself in their goals: a win for them is a win for me. Whether the “client” is a company, friend, or class assignment, I make sure to fully understand the expectations before brainstorming and creating.

Late nights or early mornings, you can find me starting at a computer screen or scribbling in a sketchbook. Inspiration can come whenever, and thoughtful work produces the best designs. I believe in ideating often and pursuing multiple avenues for each project. In my eyes, no idea is bad; it’s just not the right idea.

Go forward confidently.

the fun stuff

  • My semester abroad. During the Spring 2023 semester, I lived and studied in Florence, Italy. I had the opportunity to travel all around Europe and through this, I learned so much about myself. I could talk forever about this experience.