Lots of folks describe themselves as creative. But then there’s ModSquad Visual Designer Elinor Diamond’s kind of creativity, which is next-level. Bursting with imagination and artistic flair, Elinor’s one of those people who produce amazing works that make you wonder not only how she did it, but where it came from. 

Elinor has played a crucial role in bringing ModSquad’s visual aesthetic to life, both digitally and in the real world. If you were lucky enough to visit the ModSquad booth when we exhibited at South by Southwest, then you’ve experienced first-hand Elinor’s boundless ingenuity. (Check out our booths from 2017, 2018, and 2019.) From case studies to printed collateral to design elements in our Operations Centers, Elinor is a force to be reckoned with. We managed to pin her down from the hustle and bustle of her busy life to get to know her a little better.

And “busy” is no understatement. Elinor, who lives in San Francisco, California with her husband, two sons, and two dogs, is super active. She loves to trail run, hike, mountain bike, and dance, and has of late been playing tennis, pickleball, and archery with her kids. “They’re all great for physical distancing,” she jokes. “If anyone gets too close I can hit them with a racket or wayward arrow!”

With an MFA in fine arts, making and creating things are a big part of Elinor’s life. “I still draw and paint for pleasure,” she says. “I also make wool rugs, bake and decorate cakes, and make clothing.” Some of those hobbies are skills she’s carried with her from early in her career. Elinor explains: “In grad school I worked as a cake artist to make some extra cash. My former boss is now a judge on the Food Network. I still love to surprise guests with an insane cake every now and again! For my MFA thesis show, I made a refrigerator full of cake babies. I creeped out 90% of the audience — success!”

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After graduate school, Elinor started her own fashion label with a woman she met working in the cake shop. The pair designed and sewed everything ourselves, with one of their wedding gowns featured in a fashion shoot. She notes, “I still make a lot of my own clothes. Any time I’m lucky enough to have a formal event to attend, you better believe I’m making a fantastic gown!”

Elinor also puts her energies to work in support of causes near and dear to her. For the last two years, her family has fostered rescue dogs, which involves housing and training pooches until they’re ready for new families. At least that’s the plan. “Our dog Zelda was a foster and we fell in love,” says Elinor. “As a foster that’s called ‘failing,’ but I think we really won with her.” She also supports the Rett Syndrome Research Trust, which is close to her family’s heart. “What I’ve come to learn in fundraising is that every little bit helps,” she notes.

It was through such philanthropy work that Elinor came to ModSquad. “I designed a save-the-date invitation to a fundraiser in San Francisco. That invitation was seen by ModSquad’s CEO.” The rest, as they say, is history. But what helps Elinor know she made the right call in joining ModSquad is the company’s support of Extra Life. “It’s one of several points of pride for me. Working for a company that values philanthropy gives me a feeling that I’m in the right place.”

But that’s not all she enjoys about being part of ModSquad. When the subject comes up, Elinor jumps at the chance to list some of her favorite projects. “My role as Visual Designer is always shape-shifting, so I’m continuously working on different and interesting projects. For South by Southwest, it’s always a fun hands-on challenge to design and build the booth. There’s a lot of duct tape involved and many behind the scenes ‘let’s make it work’ moments. Designing and planning the interiors of our Operations Centers is also really fun.”

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But one of Elinor’s most cherished assignments is our annual Mod celebration during the holiday season: “I love creating graphics that celebrate our people and learning about all the cool folks we have out there!”

Elinor is particularly enthused about one specific cool person who just joined the design team: Junior Designer Kayla M. “Watching her work grow has been inspiring,” enthuses Elinor. “I’m grateful for her every day! Seeing her work transform our social channels has definitely been a pride-inducing experience.”

To wrap up our chat with Elinor, she sums up what it’s like for her at ModSquad: “There are so many exciting things going on! There’s always new software, new techniques, and new skills to hone. Tell your kids to go to art school!”

Don’t forget to give a shout out to Elinor in the comments below. To join the ranks of the people of ModSquad, please see our Careers page.

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