EMK Designs started with Emily Kalina, an artist who painted primarily with watercolors after earning her degree from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2003. In 2009 Kalina adapted her watercolors to pattern work and began using a digital layering technique with her signature paintings to inform print and surface designs.

Presently Kalina paints and designs for a variety of print and surface products out of her studio in Boston, Mass.