about me
dimitra
about me
Hello! My name is Dimitra Xiraki. I was born and raised in Athens, and I consider myself lucky to have discovered early on what truly suits me. From a young age, I loved drawing, creating, and generally seeing the world through a different, more personal lens — so I decided to pursue a career in graphic design. I believed it was the perfect way to combine my artistic side with my professional life.
Back when I made that decision, the concept of being a “graphic designer” wasn’t widely known. For instance, in 1993, when I was taking the national university entrance exams in Greece, people would ask me if graphic design was just office work… Even my own mother needed years to understand what I actually did — haha!
Education & Academic Background
My journey began at Plaka Art School and continued at the Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Graphic Design. Beyond academic knowledge, I had the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus student exchange program in Bilbao, Spain — an experience that proved transformative for both my artistic development and personal growth.
In 2003, I collaborated with my fellow student Eleftheria Vountidou on our thesis project, which received top honors. Our short video even won a scholarship from IEK DOMI in an online competition, which led me to further my studies in 3D Animation in 2008–2009
Photography & Visual Communication
Another passion of mine is photography — especially black and white, analog photography. We used to shoot with film, roll it ourselves, and develop it in the darkroom. From 1998 to 2009, I was an active member of the black and white photography group of the Municipality of Nea Ionia, where I participated in several group exhibitions.
Film & Multimedia
From 2011 to 2015, I took part in the filmmaking workshop of director Thodoris Thomadakis. During that time, I contributed to various student short films and even created my own short film titled Go.
Career Development & Happy2Paint
In 2010, I decided to leave Athens and move permanently to Chania, Crete — my father’s hometown. There, I founded the Dimitra Xiraki Design Studio, a creative space that, in its early days, also served as a mini art gallery, showcasing small-format works of art. After all, the entire studio space was just 9m² — a small but inspiring world!
In 2018, I discovered the authentic Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, and it was love at first sight. They gave me the chance to pick up my brushes again and bring my childhood love for “upcycling” to life through furniture restoration.
In 2019, I created Happy2Paint, and since then, I’ve been the official Annie Sloan stockist for Chania and Rethymno. It’s truly fulfilling to combine my background in graphic design with handmade, colorful creations that reflect my artistic soul.
Teaching & Mentoring
In 2023, I enthusiastically entered the field of education, teaching at IEK DELTA. Connecting with young creatives full of energy and imagination has been a new and rewarding challenge — and a constant source of inspiration.
Photography
Photography was love at first click for me! It all started back in 1995 during my photography classes at the Graphic Design department in Plaka. I still remember my first shot, but what really got me hooked was the developing part in the darkroom. So, I signed up for local courses in Nea Ionia to get access to that mysterious room where I’d spend hours developing my photos.
When digital cameras came along, everything got easier — no worries about wasting film or clicks. But I still loved shooting in black and white. When people told me, “Why not shoot in color and then turn it to black and white? You get both!” I’d say, “I just see in black and white through the lens.” Bit hard to explain, haha!
Years later, I moved to Chania and didn’t have a darkroom anymore, so I switched to digital fully. I did weddings and baptisms back when things were more genuine, capturing moments my way. But as things changed, I decided to stop.
Now, what makes me happy is photographing my upcycled furniture outdoors — bringing something lifeless into life, making it shine a bit more! 🙂
Animation
It all started back at Graphic Design school with the elective course “Animation”! I was super excited about it, so besides taking the class for two semesters, I decided to include it in my thesis too. Together with my classmate Eleftheria Vountidou, we didn’t just do the usual graphic design presentation and printed stuff — we also made a short animation to promote EKPAZP (the Hellenic Center for the Care of Wild Animals & Birds in Aegina) for TV. Our animation, called “Forced Landings,” actually won a six-month scholarship at IEK DOMI after entering the 1st online short film contest by BigBang in the 2005-2006 season.
After that, I focused more on graphic design and put animation on the back burner, though I always kept up with it by following festivals and shows. That’s why I’m super happy that Marios and Katerina here in Chania started the Chaniartoon Festival. I’ve been supporting it since day one, and this year I’m even helping out behind the scenes 🙂
What Defines Me
A deep desire for growth and reinvention. I embrace change, welcome challenges, and value the uniqueness of every project. Whether it’s a logo, a digital campaign, an art installation, or a creative workshop, each piece is a chance to tell a story — with respect, color, and personal care.
If you share a passion for authentic creativity, I would love to work with you
Let’s design your unique project together!
awards
Distribution Award…
by the company “Rosebud” for participation in the 1st BigBang Online Short Film Competition, Season 2005-2006, with the video “Little Cow.” The video was screened in cinemas in Athens in March 2007, prior to the award-winning feature film “Edwart” at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Six-month scholarship…
from IEK DOMI for attendance in the 3D Animation Department, awarded due to participation in the 1st BigBang Online Short Film Competition, Season 2005-2006, with the video “Forced Landings.”
1Award for Best Greek Film…
at the 2nd International Short Film Festival of the Municipality of Thermaikos (2009), with the video “The Age of Smoke.”
8th place…
in the “Edited Photography” category at the 1st Panhellenic Photography Competition titled “Peace Is,” organized by the NGO “World Without Wars and Violence” under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, aiming to promote the Global March for Peace and Nonviolence (2009).
Top 100 placement…
in the European Union Online Competition for Organic Products, among 3,422 entries. The design was created in collaboration with Ms. Eleftheria Vountidou in spring 2009.