Growing up in a Mexican immigrant household, I have found that my identity as a first-
generation American has profoundly shaped how I experience culture, language, and creativity. Japanese animation, or anime, which my family has deeply loved, has become a powerful influence on my artistic path, beginning in middle school. Through my studies in graphic design at Salisbury University, I strive to fuse the bold, expressive visual cultures of Japan and Mexico into designs that are both charming and meaningful.
My work reflects this cultural hybridity by combining what I have learned in design, such as
cohesive layout and orderly presentation—with my passion for character design and world-
building. This body of work centers on a universe I created where traditional magical girl tropes are expanded and reimagined. While magical girls are a popular and often-explored theme in Japanese media, I focus on how this trope can embrace greater diversity in gender identity, nationality, and cultural inspiration.
In my world, anyone—regardless of age, gender, or background—can become “Magica people,” a term I use to signify an inclusive spectrum beyond the typical magical girl or boy categories. This concept challenges conventional norms by celebrating non-binary and non-gender-conforming identities as part of the magical transformation experience. Each character I design carries a story visible through their age, clothing, expressions, and posture, inviting viewers to imagine their background even before reading the detailed backstory.
Through this project, I invite viewers to explore themes of transformation, inclusivity, and
cultural hybridity. By blending the aesthetics of Japanese and Mexican visual traditions with
contemporary ideas of identity, I aim to create work that is not only visually captivating but also socially resonant.