Liberal Arts Alumni Profile: Daria and Maria Loun
In 2006 Maria officially launched her own business, Maria Loun Designs, LLC, www.marialoun.com. She offers a wide range of design services in print and web, including logo design, brochures, websites, and more. Maria’s twin sister, Daria Loun, is also in the graphic design field. Daria has several years experience working with design firms specializing in healthcare advertising and communications.
Besides being sisters and successful graphic designers, Maria and Daria Loun share another important trait: They both got their start at Manor College.
“It was a self-discovering experience where the teachers helped me find my potential. On a personal level, I really liked the fact that there were Ukrainian speaking teachers and students. I felt like I was at home. It helped me with this feeling of belonging,” Maria explains.
Originally from Ukraine, the Loun family moved to Toronto, Canada when the sisters were in high school. After high school, the family moved to Philadelphia. The Loun sisters had just enrolled at a technical institute in Media, PA when their father heard from some friends in Northeast Philly that there was a small, private Ukrainian Catholic college in the area, much closer to home. Manor seemed like it might be a better fit for the Louns.
When the Loun sisters arrived at Manor for their interviews, they were attracted to the fresh air, small campus, and Ukrainian roots. They met with Vice President of Enrollment Management Jerry Czenstuch who “was outstanding in how he walked us through the process and expedited our enrollment,” recalls Daria. In the fall of 1997 Maria and Daria enrolled and were each awarded the Basilian Scholarship and the International Student Scholarship.
“I really liked the choice of programs. What attracted me was the opportunity to take art classes and biology classes since I was interested in both,” says Daria.
While at Manor, Daria pursued two majors, Liberal Arts and Allied Health Medical Diagnostic Imaging Transfer. Maria focused her studies on Liberal Arts.
Both Maria and Daria agree the small class sizes at Manor helped them develop their skills and prepare for the next step in their education.
“You can get personal attention. You can have your questions answered,” explains Daria.
In particular Daria remembers her English and Critical Thinking class with Senior Associate Professor Marlynn Alkins as a positive experience. In the class, students had to choose a topic and come up with an advertising and design campaign.
“I learned about trying to reach your audience and trying to sell,” explains Daria.
It was Maria’s essay writing assignments in her English classes with Professor Anne Knop and Professor Madeline Seltzer that served as a defining moment in her college experience. Knop and Seltzer praised Maria for the creativity and symbolism that she wove into her writing.
“Their feedback with my essays gave me strength, and confidence. It made me pay attention to my writing more because I started to believe in myself in a creative way,” says Maria.
Believing in herself in a creative way would prove to be important later in Maria’s life. Although she wasn’t yet certain of her career, Maria admitted she had graphic design in mind since high school.
“Graphic design stood out because it combined art and computers. At the time computers were challenging for me, so I took some computer classes here at Manor to see if I could overcome my fear. If something scares or intimidates me I go after it,” says Maria.
Maria signed up for several computer classes taught by Senior Associate Professor Norma Hall.
“Mrs. Hall helped break it down for me. She helped me understand computers and helped me not to fear them,” explains Maria.
Maria has come along way from being intimidated by computers. Her work requires proficiency in several design programs including Quark XPress, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver. Maria’s livelihood depends on using computers on a daily basis. 
In 1999 Maria and Daria Loun graduated Manor College, both making the Dean’s List. Maria transferred to Temple University, and after a year enrolled in Temple’s Tyler School of Art. She graduated from Tyler in 2003 with a BFA in Graphic Arts and Design.
“It was easy to transfer to Temple. They accepted all the credits (from Manor),” recalls Maria.
Daria’s path was not as clear-cut. With both a degree in Liberal Arts and in Medical Imaging Technology she was at a crossroads as to which career to pursue. She was accepted to Thomas Jefferson’s Medical Diagnostic Imaging program and to the University of Maryland for graphic design.
Daria looked to her Manor advisors Jane Zegestowsky, assistant dean of Academic Affairs, and Czenstuch to help aid in this difficult decision.
“They were very helpful in making my decision. Jane described every day life of a Medical Diagnostic Imagery Technician. Jerry told me to ask myself these questions: You have to imagine yourself in the future and see if you’re happy there. You have to consider who you’re working with. In one field it’s doctors, another designers,” explains Daria.
“I wanted to be exposed to more creativity so I chose graphic design,” says Daria.
Daria attended the University of Maryland and then transferred to Temple’s Tyler School of Art, graduating with a BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design in 2004.
After college the Loun sisters pursued different tracks in graphic design. Maria’s first job was at a small graphic design firm, Smay Vision, in New York City. She moved back to Philadelphia, securing a job at Xlibris Publishing. When the company was outsourced, Maria joined a temp agency through which she was offered various graphic design opportunities.
The temp agency served as the beginning of Maria’s freelancing experience. Working for several companies for a short period of time gave Maria a chance to learn different techniques to accomplish the same tasks, allowing her skills to grow.
“I realized, I can do this by myself. I started to advertise my services as a graphic designer. When I got enough clients I decided to open my own business,” explains Maria.
Maria is responsible for not only designing, but everything that’s involved in running a business including dealing with vendors, talking with clients, and balancing the budgets.
“Owning your business is a lot of work. On the contrary to the popular belief that you’re always free, you actually work 24/7. Everything is up to you. However, it’s rewarding. It gives me a sense of being irreplaceable,” she explains.
Daria had her sights set on a graphic design position in New York City.
“I found New York City’s highly competitive graphic design industry intimidating. Yet, I was attracted to the challenge,” says Daria.
In early 2005 Daria landed her first full-time job as Art Director at Young & Rubicam, Inc,/Wunderman, an advertising agency in New York City. Later in 2006, a former co-worker introduced her to pharmaceutical advertising, a field where she could combine her artistic skills with her knowledge of biology. Daria’s next career move was to AgencyRx, a healthcare communication company in New York City.
“I realized there that I could successfully combine my passion for science and art, and stay creative,” explains Daria.
As an Art Director, Daria is expected to be proficient in design programs and to see a project through from concept to execution. The extensive design process requires collaboration with copywriters, accountants, project managers, illustrators, and photographers. While working at AgencyRx, Daria developed a winning strategic concept and design for Femara, a treatment for post-menapausal women with early stage breast cancer. The design of Femara’s booth, including literature and giveaways, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Annual Meeting allowed Femara to stand out among its competition.
Most recently Daria worked as Senior Art Director at Harrison & Star, a pharmaceutical advertising agency whose target audience is doctors and physicians.
Harrison & Star works with pharmaceutical companies to develop advertising campaigns, aimed at physicians, which market a particular drug. Designers, art directors, copywriters, and accountants have a briefing to discuss the assignment before starting a project.
“A lot of times we’d talk about a disease and the benefits and side effects of a drug. As an Art Director you have to come up with an appropriate concept that will visually portray that,” says Daria.
Daria remembers when discussion of a sickle cell came up. She surprised her colleagues because she had a clear idea of what it was and how they could represent it due to her biology background.
“I’m grateful to Manor for that background. It saves you time. Most Art Directors have to read about it to understand it. If I’m already familiar with it, I can come up with something quicker,” says Daria. “Sometimes, the classes you take as electives can really benefit you in the future in ways you didn’t expect.”
Whether a student attends Manor for Liberal Arts, Allied Health and Sciences, or Business, Manor’s goal is to help students build a solid foundation they can carry with them, no matter how their paths may change and grow.