In the thirteenth chapter of the “13th Hour,” we engage in a dialogue with Ayelet Raziel, an artistic graphic designer whose curiosity and drive have paved her own unique and playful path.

During our conversation, we delve into her love of music and how it has shaped her career, not only as a designer but also fueling her passion for DJ’ing and creating music. We explore the complexities and challenges of growing up in Israel, alongside lighter notes such as her personal projects and artistic explorations, including her shift towards a more abstract style. Yet another fascinating read in our 13th hour series.

1 - At 13am, we aim to celebrate and showcase a broad range of creative roles, disciplines and skillsets. How would you describe yourself and your role within the creative world to those unfamiliar with your work?

My official education is in graphic design, but my nature is very artistic and driven by curiosity. I'm always on the verge between these two worlds—seeking innovation and emotion on one side, but also striving to serve a practical purpose. So, I do graphic design commissions for clients mainly in the music, culture, and spiritual fields. Additionally, I pursue my personal artistic explorations and sell them as usable items like T-shirts, mugs, posters, etc. In everything I do, I aspire to maintain a unique, playful, and soulful vibe.

2 - Another aspect that sets 13am apart is our commitment to diversity and representation among our artists. Could you share a bit about your background and where you call home?

Oh, a relevant topic. I was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, and now live in the green countryside. As you probably know, Israel is a very complex place in all aspects—right now, we are 5 months into one of the hardest wars we have known. Despite all the hardships of living here, I’m very connected to this place and its people in heart and soul. Israel is probably one of the most diverse (and conflicted) countries on earth—in culture, race, politics, religion, and just personal differences between people and environments. I feel that this has shaped my view of the world and also my artistic outlook, which is also diverse, curious, and sometimes crazy. You've got to learn to dance with the demons here and create beauty from chaos.

3 - How would you define your artistic style? Has it evolved or undergone any changes over time?

I aspire to capture movement, joy, and life. Visually, this is expressed through dynamic, playful geometric shapes, strong, bold colors, and highly abstracted figures that keep the viewer curious and looking again. Since I am a graphic designer, my perception is very graphic in nature, and I like to explore a large variety of tools and techniques—both digital and manual—to express a variety of ideas. My style is always changing according to projects and moods, but I would say that over the last 5 years, it has become more and more abstract, which is what I feel most identified with.

4 - Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you transform an idea into a tangible piece of work?

Hmmm, I would say it really depends on many circumstances, but for the more complex projects, it usually starts with meditation to get some kind of initial vision. Once I get a spark of inspiration, I start playing with it on my iPad or sketchbook, and then leave it for a while to go live some kind of life experience. After that, I come back to work with more ideas and so on until I feel I’ve got it.

5 - In terms of inspiration, where do you go to find this? Who were your main influencers and inspirations as you were growing up?

To me, it’s all about frequency and finding resonance within different life circumstances. I connect with groovy, playful, colorful, and slightly quirky energies, finding these in flowers, jazz, funk, certain people around me, dancing, and also classic 20th-century artists like Picasso, Kandinsky, and Matisse. I grew up in the 80s, and that heavily influenced my style—in sound and aesthetic. But mainly, love. When I’m in a state of love, all the visions and colors just flow right through me, so that’s what I try to cultivate mostly in my life.

6 - What advice would you offer aspiring artists or illustrators looking to establish themselves in the industry?

Spend time finding and cultivating your unique voice and style because this is the core of who you are as a creator. Go beyond trends and instant gratification and connect with what deeply inspires you. Once you do that, you’ll have a clearer vision of where to direct yourself, and you will also attract the right kind of projects for you. Aside from that, I think it’s good to stay open-minded, positive, and generous and collaborate with projects, artists, and ideas that feel good. In my own experience, I’ve found that it’s less about the money and more about participating and extending your gifts.

7 - Creative roadblocks affect many individuals in our field. How do you unwind and revitalize your creative energy? Are there any hobbies or passions you pursue outside of your work?

This is actually very similar to where I get inspired - being in nature, listening to great music, and chilling with loved ones always works. Music is a huge source of joy for me - I create music and DJ, so that greatly intertwines with my art in all sorts of ways.

8 - Reflecting on your career, could you share a standout project or collaboration that you consider a highlight? How did the opportunity come about?

Honestly, the biggest collaboration I’ve encountered is a multidisciplinary one that still continues - meeting my life partner who is also a musician. I design all the art for his music, as well as creating music together under the name RA/RE, where I really let loose with artistic visions and ideas. Making music led me to a new field, which is creating videos from scratch using very basic resources. I have always been fascinated by the dialogue between sound and vision, so it’s exciting to explore and play around. Below is one of our videos:

9 - Can you provide a little insight into your current projects and any upcoming plans you have in the pipeline? Is there anything we should be looking out for in the not too distant future?

Well, we are working on a new song and video that will be out soon, in which I’m continuing to challenge my video art skills ^_^ . Besides that, I'm completing some branding projects for local clients and constantly working on growing my art’s presence in online marketplaces. I am open and believe that more collaborations in the music and fashion fields will unfold.

10 - What has your experience been like collaborating with 13am thus far, and what motivated you to join forces with us?

It's great. It took me a little while to get on board because I received the initial email a day after the war started here in Israel, and my mind was in a completely different mode focused on survival. But George reached out to me again, and then I realized this is an opportunity to take part in something exciting and watch it grow.

11 - Looking ahead, what would be your dream project or client to tackle in the future?

I see it as something combining music and fashion—like collaborating with a large brand to design an 80s-vibe collection of dance outfits and accessories, something playful and innovative.

12 - To conclude on a lighter note, imagine hosting a dinner party where you could invite four individuals, living or deceased, who would they be and why?

That one had me thinking! I would invite Quincy Jones, Wassily Kandinsky, Byron Katie, and Diana Ross. Sounds like a fun and interesting evening.

13 - If you were granted the power of time travel, which historical event would you choose to witness firsthand, and what intrigues you about it?

Oh, I time-travel all the time, lol. My first thought is that I would love to experience the year of my birth - 1983 - as a grown-up because it was such an awesome time in many ways. But really, as cheesy as it sounds, I believe the present moment has everything in it, and our imagination and creative abilities allow us to travel to all sorts of time-space dimensions without going far.