figure 8
is the design + illustration work of Simona Bortis-Schultz. Simona originally immigrated to the U.S. as a child from Romania when she was 8. The only thing she ever stole was a pocket sized illustrated book, and dreamt of creating equally spellbound experiences. For many years Simona’s client experience included working as an art director per advertising, branding and marketing work for national and international clients. Current illustrative work focuses on capturing the magic of visual narrative per community and commercial projects involving supergraphics, surface design, books, motion design, and any other available mediums. Simona Bortis-Schultz’s book, To Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth, Women’s Work: The Visual Language of the Romanian Blouse revolves around an artifact of material culture as it relates to symbols, storytelling and design, and is available now at Set Margins Press.

Simona earned a double Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and in Visual Design, from the University of Oregon and a Masters of Fine Art from The Vermont College of Fine Art in graphic design. Outside the world of design + illustration, Simona teaches communication design + enjoys life in rural Albany County, New York with her family.

awards
Anthem Awards 2024, Bronze, Rollins magazine feature “Maternal Mortality”
The 2023 United States International Poster Biennale
Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2022 + 2023 (short list)
AIGA Upstate NY State of Design 2017
Print Magazine’s Design Annual 1997 - 2012
FABRICA/Benetton Workshop in Treviso, Italy 1998
The Portland Creative Conference's Rosey Awards 1998
AIGA Best of Oregon Traveling Design Exhibition 2000

exhibitions
2023 - 2024 UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL POSTER BIENNALE
exhibited in United States starting in Los Angeles, California followed by openings in Iowa, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and others. Also, throughout the year 2024, work will be exhibited around the world in countries such as Poland, China, and more.

2024 November GRACE COLLEGE Winona Lake, IN
Illustration Exhibition: To Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth, Women’s Work: The Visual Language of the Romanian Blouse

select clients past + present
Adidas / Austen Riggs Center / Callisto Media / Rockridge Imprint / 2Communiqué / Center for Internet Security / Creative Communications/Noodle / Emory Rollins School of Public Health / The Guthrie Center / Nomad Coworks / Pacific Retail Capital Partners / Plazm Media / The Portland Stamp Company / The Sage Colleges / Scholastic / Education / Storey Publishing