Polina Starygina Multidisciplinary designer, illustrator, and animator. A fourth-year student at the HSE Art and Design School. Winner and finalist in professional competitions, including HSE CREATIVE OPEN, Golden Bee, DAFES, the Dobrovinsky Award, and others.
What I specialize in
I create strong concepts using vivid, memorable imagery that resonates emotionally with the target audience. I frequently employ visual metaphors to infuse projects with deeper meaning and spark greater interest in the viewer—an approach that helps capture attention and foster loyalty.I work with interactive videos, animation, and illustrations for various platforms—including video-hosting sites, social media, print publications, and others.
The goal Create alternative opening credits for a film that reflect its content without retelling the plot. The goal is to spark the viewer’s interest and encourage them to watch the film.
The solution The main task is to show in the titles the union of life and visual cinematic deception. To do this, animated illustrations of everyday urban scenes are distorted using glass, which acts as a camera lens.
The result Finalist of Golden Bee 17 Global biennale of graphic design, Credits category.Finalist of the competition DAFES choice. December 2025.
The goal Show a childhood memory of a small park in the hometown.It’s about a time when everything seems a little brighter and bigger than it really is, and an ordinary trip to the park turns into a real holiday.
The solution To evoke a sense of «returning to childhood,» the space was designed in Blender as a 3D pop-up book. The texture of crumpled cardboard alludes to the carefree and slightly chaotic atmosphere of childhood, while objects that gradually increase in size reflect the unique way a child perceives the world. The project is presented as a 360-degree video, allowing for complete immersion in the atmosphere.
The result The interactive video was presented at the Yandex Museum Festival in September 2025.
The goal Coordinating teamwork and finding a balance between the visions of three different designers. Creating an engaging explainer video about the intricacies of memory, designed to keep viewers watching until the very end.
The solution Division of work into areas of responsibility. My role: developing the concept and visual metaphor, creating 2D illustrations, and preparing assets for animation.
Result Finalist of the competition HSE CREATIVE OPEN'26.
The goal Develop unconventional, flower-themed holidays and create a series of illustrations for the Wild Gardener flower shop. The illustrations should evoke positive emotions and strengthen customer loyalty.
