catya martinez-gloria / savannah college of art and design
artist’s statement my tejano childhood a woven convergence
superbloom closing
In a time when humans were forced into an exclusively digital landscape, the loss of human touch and tactile experiences led me to a hurdle against my sensory-seeking spirit. I was soon met with the challenge of embracing a more digital design process, as well as answering a rather tough question: “Could digital storytelling be just as engaging?” The contents of this lookbook reveal how I approached this challenge. As I embraced working virtually, while also learning to present my projects online, I began to discover my position within the balance between physical and digital realms— and how these opposing formats can work together to create something structurally engaging.
04 / artist’s statement
catya martinez-gloria
06 / my tejano childhood
An ode to the warm and colorful days I spent growing up in South Texas, My Tejano Childhood aims to tell the story of what a year in Tejano culture looks like based on personal experiences. What is a Tejano you ask? Simply put, Tejanos are Texas residents who are also of Mexican descent. Inspired by this duality, the design process employed seasonal memories, personal photographs, experimental marks, layers, textures, and natural patterns to create a visual story. The final 20-print collection can be unpacked and applied to various uses and settings.
catya martinez-gloria
08 / my tejano childhood
The collection’s mood and color story was heavily influenced by personal memories from different seasons of the year. From eating warm pan dulce and tamales on Christmas Eve, to playing Lotería around the dinner table, the holiday season provided me with an album of richly-colored imagery to pull from. Likewise, spring and summertime in South Texas, consisting of colorful raspas and confetti from broken cascarones, additionally fueled the collection with vibrant and inviting colors to display.
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1. Copenhagen Fashion Week FW19 / 2. Gris / 3. Matteau / 4. Mate the Label **all photos found via WGSN
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embroidered blooms
papel picadoed
stitched heritage
fotos y recuerdos
The presence of motion and jubilant energy found within the collection’s prints became an inspiration for movement-friendly wearables. Whether this means using lightweight fabrics such as linen and cotton, or designing effortless silhouettes that hang freely on the body, the end user of the collection’s wearables should feel comfortable to embrace the environment surrounding them.
catya martinez-gloria
let’s cha cha
tacos & friends
south texas maze
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lotería on the road
Many of the nostalgic influences for the collection came from memories surrounding food and the preparation of traditional dishes. Whether applied to kitchen linens, appliances, cookware, or back splashes, My Tejano Childhood would liven up any cooking space.
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1. Linen Tales (WGSN) / 2. Calum Lewis (Unsplash) / 3. Mathilde Langevin (Unsplash) / 4. Bake From Scratch
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let’s go to vega’s
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1. Kirk by Design (WGSN) / 2. CDC (Unsplash) / 3. Eny Lee Parker (WGSN) / 4. Pottery Barn Kids / 5. Joanna Goddard (A Cup of Jo)
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selena summertime
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a topo love story
The collection’s interior application continues with pieces for bedding, lighting, and seating. Designs with minimal framework would be implemented to allow breathing room for the collection’s busy patterns. catya martinez-gloria
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1. Morriss + Company / 2. The Define Bottle Show / 3. Kelly Wearstler
16 / a woven convergence
Roksanda Spring/Summer 2017 (WGSN)
Initially designed for the Durkan Student Design Competition, A Woven Convergence is the product of my venture into hospitality design with a focus on ballroom and pre-function carpeting. The design was inspired by experimental vs observational studies, where objects being studied are either interfered with or simply left to be observed. As a space that visually represents where controlled design meets natural patterns, audience members are greeted in the pre-function with designs depicting natural fluidity and movement. Shifting to the ballroom, the grand space aims to bring structure to the pre-function’s motion as attendees gather in organized community.
catya martinez-gloria
To push my hand-drawn unit further into a repeat design, I applied a tessellation method that produced a geometric motif I could use in the final design.
18 / a woven convergence
A great portion of the design process included the re-purposing of old projects to create something new. A few months prior to working on A Woven Convergence, I spent time creating fabric samples that utilized the dye method of marbling. I became fascinated with the natural movement and fluidity that the process produced, which prompted the decision to apply a similar motion to carpet design. Before
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While A Woven Convergence was initially designed for a hospitality space, its pastel color palette and ornate designs are versatile enough to be applied further to accessories such as toiletry pouches, handbags, scarves, footwear, and more.
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1. Jon Hart Designs / 2. Mansur Gavriel (WGSN) / 3. zeroUV / 4. Just Female (WGSN) / 5. WGSN flat
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1. Balbek (WGSN) / 2. Coatpaints (WGSN) / 3. Anthropologie (WGSN) / 4. Just Female(WGSN) / 5. WGSN flat
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The collection’s serene quality and muted colors can also be fitting in both bedding and bath spaces through uses of ceramic tiles, decorative accent pieces, and bath linens.
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4. 3. 1. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California, photo via la terre du futur, 2. https://superbloomsav.com/ 3. https://suncorefoods.com/blogs/recipes?page=12, 4. https://www.flickr.com/photos/judyandpaul/359115063/, 5. https://suncorefoods.com/blogs/recipes?page=12
24 / superbloom
Deriving its name from rare botanical displays of innumerable clustered blooms, Superbloom is a digital print and pattern collection initially intended for application on kitchen linens. Taking additional inspiration from “superfoods,” a marketing term used to describe nutrient-dense foods, the collection aims to celebrate our creator’s remarkable productions in natural life. The final deliverable includes two separate colorways consisting of one statement pattern, four coordinate patterns, and four texture patterns.
catya martinez-gloria
Digital
Sketching potential motifs for the collection was done both physically and digitally. This process really helped expand the horizons that I typically face when sticking to just one medium. Preliminary sketching also allowed me to reference old sketchbook pages for linework inspiration, angles to depict flowers at, and even forgotten ideas for project concepts.
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Hand-drawn
catya martinez-gloria
Zeena Shah is an art director, stylist, author, television presenter, crafter, and textile designer based in the UK. Her appreciation for print & pattern, color, and bold interiors make her an ideal consumer of the Superbloom collection.
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The end user of the Superbloom collection describes an avid home chef who enjoys shopping for kitchen items that are not only functional, but also make them smile. Preferring to liven up their cooking space with exuberant splashes of color and print, the client is drawn towards quirky designs and bold color palettes. Superbloom’s celebration of remarkable productions from natural life will encourage the client to appreciate nourishment as they prep and pour energy into their daily consumptions. 1. Suncore Foods / 2. @heartzeena / 3. Barn Light Electric / 4. @heartzeena / 5. @bearnecessities__ / 6. @heartzeena
catya martinez-gloria
main colorway
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alternative colorway
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Superbloom’s application onto kitchen linens would provide statement pieces to any cooking space, enhancing the overall experience of food preparation. With products such as tea towels, aprons, oven mittens, table cloths, and more, using linen would be the most ideal textile due to its absorbent nature and sustainable possibilities.
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dripping in wellness
my super garden
1. Baltic Linen Waves / 2. The Linen Works / 3. Williams Sonoma / 4. Magic Linen
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1. Bellerose / 2. MOLO Kids (WGSN) / 3. Veja / 4. Topken Kids (WGSN)
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zizzy zebra
a berry bash
what a mouthful
pantry party
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While initially designed as a collection for kitchen linens, the hand-drawn and youthful essence of Superbloom felt like an appropriate transition to designing for kidswear. Whether applied individually or adjacent to contrasting patterns, the collection’s punchy color palette would provide statement pieces for its wearer’s wardrobe, as well as boundless conversation starters.
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The collection’s inviting and engaging nature would apply suitably to a hospitality space, specifically in a restaurant setting. Whether this be as wall art, upholstery, table textures, menus, or as an overall branding bundle, Superbloom would provide the eatery with unique and memorable areas for all foodies to enjoy. 1. Appareil Architecture (WGSN) / 2. Greenery Co. (Nashville Interiors, Photography: Warner Tidwell) / 3. Sweet Laurel Bakery (Anewall, Photography: Stephanie Todaro) / 4. Honest Mary’s (Photography: Chase Daniel, Studio: Chioco Design) / 5. Al’s Place (Bon Appétit, Photography: Michael Graydon Nikole Herriott) / 6. Canva Design
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catya martinez-gloria
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website: www.catyamg.com email: catyamg00@gmail.com phone: 210-710-7689