This Kansas City- and MU-trained artist carves out room for Black culture in graphic design

With a revolutionary deck of cards and new designs, the Kansas City-raised designer focuses on bringing culture into her passion projects.
As a young, Black graphic designer on the rise, Kearra Johnson wants to bring more culture into her industry.

The 23-year-old started learning graphic design as a sophomore at the Paseo Academy of Design and Performing Arts. She’d studied other forms of visual art, but graphic design just clicked for her.

“It made sense, because I always had a love for games, computers, technology and art at the same time,” Johnson said. “The possibilities within it are so vast.”

It intrigued her so much that she started staying after school to improve her design skills. Eventually, she went to the University of Missouri to study graphic design — using it as a way to connect with people and share her art.