Creative student with a strong focus on Photoshop, illustration, and experimental image editing. Experienced in photo manipulation, retouching, and digital compositing to produce visually striking outcomes. Demonstrated ability in visual storytelling, graphic illustration, and enhancing images through texture, colour, and detail. Skilled in exploring both technical precision and artistic expression to create unique visual concepts. Seeking to develop professional expertise in creative image work and contribute innovative solutions within the field of visual design.
+44(0)7572674417
dydydawa@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/darja-ivanova-archi ivanova.arch
Languages
Technical skills
Photoshop SketchUp
Illustrator AutoCAD
InDesign Revit
Lightroom Twinmotion
Russian (native)
Latvian (C2)
English (C2)
German (B1)
Spanish (A2)
Ukrainian (A2)
Latin (A1)
Experience
• Contributed original illustrations to the “Poetry” project in collaboration with Riga State Classical Gymnasium.
• Contributed original illustrations and layout design for Coventry University’s Degree Show booklet, using InDesign to enhance visual presentation and narrative.
• Delivered advanced renderings and landscape visuals in Photoshop, integrating textures, lighting, and human presence to strengthen architectural storytelling.
• Engaged in collaborative creative work with lecturers, typography experts, and peers, ensuring high-quality outcomes and impactful visual communication.
Surreal Portrait – Photomanipulation in Photoshop. Combination of portrait photography with natural elements (birds and sky) to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
Before & After Portrait Edit – Comprehensive Photoshop work including background cleanup, pose adjustment, and retouching to highlight the subject and create a clean, visually appealing image.
Mixed-Media Style Portrait – Integrating a ripped-paper effect with portrait photography in Photoshop to add depth, contrast, and a graphic twist to the image.
Photoshop
Portrait Retouch – Photoshop edit focused on enhancing the subject by refining background details, applying retouching, and improving color balance for a polished, elegant result.
Artistic Photo Edits
Photography & Digital Experiment – Original photo of a violet flower, later developed in Photoshop through colour manipulation, layering, and experimental editing techniques to create an abstract, surreal aesthetic.
Photoshop
Original photograph taken during a one-day photography course (awarded 1st place for composition). Later retouched in Photoshop to refine colors, lighting, and overall atmosphere.
Photography & Digital Edit – Original flower photograph edited in Photoshop with colour enhancement and tonal refinement to highlight its vivid blue hues and delicate structure.
Photoshop
Photography & Retouch – Original autumn scene photographed and later refined in Photoshop through colour adjustments and tonal editing to emphasise the warmth and texture of the leaves.
Floral Study – A self-captured photo transformed in Photoshop through subtle retouching and colour editing to create a refined, atmospheric composition. Photoshop
Nature vs. Lifelessness – A Photoshop composition exploring the fragile coexistence of life and emptiness. Photoshop
Digital Experiment – A Photoshop composition of a tram image using layered distortion, scaling, and displacement effects to explore visual fragmentation.
Illustration & Graphic Design
Photoshop Illustration – Exploring texture and depth through fine fur detailing and delicate colour highlights within a predominantly monochrome palette. Photoshop
Digital Illustration – A Photoshop artwork in a semi-realistic style, portraying an intimate indoor scene under the night sky. The focus lies on atmosphere and storytelling, achieved through detailed lighting, layered colour, and textural depth.
Digital Illustration – A Photoshop composition set in a rain-soaked city street, combining expressive figure drawing with textured urban surroundings. Layered colour work and rain effects enhance the dramatic and immersive mood.
Adobe Illustrator – A multilingual ‘Welcome’ illustration exploring custom typography, layered colour, and subtle shadow effects to create a vibrant and inclusive composition.
Illustrator
Surreal Character Illustration – A whimsical surreal character design featuring a playful, jelly-like creature with a monocle and top hat. Created in Photoshop using layered digital painting, stylised shading, and vibrant colour gradients to emphasise personality and charm.
Photoshop
This collage combines layered photographs with masks, blending modes and transparency to create a seamless composition. Light and colour adjustments unify the architectural, natural and human elements.
Book Cover Design – Photoshop photomontage combining urban architecture with natural elements and portrait photography. Includes colour grading, lighting adjustments, and text integration to create a cohesive, cinematic composition suitable for print.
Photoshop
Architectural Rendering
Site Plan Illustration –Photoshop work combining CAD drawings with hand-rendered textures and digital painting. Trees, water and landscape elements were added with layered brushes and colour overlays to create a clear, visually engaging presentation of the design concept.
3D Urban Visualisation – Integration of site design into a three-dimensional city context using Photoshop and SketchUp. The model combines textured building massing with rendered landscape elements, enhancing spatial understanding and providing a realistic view of the proposed intervention.
Environmental Section Diagram – Digital illustration produced in Photoshop and Illustrator, combining vector graphics, textures, and hand-drawn effects. Arrows, icons, and colour coding highlight key strategies such as ventilation, daylighting, vegetation, and noise absorption for clear and engaging visual communication.
Urban Park Rendering – Enhancement of the base render with realistic stone textures on the steps, water surface detailing, and added greenery. Integrated people and small features to create a lively, welcoming public space.
