How Everyday Inspiration Shapes This Brentwood Graphic Designer

A Brentwood graphic designer’s work can be seen everywhere from Roller Derby logos to a Route 1 beer can.

When she was in high school, Selena Benally started out hand-drawing posters for the school play.  She studied graphic arts in Pennsylvania before moving to the Route 1 corridor in 2018.

As an independent designer, her work has included logos for everything from the Peach State Roller Derby to Girls Rock Baltimore.

Most recently, she created the logo and marketing material for This Could Go Boom! music festival in Bladensburg this summer, including a special lager from Hyattsville’s Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.

Benally, who is Navajo and Hopi, told the Hyattsville Wire that she takes inspiration from her background and all kinds of voices when trying to move past the “same visual cues” she sees used again and again.

“I’ve always thought that it is important to study the work of a diverse array of artists and designers to expand your artistic goals. It definitely helps in guiding me when working to move past tired tropes, to get to the heart of a brand identity and vision,” she said.