Amanda Elder
Graphic Design
About
I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Art History and no real idea of what I wanted to do next. After years of working in the hospitality industry, I finally went back to school, receiving my degree in Graphic Design from Parsons in 2012. That summer, I was lucky enough to join the opening bar team of Pouring Ribbons in Manhattan’s East Village, and it was there that I finally fell in love with the world of cocktails and the multi-faceted challenges of hospitality design. Eventually, as Creative Director of Pouring Ribbons, I was responsible for designing the bar’s initial thematic menus (Route 66, Silk Road, Moody Authors) and developing the monthly 80’s Night events, which allowed me to explore the role that popular culture can play in cocktail inspiration and education. My understanding of hospitality design was further enriched by my time bartending at Mayahuel (RIP) in the east Village and in Brooklyn, Donna Cocktail Club and Leyenda. I joined Skurnik Wines & Spirits in 2017 where I currently focus on spirits education, copywriting, and collateral design for seminars and events. I continue to freelance in hospitality design and approach each project through the lens of my time as a bartender.
