Helena Alfajora
Q What do you do?
“I help thoughtful people actualize the environments for their ideas across film, photography, and live entertainment.”
To name a few highlights of the process, I translate the ideas of directors into visual concepts, I create a game plan for the iteration process, and I source, build, and buy materials then get to making!
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Growing up, I spent my leisure time reading and drawing, allowing my imagination to run its wildest dreams. On weekends, my mom would rearrange the house and keep things clean to a T—skills I absorbed. I received her Bachelor’s in both Studio Art and English from Santa Clara University, honing my critical reading, writing, and art skills. I found my voice and gained the tools to express my visions. I started my career in design services for home decor and branding for businesses and corporate events. I returned to school to obtain my Master’s in Production Design from Savannah College of Art and Design, wielding my existing skillset and expanding on more. I am a participant of the 2022 Production Design Initiative and am beginning my career in the art department.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I create for both the individual story, 1:1, and a collective experience 1:the masses, weaving in inspiration across times, places, and references.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m on early stages in various projects. Talking to various folks about lending my services to be a production designer for a short film, a costume designer for a collection of plays, a spatial and graphic designer for a music & arts event.
On the daily, I’m working on being patient with opportunities to come. I volley between periods of everything happening all at once and things moving seemingly snail-pace. The grass is greener on the other side whenever I’m in each state. I’m working on bridging that dichotomy.
Q What’s your style?
Here’s a mini-run down of some great influential hits:
- Louis Vuitton, Men’s FW22 Paris fashion show, designed by Playlab, Inc, directed by Yoann Bourgeois, honoring the late Virgil Abloh, featuring music by Tyler the Creator - a holistically gorgeous experience
- Anything Es Devlin - I love Mirror Maze, a poetic installation she designed for Chanel perfume
- Meshes in the Afternoon, Maya Deren’s 1943 short film - images and feelings from this live in my head rent free
- The mind of Joseph Campbell – I’m currently going through the Power of Myth
- The Pyramid of the Sun – it also lives in my head rent free and is on my bucket list
Helena’s mix:
I like to showcase a theoretical stage design I did for Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, imagining the set as if it were staged like an outdoor music concert. Also, check out the concept campaigns #SkincareforHumancare and Ascension, Fashion Film under design packages on my website. Keep an eye out for Sueño Primavera, a short film coming soon. Watch the trailer here: vimeo.com
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to focus on the vision-stage of production design. Being in that stage of collaborating with a director, producers, cinematographers, throwing a wide net of possibilities, and slowly narrowing it to the designs necessary for the project.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
My creative process is a journey of emotions, and I go through existential moments to get to an idea. I have a love-hate relationship with networking. I love connecting with others and exchanging ideas, but often feel wary of seeming like I’m trying to market myself. I want to toss out the idea of marketing this image of myself and instead think of it as connecting over ideas and our ethos.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
It’d be a mix of these on any given day to make my life easier:
- Seek cool events, job listings, content, and people to connect with and seek inspo from
- Archive my digital and analog files, finding gems and patterns within the treasure
- Listen, exchange, and strengthen ideas
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I accept a lot of where I’ve come from and that my experiences are all formative ones. I wish I could appear before myself in times of frustration and give myself the boost of confidence, the focused energy, and the encouragement I need. I practice this now, but it leads to this—I’d tell myself to LOVE myself, be my biggest cheerleader, and fan. I’ve always thought being selfless would combat being self-centered, but I learned that you can be selfish with your self-love and still be a good and beautiful person.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I’d love to hear an anecdote about a time when you didn’t know what you’re doing? What steps or practices did you take? We all face adversity. I like to learn how someone emerged from that. What was it? Why? How does it connect to your work today?
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Any project with people that value creativity, the work of a production designer, and teamwork. I’m happy to work across live events, still photography, or the moving image, and I’m happy to join in for day shoots, multi-day, or month-long campaigns.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client has done deep work to envision their idea. Say for example it’s a live event. They have a connection and purpose for the event that streams from all these influences. It’s as if this idea couldn’t be possible at any other time. We bond over the idea and our respective ethos. I ruminate on what I can offer with my skillset, and we collaborate, communicate, and are constructive to the design for the project’s needs.
Q What is your rate?
It depends on the scale of the project, the client, and design services needed. Typically, the initial concept stage is a flat rate fee. Once we move into the design package or actualization of the design, I ask for an hourly rate. I am empathetic towards the budget of each project.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Firstly, I always feel honored when someone wants to connect with me so there’s that. If I want to get more specific, I like when someone sends me something they think I’d like—extra points when they nail it. I love to connect over ideas and similar dispositions. To the point, DM @a._helena on IG or email me at helenalfajora@gmail.com about your project + wanting to work together, and we’ll go from there!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I’ve had various cohorts of creative people. Here’s a few I’m inspired by—
Alexis Tong- we’ve had some amazing conversations about creativity, consumption, and our dreams
Allegra Thomas - we studied Studio Art together at Santa Clara and she is out here doing the d*mn thang
Alejandra Arrieta Páez - she is a brilliant production designer, a has wealth of skills, and beautiful eye to envisioning designs
Brodrick Whittley – lighting designer & production designer, we’ve had endless conversations about what inspires us and how we want to shape future designs
Also s/o Austino Pope- he is a tenacious creative & filmmaker
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Live. Laugh. Love. LOL. But really, awareness is a catalyst.
This member profile was originally published in August 2022.