Skip to Main Content
You are now in the main content area

Irena Faiz

Education

  • Bachelors of Design, Graphic Design,  OCAD University
  • Minor in Entrepreneurship and social innovation, OCAD University 

Specialization

Interdisciplinary design, branding, marketing, immersive media, interactive design, cultural storytelling, digital media, creative research, project management

Biography

Irena Faiz is a multidisciplinary designer with extensive freelance experience and a strong foundation in 2D and print design. A graduate from OCAD University with a Bachelor of Design and a minor in Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation, she merges a refined design aesthetic with strategic thinking. Irena currently serves on the executive board of AYEDI (Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative), a federally registered non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Afghan youth, where she leads as the organization’s primary graphic designer. Through this role, she actively contributes to community development and cultural representation.

Deeply inspired by science fiction, ancient history, and cultural heritage, Irena creates work that bridges traditional and contemporary design. Her creative process often begins by imagining fictional worlds, giving each project a narrative purpose. Seeking to expand beyond traditional mediums, to seamlessly integrate elements of Central Asian, Afghan, and Islamic art into modern design. Through her work, Irena strives to redefine what it means to be an Afghan designer, illustrating how an individual from the diaspora can weave together multiple cultural influences into a cohesive and innovative artistic vision.

Why Digital Media?

Irena joined the Master of Digital Media (MDM) program at Toronto Metropolitan University to explore immersive technologies, UX/UI design, coding, and robotics. The program offers a collaborative environment where she can experiment with interdisciplinary tools and bring conceptual ideas to life through innovation. By integrating storytelling with emerging media, she aims to craft digital experiences that reflect the layered identity of an Afghan-Canadian designer and push the boundaries of cultural expression through design.

Links

Website: www.irenafaiz.com
Social Media: @irenafaiz
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/irena-faiz