Surface Designer Spotlight

Surface Designer Spotlight: Mariana Valladares

You know the feeling when you’re scrolling on Instagram and an image just stops you in your tracks and you just have to smile??? That’s how Mariana’s art makes me feel. And it’s why I’m very excited to share her story as this month’s spotlight designer, so her art can bring you some joy, too!

Please Introduce Yourself

Hi! I’m Mariana Valladares and I’m a graphic designer based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since I was a child, I’ve been fully attracted by different artistic expressions — my father was an architect and my mother a teacher and she loved to sew, so I was surrounded by a very creative ambience.

As I’m an only child, I remember myself spending hours and hours painting, sewing, doodling, and making all kinds of creative stuff. Now I love photography, calligraphy, binding, and much more!

Tell us a little bit about your design journey.

I studied graphic design at the Universidad de Buenos Aires and developed my carrier specializing in editorial design. I worked in-house for many years as an art director in big publishing houses but a few years ago, I decided to change my way of living and started to work as a freelancer. I still work on editorial design but found another passion: surface design. Something totally new and absolutely challenging for me. I began and couldn’t stop!

What advice about the surface design industry has been most helpful to you in your career so far?

One of the most important advice I received is that all is about work! At first your ideas don’t get to paper as you imagine, but no matter what, you have to keep practicing and, day by day you’ll see the difference.

When you look back at your design journey so far, what are you most proud of?

When I look back, I can see a difference between my first designs and the ones I do now, even though there’s still a way to go. That means there is growth.