USC ROSKI SCHOOL OF ART + DESIGN
Nicolette Peji is a Mexican & Filipina designer from San Diego, CA, U.S.A and a student at the USC Roski School of Art + Design. She also serves as an AIGA San Diego Tijuana Board Member. As a tri-national designer, she is passionate about sharing untold stories. Her projects focus on finding a deeper “why” and are informed by the genuine experiences of the communities they serve. She is passionate about using design as a tool to make the world a kinder and more inclusive place. For this reason, she has been drawn to projects such as designing the “MLK in LA” exhibition at the USC Fisher Museum of Art to honor the legacy of the most iconic advocate for change in our nation’s history. She is a recipient of the AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship, the Farber Grant for Student Excellence, the BBB Ethical Business Award, and the Bezos Family Foundation Scholarship. Currently, she is working with a team of incredible binational designers towards telling the story of her region for the first ever bi-national World Design Capital: San Diego + Tijuana in 2024.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?
I am inspired by, and aim to amplify, my cultural communities. The iconic pink of the bougainvillea flowers that live outside of every other Mexican household is my most frequently used color. An image of a glowing sun, like the one on the flag of the Philippines, represents resilience in my design work. Words in Spanish or Tagalog, that have no direct English translation, often are present in my projects as well. Furthermore, I prefer my designs to be rooted in social impact and informed by the experiences of marginalized communities like the ones that I come from.
WHAT AREA OR AREAS OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN OR SPECIALIZE IN?
Community Impact Design: My goal is to work on projects that create unity in a world that seems to be increasingly divided. I love to design brands that tell BIPOC stories and ideate campaigns that spread positive messages.
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