Today we’d like to introduce you to Lina Guerrero.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up all my life in Tijuana, BC. All I knew was Mexico, and all my family/friends live close to me as well. During my second year of high-school at Preparatoria Federal Lazaro Cardenas in TJ, I started a design program as the start of my career path. I learned software skills, some color theory and a lot of classic technical skills I haven’t used in years, but I knew since then I wanted to study something creative. I grew up around my mother’s computer; she was a lawyer and her office was my second home. She would let me use the computer in her partners cubicle while she was working in the cubicle next to me, and I downloaded Kidspix and would spend hours there after school. As my high school graduation date started getting closer, I started realizing the universities closer to me in Tijuana did not offer a design program, or I couldn’t afford the ones that did, so I started transitioning into looking where to go to college in America, starting my border life fresh at 18. I found City College as my last resort since I didn’t have much school record in America for SDSU; not knowing anything about the school system in the USA, all I wanted was to study design and I started crossing the border 5-7 days a week for work and school. Working to be able to afford school, I was so happy to have found a college that was as cool and creative as the City Design Program. Sean and Bradford really helped me develop and shape myself as a designer, pushing me and listening to what my brain would throw a them on a random Tuesday. The program does an amazing job on helping creatives have independent ideas, and connect purpose with action as we learn visual strength and skill. After graduating, I was chosen by Sean And Bradford to design the 2025 graduation Spring show, as tradition to choose someone from the previous year to create next. I worked with them for almost a year, and gave me creative control on the theme, look and feel to represent the graduating class, which became the biggest project I’ve worked on so far. On June 6th, Creativity is Always Chaotic came to life as the theme for the Design Spring Show to spotlight the new class of 2025, and my digital work became tactile. Since then, I’ve been working as a freelance designer for various agencies, and I keep my brain working by making zines and feeding myself with what’s new in the design world. I try to meet creatives as often as I can, and I travel as much as far as I can and as much as my wallet allows me to see other sides of design, culture and art that will inspire my next project.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Crossing the border was always something that held be back from a lot of things growing up. I would wake up at 1am to take an uber to the border at 1:30am and be standing in line somewhere from 1-4 hours sometimes, just to go to work. After getting my first car, border wait times became easier in a way, yet having a meltdown every couple of weeks because I couldn’t make it in time for class, or couldn’t even make it at all. I almost quit multiple times, it absorbed every part of my day and night. Around 3 years ago I got my Sentri pass and border has been smooth sailing for now, I feel like my life has been given back to me as funny as it sounds. Having no sleep, long days, hours in traffic every day in and out of the country does so much to someone.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Graphic Designer, in love with bold color and loud design. Anything having to do with print and packaging I’m in it for the win. I love telling stories through layout and color, and bringing my travel experiences into my work. I’m particularly proud of my resilience to get to where I wanted coming from Tijuana, and all the work I have done just to get a degree in Design. My resilience has gotten me in countries I never thought I’d visit. It has gotten me the skills and connection to my design journey, and a lot of patience and excitement for what’s next to come. I believe what sets me apart is my curiosity and love for the unknown. I get myself in every situation possible —good or extreme— just to get to know a person, a city, a neighborhood, a venue in the south of London. I shape shift myself to get to know the good and the ugly, and bring back the experience home. I want to get to know how culture has shaped the arts in every city I visit, and how creatives adapt to social constraints to make art. All that has shifted my view and style in design, making my work a mash of what has passed through my eyes as I wander in a new city.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I can say I am starting out myself as well. Yet I would have love to know how important it is to meet people. Earlier in my design journey—before I started traveling—I was very shy, and still am in some instances. It is so important to know your creative heroes, and fill yourself with a social life. Creatives thrive in connection, not necessarily for networking (which it’s still important), but to never get stuck in only one view of life and art. It is so easy to find yourself only looking at your work, get to know others and pull from there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linamakesnoise.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linamakesnoise?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linamakesnoise
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/linadjacent/
