What led you into design?
I’ve always been a creative kid. Growing up, I thought I wanted to be an illustrator. Then, during the Pinterest/Tumblr boom when I was about 14 and very immersed in it, I discovered calligraphy. For a while, I even wanted to be a sign painter. That interest in letters eventually led me to graphic design.
What does a typical day look like?
My 1st interaction of the day is with the MTA. I take the J train ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I love the view of the city crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. If I’m lucky, it’s a farmers' market day at Union Square, so I’ll take a lil walk, pretending I have time to pick out fresh fruits (I don’t) and farmstead artisan cheeses (I wish). So I walk into the office, have a black Americano and sit in my desk to start my wrangling-pixels-into-place job. Then I go back home, eat, sleep and repeat.
What's your workstation setup?
It’s liquid! It depends on the day—if I'm at the Pentagram NYC office, working from home, a cafe, or even a train. Honestly, as long as I’ve got my MacBook and decent Wi-Fi, it’s a workstation.
That said, I work best with a second monitor and my Wacom tablet— Gotta keep my wrist in place (trackpads are evil).
Where do you go to get inspired?
I’d love to say something like “the city” or “my surroundings,” but honestly, it’s the internet. What a place. I love diving into weird Arena boards and collecting random digital gems.
We’ve also got a great book collection at the office that’s always inspiring.
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
I love the "La Cesta" lamp by Miquel Milà. Such a timeless piece that balances simplicity and elegance.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
I don’t know if there’s one project I’m the proudest of, but as a graphic designer usually navigating between print and digital, it’s always exciting to design something in a new medium. Right now, I’m working on the rebranding of Canino FM, an emerging underground radio station in Barcelona. One of my favourite parts of the project has been getting to design a metal piece inspired by the brand elements developed—wich it’s now sitting on the DJ booth wall. I love seeing it in live DJ sets. (Shout out to Proxima, who handled the production).
What design challenges do you face at your company?
I feel like the graphic design craft itself is relatively simple, is the context that can be very complex. This past year at Pentagram, I’ve learned that being a good designer isn’t just about the work itself—it’s about understanding the bigger picture: client expectations, company politics, building relationships with superiors, communicating with colleagues, learning to delegate, working under pressure, managing production... there’s a lot surrounding design! But it’s a fun challenge, and I’m lucky to be surrounded by people I can learn from.
What music do you listen to while designing?
Any advice for ambitious designers?
BE PATIENT. I’m currently learning this myself. Good things and career achievements take time.
Anything you want to promote or plug?
I’ve been thinking about getting Desde el Estándar (my final degree project book) published for a while now. If there is a publisher-owner reading and interested, here’s a quick overview: Desde el Estándar is an editorial design research project created using a mix of online generators, digital tools, and alternative software that aren’t typically used for book design. It’s within this blend of possibilities and limitations that the project’s essence comes to life, with eccentric graphic elements, grids, and enigmatic type coming together.
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