Ryan Villicana
ryanvillicana.cargo.siteI am a designer from Bakersfield, California. I am most interested in using art as a form of communication and connection. I want to create work that translates personal and collective experiences into something visible and shareable. I enjoy photography and designing for print, publication, and web, but I also love creating with my hands. Jewelry making, printmaking, and collage are some of my favorite ways to express myself through physical art. By combining digital and physical processes, I aim to make work that feels tangible and human, encouraging people to reflect, relate, and connect with one another. Through my creative process, I’m driven to learn more about people, the world, and myself.
Love Is
Love is everywhere. It is the essence of life and the driving force behind what we do,
shaping our connections to people, nature, work, and the things we enjoy. Love is experienced
universally; it is inescapable. Everything is touched by love. Yet no two people experience it the
same way.
We all have different perspectives of what love means, how to show it, and where it fits
in our lives. This project is a zine that explores individual ideas and stories about love and
interpersonal relationships. It is made up of responses from people of different backgrounds and
age groups, ranging from 7 to 79 years old. I researched the psychological and cultural
influences on love and conducted interviews—not to quantify it, but to explore the many ways
people experience it. My goal is not to define love or confine it to a box. This project aims to
celebrate love in all its forms and remind us that love is always around.