M.F.A. Thesis

I pursued my M.F.A. degree at the University of California, Davis. My thesis project titled, “Designing in Color: Graphic Design Through a Xicana Lens” looked at contemporary Xicana graphic design and how it can be used to build community. This work reflected my culture, community, and personal experiences. The designs are mostly colorful vector illustrations that are based off photographs she captured or personal drawings. Through out my thesis journey, I would host pop ups at community events or marches and hand out stickers or posters of my work through out California. For the final thesis installation, I looked to capture this community experience and bring it into the museum. Thesis Committee: Thomas Maiorana M.F.A.(Chair), Glenda Drew M.A., and Brett Snyder.

The final thesis installation was presented at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The installation included a sticker cart that was used to hand out free stickers to guests. The cart was built with the assistance of two design interns named Phillip Diaz and Cliff Yang. I also embraced rasquachismo in my installation by building four 6’x4’ panels that were covered in her posters that just used copy paper and wheat paste. This installation was featured in the Sacramento BeeEnterprise, and UC Davis’s College of Letters and Science News.