STA Blog

January 2026

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✿˖° ⋆ January 2026 ⋆˚✿˖°

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ANS304C (Spring 2026/Hurley) Course Graphic

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I was tasked to help with designing a canvas homepage and dashboard banner for ANS304C! Lila had established a collage styled design so I then created different iterations with photos moved around!

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After some feedback from the professor, he preferred the bar at the bottom and asked to switch around the images some more after removing one!

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Now the final iterations were completed! I had to change the collage format for the dashboard vs the homepage banner, corrected the text, and added the logo footer for the title slide!

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Refining Course Graphics

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I updated some more backdrops by mostly making the images darker and having more contrast! I also changed the swirl design to a more suitable one and revised the gradients!

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Texas Politics Project

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After having a meeting with the developers, I made sure to keep the design simple yet modern but also correspond to what was already on the website!

Most of the revisions included:

  • Turning “Read More” text into buttons
  • Establishing colors for headings, sub-headings, and body text
  • Reformatting spacing in body text
  • Adding an area for the authors and dates

The Carranza Chicano Archive Website

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The Carranza Chicano Archive Website

Client: Jonathan Cortez, the Carranzas

Task: Create a website/branding to introduce The Carranza Chicano Archive.

Status: In progress, implementing

Logo Design

Clean, Iconography of the Chicana/o movement inspired

A moodboard

I started the design process by looking at inspiration. The client wanted the design assets to reference iconography from within the Chicano movement, while keeping a dynamic look. The client also wanted the color palette to be made up of deep burnt orange, mustard yellow, navy  blues, and forest greens.

Initial designs

Abstract Banner

Create a repeatable abstract motif/banner graphic for the site. Indigenous iconography (Aztec & Mayan).

Possible Site Mock-Ups

Several options of implementations of the above assets.

Incorporating a Cultural Symbol

The client wanted to include a Hunab-Ku somewhere on the homepage, so I tried several different variations and placements.

We ended up choosing to going with it being in the hero section, with a transparent background.

See the live site!

https://sites.utexas.edu/carranzaarchive

Life & Letters

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Life & Letters

Client: Life & Letters

Task: Life & Letters (official COLA magazine) wants a WordPress template that they can update periodically with their print publication.

Status: In progress, working on the About page

Visit the live site: https://utw11345.utweb.utexas.edu/

Creating a Main Menu Design

I created a design for the main menu. Previously, the hierarchy of the text felt off and there was too much white space. I created a new design that kept “Sections” and “Collections” the main categories, but also gave more emphasis to the “Research”, “Art & Culture”, and “College Communities” categories, which were really tiny before.

STA Alumni Network

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STA Alumni Network Website

Client: LAITS

Task: Design a website that contains information about the STA Alumni Network.

Status: In progress

Understanding the Situation

Figuring out the core needs and goals.

Comparing what we currently have with what we need:

Before I started, there was a template website already in place with placeholder pages. I began my design process by identifying what pages to keep and what—if anything—we needed to add.

Figuring out information architecture:

After determining this, I then figured out the information architecture and user flow of the website.

Research

Gather insights that will inform the design.

I took a look at other alumni websites for a baseline/inspiration:

From there, I compiled the content that we would need to have:

Design & Prototype

Brainstorm and narrow down the visual + functional components.

I sketched out possible layouts for the different screens:

Then I made some low-fidelity prototypes:

Implement

Transfer the designs over to WordPress.

Live site: https://utw11313.utweb.utexas.edu/

The ChiLDS Lab

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The ChiLDS Lab Site Redesign

Client: Maria Arredondo, The ChiLDS Lab

Task: Complete a site redesign for The ChiLDS Lab. The client wanted to keep most of the content, but wanted a refreshed and “cuter” design overall.

Status: In progress, low fidelity mock-ups created

The Old Site

This was the initial site. The client wanted to move away from the standard university template and make it feel more invited and on theme with her lab. Since her target audience were parents of potential participants, researchers, and students, she wanted the website to be cute and attention grabbing, while still being professional and polished.

Logo Redesign

I started by creating a new logo. I took a lot of inspiration from other child-oriented brands and took note of both their typography and color choices.

A moodboard

Initial designs

Abstract Banner

I also created content dividers as an easy way for the client to add personalization to the website.

Possible Site Mock-Ups

Several options of implementations of the above assets.

Client Feedback

Receiving edits and revising.

The client ended up choosing the “lego block” logo design, with some minor edits. After revising to meet her requests, the logo ended up looking like this:

Low-Fidelity Mock-Ups

Lastly, I used my revised information architecture to mock-up some low fidelity prototypes of what the website could like, before handing it off to the client for implementation.

Summer 2025

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Summer 2025

Summer Marketing

First Day of Classes

Juneteenth

Freshmen Orientation

Transfer Orientation

HIS 315L

⋆｡°✩ Full course package

⋆｡°✩ Prof. wanted to show the continuities between the past and present

⋆｡°✩ Original course imagery –>

v.1

v.2

Sepia, grid lines

Sepia, blurred transition

☆ B&W and color, grid lines ☆

v.3

Fall Postcard

Initial Drafts

⋆｡°✩ Played around with the messaging, “my summer” vs “your summer”

⋆｡°✩ Explored different imagery (graduation, on campus, talking with friends)

Exploring Layouts & Taglines

⋆｡°✩ Collage allows for greater expression of summer (internships, staying on campus, traveling, etc.)

⋆｡°✩ The vertical column layout was a lot more balanced and easier to read

⋆｡°✩ Felt the original tagline didn’t align with our message and research. Needed to focus on the fact that students want to use summer to get ahead and complete course requirements

Final Tagline

⋆｡°✩ After settling on a tagline, we’re now focussing on which text should be the main tagline, our organization or message?