Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivian Benaroya.
Hi Vivian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a graphic designer at heart. I moved from Mexico City to the U.S. 18 years ago with big dreams, a deep love for design, and no idea where life would take me. I started my career working at a magazine, which felt like such a dream at the time—until the company was suddenly sold and I found myself without a job. It was scary, disorienting, and honestly one of those moments where you’re forced to pause and ask yourself, what now?
Around that time, I was also becoming a mom—and that changed everything. I’ve always loved hosting gatherings, bringing people together, and especially creating magical parties for my kids. I’m very detail-oriented, very visual, and I believe celebrations are a way of telling stories. A friend casually suggested, “Why don’t you start doing events?” and that simple comment changed my life.
That’s how Sweet & Spicy Bar was born. I started by offering dessert and snack tables for kids’ parties, not knowing it would turn into a full-blown business. Through word of mouth and incredible clients who trusted me, it grew faster than I ever imagined. What began as small dessert setups evolved into kids rentals, custom activities, balloons, florals—everything. I was doing it all myself, wearing every hat, pouring my heart into every event.
After six years in the event industry, I reached a point where I knew I needed to pause. I loved what I had built, but I also felt exhausted and a little disconnected from myself. I needed balance. I needed to reconnect with the part of me that started all of this—the designer.
Last year, I found my way back to myself and launched Ink & Grid. It felt like coming home. With Ink & Grid, I went back to my graphic design roots, but this time with years of hands-on event experience behind me. I now specialize in custom graphic design for events—creating intentional, thoughtful designs that don’t just look beautiful, but truly work in real-life celebrations.
Looking back, every chapter made sense. Losing a job, building a business from scratch, burning out, and starting again—all of it shaped how I design today. My work is deeply personal, joyful, and rooted in the belief that even the smallest details can hold so much meaning.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most businesses, the journey hasn’t been completely smooth, and in many ways, that’s exactly what shaped it. In the early years, one of the biggest challenges was learning how to truly run a business: understanding pricing, managing time, setting boundaries, and trusting my creative instincts. I was building from passion and intuition, often learning through trial and error.
As the business grew, another challenge emerged, I was trying to do everything myself. I wore every hat, from designing and styling to logistics, communication, and production. It was demanding and sometimes overwhelming, but it also taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of intention over excess.
At the same time, I began to feel something else that was harder to name. Celebrations were starting to feel increasingly materialistic, more about having more rather than feeling present. That shift didn’t sit well with me. It felt disconnected from my values and from the reason I fell in love with celebrations in the first place. I wanted to create moments that felt meaningful, not overwhelming, moments that centered joy, connection, and memory-making rather than excess.
What always grounded me again were the moments at the end, the joy of seeing kids light up, the pride they felt in their celebration, and the way families came together. Those moments reminded me that design isn’t just about how something looks; it’s about how it makes people feel.
Those experiences are exactly what led to Ink & Grid. Today, my work is rooted in the idea that thoughtful design creates space for meaningful moments. Ink & Grid is about balance—between creativity and clarity, playfulness and structure, beauty and purpose. Every piece is designed intentionally, not to overwhelm, but to support the celebration and let the moment shine.
I truly believe celebrations should be about enjoying the moment and making memories. They can be beautiful and dreamy without feeling overwhelming or oversaturated, and that belief guides everything I create.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At the core, I’m a graphic designer who specializes in custom design for celebrations. Through Ink & Grid, I create thoughtfully designed stationery and visual elements for events, primarily children’s birthdays and family milestones, focusing on invitations, activity placemats, patterns, signage, and cohesive design bundles.
One of the most important and recognizable elements of my work is color. I’m a true color lover, not just visually, but emotionally. Color speaks, it carries energy, and it transmits feeling. Because of that, I’m incredibly intentional when choosing palettes for my designs. Every color decision is made with purpose, always thinking about the mood, the story, and how the celebration should feel. I often reimagine traditional party themes through a modern lens, making them feel clean, elevated, and timeless, while still being playful and engaging for kids.
I specialize in children’s events because I have a deep connection to my inner child. I love to play, imagine, and dream, and designing for kids allows me to stay in that space of creativity and wonder. My own children are a huge part of this process. They’re always asking about my next project, what the theme is, and brainstorming ideas with me, which keeps my work honest, playful, and full of heart.
What I’m most proud of is creating work that feels meaningful. My designs become part of family memories, moments that are celebrated, photographed, and remembered—and that responsibility is something I take very seriously.
What truly sets me apart is balance, design that supports the moment rather than competing with it.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was born into a family of artists, so creativity was always part of my everyday life. My grandmother was a painter, my grandfather an architect, and almost everyone in my family carried a creative spirit in one way or another. Because of that, design never felt like a distant dream, it felt like something natural, something I always knew I wanted to do.
From as early as I can remember, I was drawn to creating. My dad loves to remind me that instead of asking to go to a toy store, I would ask him to take me to stationery or office supply stores. I was fascinated by paper, pens, notebooks, and colors. My favorite gifts were always colored pencil sets, markers, or anything related to arts and crafts. Those simple tools felt magical to me.
I also expressed my creativity through movement. I danced for many years, was part of several dance groups, and eventually that passion turned into my first real job, I became a kids’ dance teacher. Teaching, creating, and playing through movement felt incredibly natural to me and taught me how powerful creativity can be when shared with children.
Looking back, I had a truly beautiful childhood, one filled with imagination, art, music, and play. That foundation shaped who I am today and is still very present in my work. I think that’s why designing for kids and families feels so deeply personal to me—it’s a continuation of the joy, curiosity, and creativity I grew up surrounded by.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://inkandgrid.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ink.and.grid/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/inkandgrid/
