Meet Alana Yolande Peters

{on building lasting impact for WOC}

Living off of a conscious practice of creativity can seem like a utopia to some. But it became more than an obvious choice to Designer & Art Director Alana Yolande as she keeps encountering and collaborating with like-minded talented Women of Color along the way. She then made it her priority to use her design skills and knowledge to help them spread their message in the most beautiful, meaningful, and truthful way.

We were lucky to take a refreshing break with Alana to discuss her Caribean roots, her love for her community whether they’re family, relatives, or acquaintances, and the powerful ways she’s supporting, inspiring, and empowering female entrepreneurs and creative WOC.

Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Alana Yolande. I was born in New York City, grew up just outside of Manhattan to two wonderful West-Indian immigrant parents. My mother is from Jamaica, and my father is from Trinidad. To tell you a bit about my family, creativity runs through our veins. Though my parents didn’t choose the field, they encouraged it fully and each one of us, us being myself and an older and younger sister. We all have paved our own way into a creative class. My older sister is a personal chef in Miami, my younger sister is a chef and artist wherever the wind takes her (so far it's’ been from Brooklyn to Miami to Grand Cayman and beyond).

To tell you a bit about myself, in all honesty, my journey to the creative that I am today is far from linear. I’ve always had an insistent need to create and have my hands in every jar available to me, whether it is painting, building, shooting, or designing. This led me to the interests of fashion design, studying photography (Fashion Institute of Technology), development (General Assembly), and ultimately self-teaching design. I find each discipline plays its part in the work I create today. And for that, I am thankful for my winding road to becoming a designer and art director.

Credits: Alana Yolande

At what point did you realize you wanted to become a designer?

My interest in design started early on, back in the days of Myspace and Blackplanet I would teach myself HTML and start building out small websites from there. From then I would pick up any design project that came my way just to learn more. Working with my younger sister I designed a cookbook and a print magazine focused on music and food. But I really dove into design seriously/professionally while I was living abroad in Morocco which came out of necessity to build out my own brand identity. I wanted to stay in contact with clients and friends in the States and began to take on design projects for them remotely. Ultimately my clientele was built through these personal connections, and blossomed into a number of purposeful WOC-owned brands which I believe in and fully support.

What did it teach you about who you are and your creative purpose? What has been your most meaningful lesson?

2020 has reinforced my resilience. I know that I can pivot, I know that I can adapt, and I know that I can only thrive once I’m outside of my comfort zone. And this past year has forced me to do all three. In terms of my creative purpose, it was realized once I saw the direction my clientele and community were growing in. 2020 brought on a lot of new projects and I noticed one common thread, women and women of color in particular, betting on their passion projects, themselves, and their dreams. And I’m just grateful I get to have a part in that.

A meaningful lesson I’ve learned this year is balance. As much as I work is as much as I need to play. There can’t be one without the other, and they feed into one another. When you work in the same space you sleep it’s easy to lose the separation, but you just need to find a reasonable balance between the two in order to be clear-headed.

Credits: Alana Yolande

What mission do you aim to accomplish through your creative work?

It’s something I've struggled with unpacking for some time, and just as I’m reaching what is supposed to be, my ‘pinnacle year’ the big 3-0, it's becoming clearer and clearer. When I think about what I want my legacy to be and what my purpose is, I think about the success of women of color in particular. Simply I want to be able to help women of color to reach their goals and dreams. As vague and conceptual as that sounds, I try to achieve this through my creative efforts, which seems like a big feat for a ‘designer’ but truly it’s an all-natural progression. I love the community of clients I’ve cultivated through friends and word of mouth, 80-90% are black women entrepreneurs. And they’ve entrusted me with building out their brands with success in mind.

A few stories in particular: Auzerais Bellamy who owns Blondery, a luxury virtual bakery. I read an interview she had where she mentioned that “Blondery allows her to live in [her] purpose and her goal is to grow [it] into a billion-dollar company”. To think that she’s entrusted me to help sculpt that vision and dream out is humbling and inspiring.

Then there’s Anya Peters, who owns Kit an’ Kin, a Caribbean catering and pop-up company. Her life purpose and goal are to celebrate and educate Caribbeanness through food and storytelling, honoring our ancestors every step of the way. Building out her brand and story has been a family journey that I’m ever grateful to be a part of.

And lastly, there’s one of my favorite clients, Tola Lawal, who runs Gyrl Wonder, a non-profit initiative giving professional and developmental rise to ambitious young women of color. The fact that I get to get my hands in with such a motivational and selfless endeavor is a dream realized. This is really the impact I want to achieve with my creative work, tying it all to a purpose, whether it be mine, a friend’s, or a sister’s, we’re all a part of each one’s collective purpose.

This is really the impact I want to achieve with my creative work, tying it all to a purpose, whether it be mine, a friend’s, or a sister’s, we’re all a part of each one’s collective purpose.

Alana Yolande

What ways have you found effective to better take care of yourself and get your “creative juices” flowing these past months?

I still wholeheartedly believe in the Artist Date, as well as music, as a vessel for creativity. The Artist Date is described by Julia Cameron, in her book, ‘The Artist’s Way’, as “Assigned play. [It’s] a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The Artist Date need not be overtly “artistic” — think mischief more than mastery. Artist Dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy. They encourage play.

Since art is about the play of ideas, they feed our creative work by replenishing our inner well of images and inspiration. When choosing an Artist Date, it is good to ask yourself, “what sounds fun?” — and then allow yourself to try it.”

While this may prove difficult in COVID times, a simple walk around the neighborhood could very well be my Artist Date. Which is why I also find it best to live in a neighborhood that inspires you. And it goes without saying for me that music, live or not, even learning an instrument, gets my creative juices flowing.

Credits: Alana Yolande

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

The idea of manifestation has always been a little reminder to me that anything is possible. When I think about how I applied this to my life/career, it’s very simple. I decided one day that I would travel for work and see places I could only dream of. I wrote it over and over until it sat in my head every day as a north star. Eventually, life opportunities brought that right to my front door. When I think about the title I use now in my career, as Art Director. I named that for myself before I even knew what the job description called for. I placed it on my site and business cards blindly, knowing that I would make it to that level someday. And a few years later, I’ve been contracted as an Art Director for a large-scale company in a field that inspires me (travel).

It goes without saying that you must put in the work, but as you’re working, believe in yourself and act as if it’s already yours, whatever that dream may be.

What are your main influences and inspirations?

My family and friends serve as great inspiration for me. They humble me and allow me to want more for myself. A few influencers I admire from afar are Caterina Bianchini of Studio Nari (design), Brilliant Garcia and Ibra Ake (direction), Niara Sterling (music), Yrsa Daley Ward (writing), Diana Veras, and Paloma Elsesser (self-love).

Discover more of Alana’s work and latest adventures on her website https://www.alanayolande.com/ and on Instagram @alanayolande