Diana K. Milevska
Photographer | Designer | Artist | Meteorologist | Entrepreneur
BECOMING A DESIGNER
As a kid, I was always a doodler. Whether it was on discarded pieces of paper, notebooks, or notes passed to friends, I couldn’t resist sketching pretty designs whenever I could. But it wasn’t until I picked up my dad’s old Canon Rebel S 35mm film camera that my world truly transformed into a beautiful place.
My journey into graphic design and photography began in high school, where I quickly learned the basics and applied them to all sorts of projects. From snapping photos of plants and animals in the forest preserve for biology class to sketching out 3D object renderings in math, I loved exploring the endless possibilities of creativity.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
When I graduated in 2002, I knew exactly where I was headed: straight to Columbia College Chicago. I majored in Interactive Media with a concentration in Graphic Design, which taught me more than just the basics of design and photography. When I was exposed to web design, the importance of intuitive user interfaces became evident. The skills I acquired in creating short films evolved into product commercials. I even discovered my love for storytelling through writing several short storyboard scripts.
In 2006, I graduated with honors and started my career in print at a small mom-and-pop shop in Chicago’s western suburbs. In just three years, I became a print production guru and gained valuable knowledge about designing for print. Working with a wide range of clients, from small businesses to large corporations and foundations, I’ve created everything from logos and branding to large direct mail campaigns and product packaging. My expertise in print production for various forms of media has only grown since then, and I’m always eager to tackle new challenges.
STORM CHASING IN THE GREAT PLAINS
In 2009, I was feeling restless and in need of adventure. So, I followed my heart and signed up for my first storm chase through the College of DuPage. Little did I know that this decision would change my life forever. I embarked on one of the craziest adventures of my life in April of that year and I haven’t looked back since!
Storm chasing reignited my passion for photography and allowed me to capture stunning landscapes, the beauty of the Great Plains, and nature at its most powerful. From clouds and thunderstorms, to lightning and tornadoes, I’ve seen and captured it all. My love for photography paid off when I became one of twelve chosen photographers featured in Sony’s DSLR Calendar Photography Contest in 2010.
I haven’t stopped chasing or taking photos of nature’s fury since then! In fact, I became a certified storm spotter and received my Associates of Science in Meteorology in 2016. Throughout the last decade, I’ve been able to maintain a healthy mix of design and photography, and it has been an amazing journey so far.
Why BowEchoMedia?
It has to do with weather.
A bow echo is:
A radar echo which is linear but bent outward in a bow shape. Damaging straight-line winds often occur near the “crest” or center of a bow echo. Areas of circulation also can develop at either end of a bow echo, which sometimes can lead to tornado formation – especially in the left (usually northern) end, where the circulation exhibits cyclonic rotation.
National Weather Service Glossary “Bow Echo”
Let me tell you a story about how my passion for bow echoes started. It was August 4, 2008, and I was at a Cubs game in Wrigley Field with my friends. We had standing-room-only tickets, so we took refuge under the 200 level seats behind the 3rd base line. The weather was hot, humid, and not letting up. While my friends were focused on the game, I couldn’t help but notice the looming, ominous black clouds racing toward the stadium from the west.
As the storm got closer, my friends were oblivious, but I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The storm was headed straight for us, and it was fascinating to watch. Within ten minutes, it was right on top of us. The sky opened up, torrential rain fell, and lightning flashed all around us. People were racing out of the stands, trying to get out of the rain and find shelter. My friends started shoving me toward the interior of the ballpark, but my eyes stayed focused on the storm.
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The storm raged on for a few more minutes before the rain fizzled out into a drizzle. We thought we were safe, so we decided to leave the stadium and head back to the car. But not even half a block down Clark, it started pouring again. We ran into the nearest bar for shelter and watched through the large windows as rain mixed with hail. That’s when we heard it: the blaring of the tornado sirens.
Everyone inside the bar moved away from the windows as the local meteorologists explained what was going on. It was a bow echo. I had never heard of it before, but it was etched into my memory that day. It fascinated me so much that I dedicated most of my time as a meteorology major studying it. And that’s how BowEchoMedia was born!
If you’re interested in learning more about bow echoes or if you’re in need of some killer apparel design or promotional items, let’s talk! Request a quote or schedule a chat with me, and let’s make some magic happen.