# Catalina Vásquez

Senior brand designer & art director. 10+ years in illustration and animation. My work spans brand identities, campaigns and editorial projects across print and digital.

Contact

[Get in touch](https://kathiuska.com/contact/)

[Download CV](https://kathiuska.com/media/cv/catalina-vasquez-salazar-cv.pdf)

## Experience

1.  Sept 2025–Oct 2026
    
    ReserveSenior Brand Designer
    
    Created brand visuals, illustration and animation for product launches and digital campaigns. Contributed to the Reserve.org redesign, working with the design team. Participated in research and user interviews to inform creative decisions.
    
2.  Feb–Aug 2025
    
    Confusion CapitalCreative Consultant
    
    Led art direction, visual identity, illustration and motion design for an event focused on monetary stability. Developed the identity across print, editorial layouts, signage, stage graphics and animation.
    
3.  Mar 2023–Mar 2025
    
    UGLYCASHBrand Illustrator & Animator
    
    Helped build the brand's visual language as part of the design team. Designed its original character, defining its initial visual concept and personality, and created illustration and animation for marketing, social media and campaigns.
    
4.  Mar 2021–Mar 2023
    
    ReserveIllustrator & Instagram Lead, Latin America
    
    Created illustration, web visuals and merchandise for regional brand communications. Led Instagram content and community initiatives as the account grew from 9K to 70K+ followers; produced 150+ illustrations and brand assets.
    
5.  2021–2026
    
    DomestikaCourse Instructor
    
    Teach frame-by-frame animation through a best-selling online course with 11,000+ students, 99% positive reviews and audio in six languages.
    
6.  2018–2020
    
    Snap Inc.Freelance Animator and Illustrator
    
    Led creative direction, illustration and cel animation for Snapchat across Latin America, including filters and stickers.
    
7.  2014–2026
    
    Kathiuska (my own practice)Visual Artist and Art Director
    
    Independent practice across illustration, apparel, printed editions and visual narratives.
    

## Recognition

-   2023[Graphic Design Trends 2023](https://graphicmama.com/blog/graphic-design-trends-2023/)GraphicMama · Reserve homepage
-   2023[Clio Bronze, Design Craft: Illustration](https://clios.com/winners-gallery/details/155192)Awarded to the Upwork Wake+Make campaign
-   2022[ADC Silver Cube, The One Club](https://www.oneclub.org/awards/adcawards/-award/42854/wakemake/)Upwork Wake+Make campaign
-   2021[Best of Behance](https://www.behance.net/gallery/128667533/Reserve-Website-Illustrations)Reserve homepage illustrations
-   2020[Best of Behance](https://www.behance.net/gallery/101770343/A-Estoria-do-Sol-e-do-Rinoceronte)_A estória do sol e do rinoceronte_, illustrated book
-   2020[Movements and Moments grant, Goethe-Institut](https://www.goethe.de/resources/files/pdf259/geraldine_fa_online_es_za-v1.pdf)Geraldine, with Alejandra Pérez Torres, one of 16 stories from 14 countries
-   2019[Latin American Ilustración 8](https://www.ai-ap.com/slideshow/LAI/8/catalina-vasquez/)American Illustration–American Photography · Ulises
-   2017MinTIC and BAM grant, Marketing & Sales for Animation StudiosBogotá Audiovisual Market · Canada
-   2017Film Development Fund (FDC)Proimágenes Colombia · for Niebla, as producer
-   2016Film Development Fund (FDC)Proimágenes Colombia · for Cárcel

## Education

-   2026–2028Certificate in Sociopolitical ThoughtThe New Centre for Research & Practice · in progress
-   2026Master’s in Latin American Cultural StudiesPontificia Universidad Javeriana · thesis with honourable mention
-   2014BA, Audiovisual and Multimedia CommunicationUniversidad de Antioquia
-   2014Diploma in Journalism and Historical MemoryUniversidad de Antioquia
-   2014Diploma in Audiovisual DramaturgyUniversidad de Antioquia

## Filmography

-   2020[_Niebla_](https://kathiuska.com/kathiuska/niebla/)Executive producer and producerPoulain de Bronze, Fantasia 2022.
-   2018[_Cárcel_](https://kathiuska.com/kathiuska/carcel/)Script and directionWorld premiere, DOK Leipzig international competition.
-   2014[_Islas_](https://kathiuska.com/kathiuska/islas/)Script and directionShort Film Corner, Cannes, 2015.
-   2010[_Reciclando recuerdos_](https://kathiuska.com/kathiuska/reciclando-recuerdos/)Script and directionIndia Catalina Award, Best Documentary Video, New Creators, FICCI 2011.

## Illustrated books

-   2021_Los animales del cielo_Text by Germán Puerta Restrepo · Editorial Planeta
-   2020_A estória do sol e do rinoceronte_Text by Ondjaki · Alfaguara, Portugal · editions in Brazil, the UK and Germany
-   2018_México cuenta_Tragaluz Editores
-   2017_Las aventuras de Ulises_Colombia’s Ministry of Culture
-   2015_Manual para cazar una idea_With José Andrés Gómez · Tragaluz Editores

## Residencies and exhibitions

-   2019Group exhibition of Maison des Auteurs residents46th Festival de la Bande Dessinée, Angoulême, France
-   2018Graphic novel residency, Maison des AuteursAngoulême, France · granted by Colombia’s Ministry of Culture
-   2016Animation Production LabBridging The Gap, Valencia, Spain
-   2014Filming in Colombia with Abbas KiarostamiProimágenes Colombia

## Certifications

-   2026[AI Fluency: Framework & Foundations](https://verify.skilljar.com/c/ypktb3agw4o6)Anthropic

## Editorial commissions

-   [Süddeutsche Zeitung](https://kathiuska.com/work/suddeutsche-zeitung/)
    
    The Odyssey: A Complicated Man
    
    Editorial illustration for print and digital.
    
-   [Internazionale Kids](https://kathiuska.com/archive/pride-issue-cover-internazionale-kids/)
    
    Pride issue, May 2022
    
    Cover illustration for a young audience.
    

## Conceptual skills

Brand and visual systems, concept development, art direction, campaign strategy, visual storytelling, research and user interviews.

## Craft skills

Editorial design & layout, illustration, character design, motion design, frame-by-frame animation, cut-out animation, storyboarding, merchandise, print production, signage & stage graphics.

## Design and motion

Figma, Framer, Claude Design, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Procreate.

## AI tools

Midjourney, RunwayML, Google AI Studio, Claude/Claude Code, ChatGPT/Codex.

## Languages

Spanish (native) English (professional proficiency)

Source: https://kathiuska.com/cv/