We were lucky to catch up with Nelli Kamaeva recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nelli, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
For me, purpose has always been tied to helping people. Every discipline I’ve touched — mathematics, design, education, poster art — has carried that thread.
As a product and UX designer, I found meaning in making interfaces that allow people to achieve their goals faster and with less friction. When thousands of people can use a tool more easily because of thoughtful design, I see the impact directly — it is measurable, and it matters.
When I teach mathematics, my purpose is to make learning lighter and more joyful. I help students not only solve problems more quickly but also discover how to learn effectively — something rarely taught in schools. Showing them that learning itself can be a skill is a way to empower them far beyond the classroom.
In art, I found another dimension of helping. With the international art group Formula, I co-organize poster competitions that support young designers and students in gaining visibility, while also helping organizers amplify their cultural projects. Posters become bridges — between students and the global stage, between ideas and audiences.
And in my multilingual club, I am working on an experimental method for learning several languages simultaneously. If it proves successful, it could cut down the time it takes to learn multiple languages from a decade to just a few years. Sharing such a method could help many people open doors to cultures and connections much faster.
Across all these areas, my purpose is constant: to create structures, tools, and opportunities that make life easier, learning more accessible, and creativity more visible. Helping others to move forward — whether through a better interface, a math lesson, a poster, or a new language — is what gives meaning to my work.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I describe myself as a multidisciplinary designer and poster artist with roots in mathematics and technology. For more than a decade, I worked in UX and product innovation, designing interfaces for global brands and startups — from finance and health to education and entertainment. What excites me most is the human side of design: creating tools that make everyday life easier, faster, and more intuitive.
At the same time, posters became my personal laboratory for experimentation. They allow me to step outside strict systems and rules, combining digital methods with manual craft — from screen printing and collage to typography, 3D and even animated “4D” formats. Since 2021 my posters have been exhibited worldwide, from New York to Seoul and Madrid, and have received recognition at Poster Stellars (USA), Graphis (USA), Oesol Typo Awards (Korea), and many others.
What feels special about this path is its collaborative nature. With the international art group Formula, I co-organize competitions such as Poster Every Day and PosterMint, helping students and emerging designers gain visibility. Beyond art, I develop educational projects like the Lazy Language Club, where we experiment with new methods for learning multiple languages at once.
Right now, I split my time between working as a Lead Innovation Product Designer for US-based corporations, running my poster studio in Tbilisi, and preparing for new exhibitions in 2025 — from Poland and Brazil to Uruguay. Looking forward, I’m exploring motion and typographic systems in posters, as well as expanding our language-learning project to share it with a broader community.
For me, whether it’s a digital product, an educational tool, or a poster on the wall, the mission is the same: to make ideas visible and accessible, and to help people connect with them in meaningful ways.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I would highlight three qualities that shaped my path:
1. Analytical thinking.
My background in mathematics gave me the ability to see patterns, structure complex ideas, and break problems down into smaller parts. This skill has been invaluable in both product design and poster art. For those early in their journey, I recommend not being afraid of structure — even if you are “creative,” learning logic and systems can give you the freedom to push boundaries more confidently.
2. Empathy and helping others.
Whether designing interfaces, teaching math, or running language-learning projects, my purpose has always been about making life easier for others. Developing empathy means listening carefully, testing ideas in real contexts, and measuring real impact. Start by asking yourself: “Who am I helping, and how will they feel when they use this?”
3. Curiosity and experimentation.
Posters taught me the value of play — trying new tools, mixing manual and digital, stepping into the unknown. Curiosity keeps work alive and prevents burnout. My advice: don’t wait for permission. Try small experiments, even if they fail, because each test sharpens your unique voice.
Together, these qualities — structure, empathy, and curiosity — became my compass. For anyone starting out, developing them will not only improve your skills but also help you find meaning and joy in the work itself.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes — collaboration is at the heart of my work, and I’m always open to new partnerships. There are several directions where I see exciting opportunities:
Poster competitions for festivals and cultural events. With the international art group Formula, I co-organize global poster contests that help festivals expand their marketing reach and engage wider audiences. We would be glad to collaborate with events or institutions interested in adding an international poster call as part of their program.
Design + language learning. Through my research club, we are developing methods and materials for learning multiple languages in parallel. I am especially looking to connect with people who share a passion for both design and language learning — since traditional teaching resources don’t fit the needs of simultaneous, multi-language practice. And we know how effective materials should look like, but we cannot just order that from any designer, we need him to be interested
Multilingual research participants. We are preparing the next iteration of our study group where participants learn to read in 10 languages at once. It’s simple: join the call (send a message to my fb/email), practice with light exercises, and share feedback. This can be valuable for individuals, families, communities, or even online schools looking to enrich their programs — as well as travelers who want to prepare for new cultures more quickly.
Creative posters for cultural institutions. I also willing to collaborate with museums, NGOs, and communities to create bold, non-standard posters that bring visibility to their projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zaap.bio/nellikam
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbilisi_posters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nellykamaeva/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelly-kam/
- Twitter: https://x.com/helly_kam/
- Other: https://t.me/lazylanguageclub
Image Credits
Adtgroup Formula – Poster everyday
@lyskowets_portrait
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
