Paulina Carrizosa by Camila Cardeñosa
As a child Paulina Carrizosa already knew she wanted to be a designer. At school she was always responsible for designing posters for school events and signs for the classrooms. Every year she was in charge of designing the yearbook. Today, she is a respected and established graphic designer running her own studio Manta Raya in Bogotá, Colombia.
Mepe, as her friends called her, lived in Barcelona for a few years. During that time she got her master’s degree at the Elisava Escola (School of Design), and started to work towards being a designer full time. It was during holidays in Colombia her work started getting attention. She saw the opportunity to move back and start working in Bogotá, her hometown.
Paulina now runs Manta Raya, her own branding studio and has a wide variety of clients that fulfil her creative soul. Her recent projects range from designing drink labels for a local brewery, branding for a Mexican restaurant, and she’s just finished working with a marketing agency, creating their visual identity.
All her projects feature the same characteristics of quality and special attention to detail. While we talked, I noticed her passion for design and her work. She gets personally involved with each project, becomes friends with the client and takes care of every single detail. She collaborates closely with her copy writer Yannina and with her printer, in the knowledge that their input is a crucial factor in creating a successful project.
We had such a pleasant and inspirational chat together. We talked about gender equality in the design world, imposter syndrome and the insecurity Paulina feels about her design skills today even after many years of experience. And finally about Olivia – her 4 year old daughter – and juggling being a successful mom and designer.
How did you first become interested in working as a designer?
Since I can remember. Always. When I was a child I liked to draw a lot, I discovered that I loved making patterns especially of flowers. At school, I did lettering without being aware of what that was. The older girls used to ask me to make cards of them and their boyfriend’s names, so I used to design those as romantic gifts. I also used to design and manually draw my agendas for each year; I cut the paper myself, and designed each page with the corresponding date.
“I always knew that design was my path.”
Describe your career path. How did you get to where you are now?
I studied graphic design at the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá. While I was a student. I worked in a design and marketing office making communication pieces for different companies. After I graduated from uni I moved to Barcelona and got my master’s degree in Strategy and Corporate Identity Design from the Elisava Escola—today it is simply called Branding. I lived in Spain for 6 years. During that time I started my own branding studio, Manta Raya, where I had the opportunity to work with different clients from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Also, I worked as a textile designer doing fabrics for swimwear. I enjoyed that time a lot.
When I moved back to Colombia, I partnered with another female designer. We opened a studio that was very successful. But over time I knew that I had to return to my own studio Manta Raya. I regard Manta Raya as my own child.
In your experience, do you think there is equity and diversity for men and women in the world of design?
Honestly no. I don’t think there is equity, at least not in Colombia. In call outs for proposals, for example, I have seen how the male voice is more likely to be listened to than that of the women. It is incorrectly assumed that a man is more professional and capable than a woman. As women, we need to make great efforts to be heard and demonstrate that we are as capable and professional as a man. As soon as the client notices how we work and the results we can achieve, that mentality changes. I honestly think that women and men are not evaluated in the same way.
“I don’t think there is equity, at least not in Colombia. In call outs for proposals, for example, I have seen how the male voice is more likely to be listened to than that of the women. It is incorrectly assumed that a man is more professional and capable than a woman.”
If you could go back to the beginning and start your career again what would tell your younger self?
Start by being an employee. Work in a design studio. Learn methodologies to achieve the objectives that the client expects. Learn how to treat and work with clients. Know how to charge for your work before you decide to become an independent designer. I think that the path is much longer and more difficult for those who have not had enough experience as an employee.
A lot of people in the creative industries struggle with self-doubt and the imposter syndrome. Have you experienced this and, if so, how do you deal with it?
All the time! Especially now that amazing projects are seen daily on IG feeds. Although I see, study and work as a designer every day of my life, I confess that I have this horrible feeling that my work is never good enough. I have the impression that what I do could have been done better.
“I am confident in my abilities and I am very rigorous when I work, but there is always this the ‘bad devil’ that lives in my head who is never completely satisfied.”
How do you approach a new project?
When I approach a new project I always start from a brief. I put some questions to the client in order to know them better. Who they are, where do they want to go, who do they want to reach. I try to imagine the brand as a person. Thereby I can find a concept that embraces the brand and be interpreted graphically.
How has becoming a mother influenced you as a creative person?
Motherhood breaks through everything. Once you are a mother, every aspect of your life changes. My main motivation used to be the best at my job, but as soon as I became a mother, my priorities changed. Today, the intention to be a better human being, more aware and consistent, together with taking care of my family, are my priority. My profession is my passion, so the challenge is to develop both paths in the best way.
Top 3 inspo picks!
- Stitch Design Studio which is run by two women – @stitchdesignco
- Mariana Velásquez (food stylist) – @marianavelasquezv
- Elizabeth Builes (illustrator) – @mira.pal.cielo
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Article by Camila Cardeñosa
Camila Cardeñosa is one of our collaborators who has written and curated a series of inspirational features showcasing Spanish speaking women designers based in Latin America and Europe.