Nikol Toporova

Design - Illustration & Animation Design

A Pawsome Life

Nikol’s project ‘Pawsome Life’ is a multidisciplinary exploration that brings together two of her biggest passions: cats and creativity. Rooted in personal experiences from her direct environment, the project responds to the social and cultural misconception that cats are ‘low-maintenance animals’ and addresses the sad normality of neglect. 

After many years of watching cats be ignored and neglected, she chose to begin making a difference. This project grew from outrage at society and became a platform designed to inform, support, and encourage responsible cat ownership without shame or judgment. Instead of concentrating on what owners are doing wrong, the project focuses on what they can do better.

Nikol’s goal was to create an accessible magazine that would reach people of all genders and ages. With this inclusivity came the challenge of trial and error within the design process. Throughout each step, Nikol released design options to the public and asked for feedback. This allowed her to eliminate design elements that didn’t resonate with certain audiences. 

As a primarily analogue designer, Nikol chose to delve into digital design as a way to expand her trajectory. While building on familiar disciplines such as illustration and photography, she also challenged herself to explore new territory in graphic design. This experimentation allowed her to expand her practice, stay curious, and translate her message into a versatile, cohesive magazine.

Presented within an immersive “living room for cats” setting, A Pawsome Life invites visitors to step into an environment where feline wellbeing is thoughtfully considered. Through conversation, visual storytelling and design, Nikol encourages viewers not only to appreciate cats, but to truly understand and care for them.

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