Carolina Scarpetta

Graphic Designer, Industrial Engineer


Abstract Mathematics (November 2015) is an exploration of visual mathematical concepts and the identity of a series of talk about mathematics based on prime numbers and golden proportions.

Primary design concentration:

Visual/Graphic Design

Most preferred tools for designing:

My Macbook + The holy Adobe suite


Gasholders Skeletal Witnesses of Progress (March 2015) is an A3 publication, which offers a view of London’s gasholders in a different light and aims to preserve them from demolition.

How and why did you choose to become a designer?

I studied Engineering at Master’s level and worked for a while before realizing I wanted to be a graphic designer. I found myself more interested in typefaces and layouts of the presentations I was creating rather than the content. But that was only the point of the iceberg. I’ve always known I was into visual things. I get excited about photography, cinema, visuals at concerts and events, hence I decided I wanted to create my own visual things to express my point of view and investigate my idea of aesthetic.

What are some of the challenges you encounter as a designer and how do you deal with them?

Finding the right balance between functionality and aesthetic can be challenging. In a way, I’m interested in what makes design—design rather than art—intended as pure aesthetic.

A bigger challenge that I encounter is to stay motivated when the concept behind a project doesn’t excite me. I think that’s a big challenge in commercial work. I need a meaning or a message that I want my design to communicate, and the belief in that message or concept stimulates me and keeps me excited about designing it.


Found Alphabet (February 2015) is a collection of letterforms found through Brick Lane and Shoreditch, presented exploring different grids and layouts.

What is your definition of an “elegant solution,” that is, good design?

To quote Einstein, an elegant solution can be the one that makes things as simple as possible, but not simpler.

From skills to values, what makes a designer successful?

Curiosity, ambition, courage, integrity, honesty, modesty/humbleness are, in my opinion, among the values that make you a successful person, no matter the profession. Interpersonal skills are essential as well for a designer. Dealing with other people, being able to effectively communicate your ideas, to accept failures and rejections and build on them, I think these are some key skills to succeed.

How do you stay motivated and grow personally and professionally as a designer?

The curiosity and the awareness that there’s so much ‘stuff’ out there that I don’t know yet, and it’s waiting to be discovered and experimented keeps me excited, and stimulates me to develop myself.

For those aspiring to become a designer, whatever the discipline, what is your advice?

Dare, question everything but especially ask yourself a lot of questions. Stay curious about other things, be informed, try not to narrow down your horizons. There’s something to learn from everything and everyone.

What is your quest in design, from a professional practice, education or evolution standpoint?

My quest in design is to investigate aesthetic in every form, and to explore its manifestations in different fields.

Carolina Scarpetta recommends experiencing “the oneiric madness” of David Lynch’s work in films and TV.

All images courtesy of Carolina Scarpetta.

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Carolina Scarpetta

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