SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (SAIC)
Sofia Merino Arzoz is a designer pursuing a bachelor of fine arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) with a focus in Visual Communication Design. She has studied in the US, Mexico, and Italy. She currently works at Hyde Park Art Center, a nonprofit hub for contemporary arts in Chicago, where she is in charge of everything from exhibition posters to maps. Sofia is both a Davis United World College Scholar and an SAIC Distinguished Scholar. Additionally, she is the recipient of the Justyna Palka Memorial Scholarship, which awarded her with a design internship at Ogilvy in Chicago in the summer of 2023. Curiosity and creativity drive her practice. Sofia’s design is mostly concerned with the “why” of the projects she takes on, which is why projects with social purposes stand at the core of her artistic pursuit. She enjoys constant reflection, challenging endeavors, and critique. She’s all about the subtle details and expansive research that propose a unique narrative and strong concept. Sofia sees design as a powerful tool to connect communities and ideas in the visual world we live in, and hopes to collaborate with other creative industries to create work that spans all mediums and approaches.
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL INSPIRED?
Exploring new places, nature, beautiful cities, taking a break! (While saving interesting sights for design reference of course.)
WHAT AREA OR AREAS OF DESIGN ARE YOU HOPING TO WORK IN OR SPECIALIZE IN?
I’m hoping to work on projects that span multiple areas, mediums, and scales, shifting from design and art direction. Currently, I have a strong interest in typography and the film industry.
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT DESIGN SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT YOU THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT?
The excitement of finding a design solution that makes you feel like you cracked the code.
