My upbringing was juxtaposed by two contrasting cultures. The white culture, which defined my father’s experience and my community’s, and the Latina culture of my mother. I was born and raised in the East Bay by an incredibly loving Puerto Rican mother and a hard working father. Growing up with a Latina mother, I learned first hand the importance of family, togetherness, and the preservation of culture. In this way, my upbringing and Latina heritage has shaped my interest in unifying, purpose driven design. Even today, we are constantly defined by what makes us different, but I see my responsibility as a designer to highlight the ways in which people’s stories intersect, and, because of this, I always approach my work with the purpose of connecting people and their stories. I celebrate culture and humanity by giving a voice to people who are often ignored, thereby pushing for conversation and thought throughout my work. I make design that is fun and eye-catching by using colors that feed warmth to the eyes and soul. More than anything, I make design that creates an impactful experience and evokes emotion in others. In following this philosophy, I’m able to leave a memory for people to return to, time and time again.