Elena Ancarola

Communication Design

Hi, I’m Elena!

I'm a business-minded creative designer based in Melbourne, known for my creative energy (and a bit of cool weirdness!). If I had to describe my approach to design, it would be summed up as: design is in the details. I’m passionate about creating meaningful, intentional designs that resonate, especially when building brand identities and shaping strategies that connect on a deeper, emotional level. I believe purposeful design has the power to evoke strong emotions and foster lasting relationships between brands and their audiences.

My love for creativity was first sparked by a passion for illustration. Although my journey into graphic design wasn’t linear, creativity has always been my compass. With a degree in business, I’ve become equally passionate about how design intersects with business success. I bring a blend of creative flair and strategic insight to each project, balancing artistic vision with business acumen to craft cohesive, impactful brand strategies.

Beyond design, I’ve discovered I simply love creating in all forms—whether it’s doodling on paper, experimenting in the kitchen, or breathing new life into vintage furniture. I’ve learned that I’m highly considered in everything I do, and that’s why design and creativity have become my outlets for expressing care and passion, whether it’s for something, somewhere, or someone. I thrive on the joy of transforming ideas into reality, whether through my design work or everyday creativity. When I’m not working, you’ll find me exploring new places or cooking up a storm, always seeking fresh inspiration.

Hang 10

The “Hang 10” campaign addresses smartphone overuse and its impact on mental health, encouraging young adults to take 10-minute breaks from technology. Inspired by surf slang, “Hang 10” means performing a trick hands-free, symbolising freedom from phone dependency. With the key message “Disconnect to Reconnect,” the campaign uses playful visuals, simple messaging, and community support to promote real-life connections and foster healthier digital habits, raising awareness about balanced tech use.

Bickies

"Bickies" is a proposed rebrand of the beloved Arnott’s brand, designed to expand its international appeal while maintaining familiarity in the Australian and New Zealand markets. The re-brand introduces a new mascot for the brand “Bickies the Bat”, a playful wombat that embodies the brand’s sweet and savoury offering, enhancing it’s charm and recognition. The name “Bickies,” derived from Australian slang, reinforces relatability, while the tagline “a sweet or salty snack” highlights the product range and global appeal.

Nex

Nex is a proposed rebrand for Optus, transforming it into a fresh, dynamic identity positioned as Australia’s fastest 5G provider. The sleek logo symbolises speed and connectivity, drawing from Optus’s original female-designed logo to honor its legacy and celebrate women in design. A vibrant color palette brings energy and playfulness, positioning Nex as more than just an internet provider—an engaging, modern brand built for today’s digital world.

La Bella Vita

La Bella Vita is a conceptual festival celebrating Italian culture in Melbourne, blending traditional Italian design with Melbourne's essence. The visual style features hand-generated typography, with a sophisticated black and red palette accented by green, subtly nodding to the Italian flag while maintaining elegance. This design project includes a festival directory, map, web design, publications, and merchandise—all crafted to highlight Italian heritage within Melbourne’s vibrant atmosphere.

Memory

Memory is a photobook that honors the fleeting, often overlooked moments that shape our lives. Memories can be loud and vivid or quiet and blurred, changing over time. Small, underappreciated moments fade as new experiences take their place. Through this collection, I aim to hero those fragments, preserving the subtle, forgotten moments that, though seemingly insignificant, hold deep meaning in the story of who we are.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.