Elana Schlenker

Elana Schlenker is a Lecturer in the Image Text Ithaca low-residency MFA program at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning since 2016. As principal of Studio Elana Schlenker (founded 2011), she leads a medium-agnostic design practice while co-running the cooperative studio Out of Office with Mark Pernice. Her work bridges academia and professional design through initiatives like Gratuitous Type magazine and the gender wage parity project Less Than 100.

Schlenker's research centers on graphic design as a vehicle for social commentary, particularly gender equity in creative industries. She explores typographic innovation, visual identity systems for cultural institutions, and the intersection of image/text in digital and print media. Her practice demonstrates how design methodologies can address political and wellness themes through Visual identity, Branding, and Art direction projects.

Recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a focus on modular design systems for art institutions and publishers, with heavy emphasis on interactive web experiences and context-specific typography. She frequently collaborates with photographers and galleries, translating complex narratives into visual communication frameworks that challenge traditional publishing formats.

Awards received:

• Young Gun by The One Club for Creativity (2015)
• Print Magazine New Visual Artist (2013)

In her academic role, Schlenker mentors MFA students in visual communication and design research. Her studio practice operates as a de facto research lab funded through high-profile client contracts with cultural institutions including Walker Art Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, and The New York Times. These projects serve as live case studies for her pedagogy.

Schlenker directs Studio Elana Schlenker as her primary creative laboratory, with Out of Office functioning as a collaborative platform. She maintains long-term partnerships with specialists like Maria Adelaide (interactive design) and Élise Rigollet (editorial design), forming interdisciplinary teams for projects spanning academia, art, and technology sectors.