Hello there! I'm Dina Dembicki.

This web site showcases my creative work. I'm an art director by day, creating private brand package graphics. I have an abundance of passion for my job. But I love photography. 

I'm fascinated by the idea that a photograph can be so many things: the whole story, or part of it; documentation certainly, but also a statement, an art, a science, and chemistry — literally and figuratively — but mostly, an idea. Ultimately, the photographer shares with us what they want us to see.

My photographic adventure began when my grandfather gave me his hand-me-down Miranda 35mm SLR in the 1970s. This particular camera is notable as one of the first to have an internal light meter. I still have it, displayed in my home office along with my mother's Argus twin lens. 

I shelved photography for many years while I was furthering my career in graphic design. At the end of one particularly rough day where nothing satisfied anybody (myself included), it occurred to me that I needed another creative outlet, something that I could do just for me, without judgement, feedback, or approvals from clients and managers. I remembered how much I enjoyed my college photography classes, and knew that with the advent of digital photography, I would get immediate gratification with little investment in equipment. Win-win. So, I bought a digital point-and-shoot, reviewed the basics, and off I went. 

The transformation of the technology has been pretty amazing! In college I developed black and white film — Kodak Tri-X 400asa for you old-schoolers. Then the digital camera was born, saving jpgs to 3.5 inch floppy disks! And now we have mirrorless. In recent years, cell phones have made capturing quality images something anyone can do. On top of all that, I am awestruck at the creative possibilities that can be achieved once the raw files are on the computer. It's truly not about the equipment, but the mind behind it. 

Many of my shots are captured by just being in the right place at the right time. There's a bit of many genres — I haven't quite arrived at my personal niche. I shoot things that are interesting to me. I hope you find them interesting too. 

Graphic design pays the bills. Currently, I'm creating private brand package designs that are on shelves in Ahold Delhaize USA's grocery stores from Maine to Georgia. It's so gratifying to see my work every time I go grocery shopping. 

Thanks for visiting!

Work Experience

Currently
Peapod Digital Labs, a company of Ahold Delhaize USA
Art Director, Private Brands

2000-2014
Freelance Graphic Design
I worked with a wide variety clients on an array of projects large and small, including corporate identity and collateral, brochures, posters, soft-bound and hard-bound books, taking ideas from inception to finished product. 

Satisfied clients included: Array Creative, Barking Dog Communications, Bates USA Midwest, Carolina Raptor Center, CB Richard Ellis, Delhaize America, Grandstand Communications, Hickory Convention Center, Hickory Visitors Bureau, Jones Lang LaSalle, KeyBank, and Newell Rubbermaid. 

Late 1980s-1990s
Penton Media, KeyCorp
Keyliner, Graphic Designer, Design Manager

Education

Kent State University. B.A. in art history, graphic design minor