Design isn’t just about making things look pretty—it’s about telling a story. But how do you ensure your story connects deeply with your audience?
Irene Arteaga believes she’s unlocked the secret.
By honing the art of paying attention to minor details, Irene has created immersive design experiences that have reshaped brands across industries. Her ability to notice the nuances that others overlook has turned her into a sought-after design professional.
Most people get caught up in the big picture, trends, and flashy techniques. What sets Irene apart is her ability to focus on the details others overlook—her work reveals the true power of paying attention.
Want to take your design work to the next level? Here’s how Irene’s approach can help you.
Crafting Stories Through Design
Irene Arteaga is a storyteller, blending design, branding, and narrative in ways that make people sit up and take notice.
With years of experience across continents and industries, Irene’s work goes far beyond aesthetics—it’s about crafting an experience, a feeling that stays with you long after you’ve seen it.
She brings a thoughtful perspective to design, crafting visual stories that resonate and inspire within the creative industry. Based in New York, her work redefines how we experience design, making her a standout voice in the field.
Irene’s journey into design began in Costa Rica, surrounded by a culture that celebrates art and creativity. From a young age, she was immersed in a world of music, photography, and visual art, setting the stage for a career that would blend the personal and professional in unique ways.
After studying advertising design in Costa Rica, Irene pursued a postgraduate degree in Art Direction in Buenos Aires, Argentina—a city known for its vibrant, boundary-pushing creative scene. This is where Irene’s true vision began to take shape, merging artistic passion with strategic thinking in a way few others can.
Achievements and Contributions
Photo from Irene Arteaga
Her career took a pivotal turn when she transitioned from advertising to branding.
At Gensler, one of the leading architectural and design firms, Irene combined her design skills with storytelling to create lasting brand identities. It was here that Irene discovered the true power of design—it wasn’t just about making things look good, it was about making them feel something.
She learned to fuse aesthetics with purpose, crafting experiences that resonated deeply with audiences. Her ability to seamlessly integrate strategy and creativity elevated brands, making her a standout force in the design world.
Shaping the Design Industry
Irene’s work speaks for itself.
A few highlights include designing two books for &Tradition, a renowned Danish design brand. This project allowed Irene to combine her love for design and storytelling with a lifelong dream of bookmaking.
The result wasn’t just a beautifully designed book—it was an experience that told a story, one page at a time.
Her design philosophy, shaped by her time working with clients in different scales and industries, merges aesthetics with strategy—creating work that resonates deeply and earns recognition for its intentional, thoughtful execution.
Her dedication to her craft is also visible in her personal life. For over 10 years, Irene has kept a daily photography practice, capturing everything from everyday moments to extraordinary ones.
This collection of photos has become more than just a personal archive—it’s informed and influenced her professional work, giving her a deeper understanding of the details that make a design resonate with people.
Passion, Ethics, and Growth
Photo from Irene Arteaga
Irene’s influence reaches far beyond her projects.
She’s worked with clients from diverse industries, including hospitality, art, and luxury brands. From New York to Los Angeles, Copenhagen to Miami, Irene has had a hand in shaping some of the most innovative and forward-thinking design projects around the world.
But what sets Irene apart is her ability to combine multiple creative disciplines—design, photography, storytelling—and seamlessly weave them into powerful brand experiences.
But it isn’t just her technical skill that makes her stand out, it’s her commitment to the craft. Irene believes that great design comes from the ability to pay attention, to notice the small, often-overlooked details that make something truly special. Her approach is deeply thoughtful, always driven by a desire to create something meaningful.
Irene’s work ethic is also rooted in collaboration. She’s always looking to learn from others, share her knowledge, and elevate the voices of those historically underrepresented in the design world. This is what makes her a true leader in her field.
Final Thoughts
Irene envisions the next phase of her journey as an exciting opportunity to connect with a broader creative community, work on larger projects, and continue pushing the boundaries of design.
She’s passionate about integrating illustration and photography into her work in innovative ways and is eager to collaborate with like-minded creatives to explore new mediums and tell more impactful stories.
Her goal is to expand her influence, engage with global design trends, and bring her vision to life on an even larger scale. Irene aims to evolve continuously as a designer, creating work that shapes brands and resonates with people on a deeper level.
Irene Arteaga’s work is a testament to what happens when creativity, strategy, and storytelling converge in perfect harmony.
A true visionary, her work is already making a lasting mark on the design world—and this is only the beginning. With an exciting future ahead, Irene is poised to shape the creative landscape, inspire others, and introduce new ideas in ways that have yet to be seen.
Author
Written by Wendy Sullivan, a design and culture writer based in New York, who covers the intersection of art, design, and creative innovation.
