Grace Antoinette Castillo
2D and 3D Designer / Branding / Web and Print Design
Miami, FL
instagram @graceantoinette
Behance
Pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I’m a multidisciplined creative and I’m currently offering branding, web, print, and 3D design services.”
I also like to dabble in illustration, typography, photography, and videography (as my hobbies), and hope to offer these as services later on.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I pivoted my career in marketing and partnerships in grassroots sports in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and decided to delve into being a creative and focus on digital design. I took almost every visual art class offered in my early years of school (i.e. illustration, painting, calligraphy, graphic design, mixed media, screen printing, sewing, film studies) and owe everything to those experiences and my instructors. I’m self-taught in all of the digital programs that I regularly use, but have also taken individual courses to help expand my skills and knowledge in them since I never formally studied design or took design courses in college.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Even though I’m still very new in my design career, I want my work to feel like an experience throughout every stage, whether it be for a branding, web, print, or 3D project. As someone with several arts and crafts hobbies, I love incorporating analog techniques to every project I work on to add a more human and rugged feel to them, such as handmade elements and textures.
Q What are you working on right now?
My biggest client yet (myself). I’ve been working on several passion projects that reflect the clients that I want to attract and the services I specialize in, while also taking different design courses to help challenge myself and stay consistent. Right now I’m taking Laura Evans Packaging Course, which I highly recommend for anyone seeking a solid foundation in packaging design.
Q What’s your style?
While I’m still currently working on my personal branding, a few designers and agencies that I admire and am inspired by are: Little Troop’s branding and art direction for Billie (dream color palette), Leslie David’s branding and art direction for Glossier (iconic), Anna Mill’s typography work, COLLINS’ brand refresh for Girl Scouts, Vacation Inc.’s humorous and 80s resort-core branding and campaigns, and Lisa Yang’s photography and prop styling.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
One of my biggest goals for years now has been to start a Youtube channel, but I’ve always been intimidated by the idea of it yet really hope to pursuit it come next year. I also would love to focus on more typography work and design an entire typeface in the near future, as well as delve into the world of pixel art.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
My biggest struggle for a while now has been timing and maintaining structure. As a mostly self-taught creative, it has been difficult for me to bet on myself and and promote myself the way I should, thus affecting the amount of work I put out and feeling like I need more time in order to feel ready. I’m also extremely self-aware and know that I’m someone who is easily affected by my environment and can only bring my creativity to fruition whenever I feel my most stable and grounded, both mentally and physically. Whenever I feel too stuck to the point where it inhibits my creative outlets, I know that I’m overdue for a change- and that’s exactly what I look forward to the most as the year comes to an end.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I’d love to hire someone to be able to dissect my creative ideas and thoughts that I’m not able to articulate and formulate in their early stages and create a step-by-step guide on how to achieve each and every one of them.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
To my younger self, I’m grateful for your curious mind and for introducing me to everything that I know and still love to this day in regards to arts and design. Thank you for staying true to yourself and always being open to learning more about everything that inspired you.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
An accountant, a lawyer, and a career mentor!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m open to working with brands and people that are conscious-driven and practice sustainable business methods in both the goods and service fields. My industries of interest are beauty and skincare, health and wellness, fashion, interior design/real estate, grassroots sports, and any relative field that could capture my interest.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal clients are essentially an extension of my personality, likings, and values. They’re thought-provoking, creative, and aren’t afraid to play around with their visual language. I’d love to be involved with an art direction team for a fun brand and apply that experience to my services. I’ve also worked on stationary for a previous employer and would love to take on a similar project for a new or existing brand.
Q What is your rate?
Pricing is still in the works right now, so it all depends on the project scope and timeframe. I've currently been offering services through word of mouth based on tiers. Tier 1 would be branding specific, such as brand strategy, creative direction, moodboard, typesuite and color palette, logo suite, collateral, and brand guidelines. Tier 2 would offer everything from Tier 1 in addition to web design, and Tier 3 would offer the same as Tier 1 and 2 but would offer additional custom services like packaging design, 3D design, and social media templates.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
E-mail will always be my preferred method of communication. You can reach me at gantoinettec@gmail.com for any project inquiries or collaborations.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I’ll always recommend and shout out Alex @alexwifi for his beautiful 3D creations and for formally introducing me to the wonderful world of Blender.
I’ve also been in love with Rachel Nguyen’s @thatschic Youtube channel since high school and her art of storytelling and video editing, Sara’s @asphhffi pixel work, Olivia Pedigo’s @oliviapedi 3D art, James’ @jamesjunk colorful and nostalgic graphic design work, and Alyssa Nguyen’s @atnndesign design community and endless resources for creatives.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Stimulating all of my senses and consuming as much art as possible.
This member profile was originally published in October 2023