About ALiWAY
ALiWAY Designs is a full-time art and design business run by me, Ali Price. I work on various types of projects but mostly freelance graphic design (including branding, corporate reports, posters and social media content). I also paint custom murals designed specifically for each unique project. Read more about my process below.
Full list of services:
Murals (interior & exterior)
Commissioned Paintings
Art Installations/Displays
Handmade Posters
Digital Posters
Social Media Content
Brand Identities (includes logos)
Book Design
Illustration
Product Design
Pricing:
All projects vary depending on size and complexity. Please contact me for an estimate.
How it started . . .
MURAL DESIGN PROCESS
ALiWAY began in the summer of 2020 when someone I know mentioned painting a mural on their building. At the time, I was quite focused on my corporate graphic design job in Manhattan. Having been an artist my whole upbringing and then receiving my BFA in Graphic Design and minor in Arts Management, striving towards eventually working for myself, this question was unexpected but I felt like this was something I was supposed to do.
My mind flooded with ideas of all the possibilities of what a mural could be. The graphic designer in me wanted to make it informative and educational, while the artist in me was screaming to just go bananas because the scale was huge and the client was my friend, I could paint anything. But it didn’t feel right to just paint anything, I’m a trained graphic designer who knew this was an opportunity to tell a story and it would seen by an unimaginable number of people throughout however many years the mural will be there. That’s a big responsibility.
So I studied the town for weeks, made friends and did research. I had to process everything I learned and boil it down to a single image which led me to design the Treasure Map. (Side note: as I write this story, I find it funny because at the time I had this impression and it felt complete but after a few years, I have a expanded my knowledge of this town even more so the mural feels like a 2020 snapshot … in another 5 years there could be an entirely new map because the town and life are constantly changing. So in a way, a mural is a preservation opportunity.)
The map was all hand-drawn initially, and then taken onto the computer to make adjustments and then mock-ups. The design process has now been perfected over the years however; it’s the most important part and takes the longest amount of time. In some unique cases like the Sal Maglie mural, the design process was very simple since the client had a photo for me to paint from.
As the first paint was rolled onto the wall, I knew this is what I wanted to do from now on. And I’m thankful I’ve been able to continue due to the endless support of my family, friends and WNY community.
How it’s going . . .
After 4 years of working for myself, I have learned so much and embrace the creative freedom it allows me. So far I’ve been lucky enough to have painted over 10 public murals in the WNY area, designed multiple brand identities for local small businesses and even freelance overseas. I have done various displays and art installations at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls including live art.
Over this time, I’ve honed the skills that set me apart; skills that are necessary to make something truly special for each project. It’s my mission to make a meaningful design for each one of my projects whether it be extremely simple or extremely complex; each project is made with intention.
As far as personal style, I find that I am not married to anything in particular. Maybe over time, I will find me personal style. However, I consider contrasting and collaging elements something I enjoy. I either use highly saturated colors or a muted color palette. Some things I make are very formal and others very informal. Combining analog and digital is something I enjoy immensely. I find similarities in the subject matter as well; in general I value a good story, history, nature and nostalgia.
Thank you for reading. If you’re interested in working together, send me a message. I can’t wait to hear from you.