Meet Elika: Our New Graphic Design Intern

We’re excited to welcome Elika Weaver to the Cross & Crown team as our new Graphic Design Intern. Elika is currently studying graphic design at Grove City College and is set to graduate in December 2026. With a growing portfolio that reflects both creativity and intentional design thinking, she brings a fresh perspective to visual storytelling and brand expression.

Get to know Elika a little better in this short interview.

Welcome to Cross & Crown, Elika! Can you tell us a bit about your background and what first sparked your interest in graphic design?

I’ve enjoyed art and various creative hobbies since I was little. As a kid, I enjoyed writing and illustrating my own books, knitting clothes for my stuffed animals, and ballet. My dad, who is also very creative, inspired me and challenged me with projects and ideas. It wasn’t until high school that I got interested in graphic design specifically through my yearbook class. I was challenged to learn Adobe Illustrator to create the cover, and I had so much fun learning the tools and being creative. Canva, which was new at the time, also got me excited about graphic design as I created social media posts for clubs and events at school.

How would you describe your personal design style right now, and how do you think it’s evolving?

I would describe my style as minimal and editorial with a piece of soft vintage, but I think there is a lot of room for evolving. What I enjoy about design is the focus on creating a visual voice for the client that matches their values and serves their audience. While my style might come into play at times, the main focus is to develop a proper look and feel for the client.

Can you walk us through a project from your portfolio that you’re especially proud of?

This past semester, I worked with a client through a class to redesign Westminster Theological Seminary’s online learning dashboard. It was a really fun project because it involved catering to a wide audience to clarify and synthesize their current presentation of information while creating a professional look that was in line with their brand. It went through many iterations, and the client was very eager and open to creative directions. It was one of my first real-world experiences, and I’m really happy with it!

Where do you typically find inspiration when you’re working on a new design project?

Typically, I look at Pinterest and Instagram for more expressive ideas and social media layouts. If it’s print, I like to find books and magazines around my house or at the library. In general, I find inspiration from other creators, the outdoors, reading, and friends and family.

What do you hope to learn or improve on most during your internship with Cross & Crown?

I hope to continue honing an eye for design, establishing a good workflow, and learning how to communicate and collaborate professionally. There are so many tools and workflows with the Adobe products and Figma that I would love to discover. I’m also excited to learn from the experience of the design team and how they approach various projects. I’m looking forward to growing a lot this summer!

If you could design anything for fun (no rules, no clients), what would it be?

As a kid, I always wanted to write my own book, whether it’s an illustrated children’s book or a novel, so I think my dream would be to design my own one day. Any kind of unique packaging, like candy or makeup products, also sounds fun. I love shopping for sneakers, so I would enjoy designing my own pair.

What’s a hobby or interest outside of design that most people don’t know about you?

I recently became interested in theater, and I help out with productions at my school. I have absolutely no singing or acting talent, but it’s super fun to listen to soundtracks and be part of bringing a show together.

What’s one random fact about you that usually surprises people?

One time when I was little, my dad took me out hunting. We ran into a creek that I couldn’t cross, and rather than carry me across, my dad decided it would be fun to boost me to the other side. I didn’t quite get the memo, so I landed flat on my face on the opposite bank. We still make fun of him to this day.

Elika’s time with Cross & Crown is just getting started, and we’re looking forward to seeing how her creativity and curiosity for learning contribute to our team and client work throughout her internship.