Hello from the other side of the screen!

I’m Dari Danchinova, a graphic and web designer based in Hamburg.

Currently I am pursuing my master’s degree in the
Klasse Digitale Grafik at HFBK Hamburg.

What I did before:

A tear-off calendar showcasing a collection of graphic images sourced from various archival websites. The designs embody a distinctive aesthetic often created by individuals without formal art or design training, resulting in a recognizable style that was prominent on the internet in the early 2000s. This visual language, now experiencing a post-ironic revival in popular culture, is celebrated throughout the calendar.

Each page features a date, a graphic image, and a unique quote that humorously predicts your day.

100×155 mm, 366 pages

2022
This book delves into the realm of cinematic portrayals of Jesus Christ, offering a comprehensive collection of 104 depictions from various countries, spanning from 1914 to the modern day. Divided into three distinct sections — facial appearance, clothing, and depictions of the crucifixion, it provides an in-depth exploration of the visual evolution of Jesus Christ's portrayal throughout history, culture and geography.

210×270 mm, 96 pages

2023
http://other-books-and-code.xyz/projekte/obc_index/

This website is dedicated to the exploration and discussion of graphic design and serves as a digital index with critical texts from various designers from different times, each dissecting elements of design from foundational grid systems to actual topics like accessibility and collaboration.

At its core, this website offers a word-search feature, allowing users to discover and highlight specific themes within the texts. This searchability extends into the printed version of their findings with key terms highlighted, creating a physical manifestation of their digital research.

“OBC-Index” brings together a wide range of ideas, creating a welcoming space for finding new information that covers many aspects of graphic design. The contributions of others participating in the course let us see graphic design from many angles. Gathering our collective experiences and insights, OBC-Index offers a rich experience through the world of design, shaped by those who learn it, work with it, and continuously redefine it.
I grew up in a Siberian town where I never saw dog owners leave their pets outside. When I moved to Germany, I started noticing dogs waiting outside shops and homes. It reminded me of the movie Hachiko, where a dog waits every day for his owner to come back from work. These waiting dogs caught my attention and made me think about the patience and hope they show.

Every photo I took showed different times, places, and conditions, but the look on the dog’s faces was always the same. They’re scanning faces, looking for someone familiar, holding onto the hope that their owner will return. That emotion became the focus of my project.

To bring out this feeling of memory and longing, I used slightly see-through paper in the publication. It gives the impression of looking through a window or recalling a distant moment. The images are also sized to match common window dimensions (120×120, 100×100, 75×75, 50×50, 100×80, 100×60), reinforcing the idea of watching these scenes through a window. I hoped the design would let people share in these moments and feel the same quiet hope the dogs experience while they wait.

130×230 mm, 69 pages

2024
https://daridanchinova.com/disillusionment/

This work examines the tension between the ideals taught in design school and the realities of professional practice. While education frames designers as critical and socially engaged, the job market is driven by commercial demands and precarity.

This clash creates cognitive dissonance—ethical and emotional conflict that often leads to disillusionment. The project explores how designers navigate these contradictions and imagine alternative ways of working.

The practical part is an interactive website that functions as a space for reflection and dialogue. It collects personal statements, questions, and contradictions from designers, turning individual struggles into a shared conversation. Through its fragmented, layered structure, the website mirrors the messy and unresolved nature of this conflict.
The Next Wave Festival is the main program of BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It brings together new talent and innovative artists in performances, talks, literature, film, and visual art, described as adventurous art for adventurous audiences.

My brochure for BAM’s Next Wave Festival highlights the bold and creative energy of the event, incorporating silver paper and using pathfinder techniques to create overlapping effects. The design is clear and visually interesting, making it easy to find and understand program details. I used thoughtful typography and layout to create a guide that’s both useful and captures the festival’s dynamic spirit.

110×205 mm, 56 pages

2024
This publication is part of my freelance work and was created for Berlin-based poet and translator Nikita Vyashchenko. A Buryad poet writing in English and other languages, Vyashchenko’s work draws from his experiences growing up in Buryatia, navigating its political and historical complexities, and reconnecting with ancestral knowledge. His poetry explores themes of place, identity, and relationships, weaving together personal and collective histories.

Presented as an unbound collection of poems in a format reminiscent of a newspaper, the design invites a non-linear reading experience. This approach mirrors the fragmented yet profound process of reconnecting with ancestral roots. The choice of newspaper paper emphasizes the temporary and raw nature of the work, aligning with the themes of exploration and rediscovery at the heart of the collection.

260×320 mm, 28 pages

2024
The poster series questions how time can be measured, perceived, and organized beyond fixed, linear systems. The project explores alternative ways of visualizing time and planning, challenging the modern, Eurocentric structure of calendars. The layouts mirror reimagined time frameworks and invite viewers to engage with past, present, and future as something adaptable, rather than rigidly ordered.

2026

What I am doing right now:

Typography 101

An ongoing web-based project exploring typographic systems, rhythm, and digital reading habits.
https://kitchen.hfbk.hamburg This website is presented as part of the exhibition Lappen und Schüssel – The Kitchen as a Site of Negotiation at the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (ICAT), from September 26 to November 2, 2026. Designed and developed in collaboration with Jueun Park.

I love people, collaborations, calendars and tennis. Email me for future collaborations.

Contact