Amna

Hi! My name is Amna, and I have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears. I attended Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School from 2016 to 2020.

Education: I just graduated from OCAD University in June 2025 in the BDES Graphic Design program, and am currently navigating the next steps in my career. For my thesis, I decided to embody my own experience as a student growing up with hearing loss, where I felt misunderstood for my disability being “temporary.” As a little kid, I loved reading stories and hoped to see more representations of children in books presented with different disabilities, which inspired the children’s books as part of my collective artifacts for my GRADEX exhibitions. I also created flashcards to help build empathy and understanding towards diverse types of disabilities with different terminologies, abbreviations, and iconographies.

Work Experience: During my undergraduate studies, I interned as a junior designer at a few design firms. Some of my responsibilities included designing graphics to rebrand the company and converting data into compelling graphics for quarterly finance results. My most recent position was a design lead in a children's book company to design a catalogue for all the books published to increase awareness of the company’s mission to bring literacy to a global audience.

Hobbies: I love writing in my journal almost every day and drawing and coloring in my sketchbook while I commute back and forth to work. I also enjoy trying new activities, cuisines, and travelling to different places with families and friends.

Favourite Quote: “The flame of a single candle can light thousands of other Candles.”