Who I Am: A Brief Intro;

Emma Laraby is an Iraqi American graphic designer, multidisciplinary artist, author, writer, advisor, and lecturer at the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District in the San Diego area. She is based between San Diego and Los Angeles and brings over eight years of professional experience in editorial design, print and publication media, identity systems, and cultural rebranding. Her creative practice is rooted in visual storytelling and cultural preservation, exploring themes of mythology, memory, and heritage.

 

Laraby is the founder of DARAN, a Middle Eastern arts and culture magazine in diaspora. The platform spotlights underrepresented voices—particularly Iraqi and Arab artists—while fostering cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange. This work reflects her broader vision of design as both cultural stewardship and social engagement.

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She has collaborated with institutions and organizations, developing media campaigns for higher education and conducting interviews with leading Middle Eastern typographers, weaving regional perspectives into her design research. Laraby holds a BA in Graphic Design from San Diego State University and several professional certificates from accredited CSU campuses.

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As an active member of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts), she has served as an educator, speaker, and event organizer within the San Diego–Tijuana Chapter, bridging academic, professional, and cultural design communities. Her work has been exhibited across galleries in the San Diego region and continues to evolve at the intersection of narrative, identity, and contemporary design.