

PORTFOLIO
ABOUT ME

Hi, my name is Caterina, I am a 22 years old Italian Design student willing to show my creativity and enthusiasm in all my works. I am currently ending my bachelor in Design at the University of Rome Sapienza, where I attended courses in visual communication, product design and exhibit. I have recently chosen to be closer to product, especially to the toy design branch. I have always looked up to designers such as Bruno Munari and after doing a workshop with Cas Holman I understood what I would like to design as a professional.
I have been drawing since I was a little kid and besides my high school studies, that did not include art, I constantly work on my skills. A big dream of mine is actually illustrating a children’s book someday and bring happiness to to little readers, besides their toys. I have always been a dreamer and I have clear memories of the fun I had in my childhood, in all my projects I bring this part of me that never left behind.
I have been having experiences with children for more than three years since I am an Agesci Scout Leader, responsible for 34 kids aged 8-11 years old. Growing up as a Scout I have always been asked to adapt to every situation and most of all to be creative, especially when planning activites for my children. My current apprenticeship at Explora Museum (Rome) is helping me understand how kids interact with areas specifically designed for them and how their mind works.
I hope to be accepted for this master, since I have always wanted to study abroad to approach different learning methods (frontal workshops) and discover a new culture. I have always been passionate about Nordic Design and its companies, always trying to create something new with the best materials. I wish to learn how to use new materials and textiles, I am especially drawn to wood, which will be the center of my thesis project
In this portfolio you will find my best work in product, graphic and exhibit design with some of my illustrations and additonal personal works.

PROJECTS
PRODUCT
TWIST
GRAPHIC - VISUAL
TRI MIXOLOGY
EXHIBIT
ALEA
FREE-HAND
ESCAPE ILLUSTRATIONS
WOODY YELLOWPECORA

The aim of the project was to create a funcitioning Kinetic sculpture to be placed in a public exhibition. The two towers when in action resemble two strands of DNA dancing with each other. In the final prototype the challenge was to build a motor and the gears to make the two strands rotate on themselves without losing balance.
TWIST
Kinetic sculpture
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
University assignment
Group 2ppl
Concept, Formalisation, Materialisation, Presentation
YEAR:
February 2022


Starting from a simple triangle, various intersections create a 3D structure used as a module on each pole.
Starting from an isosceles triangle, the final shape is a joint of 2D triangles and then lift up to be more tridimensional. Each pole rotate on itself showing different sides of the stars. It is designed to be placed mainly in indoor places, private or public.

TRI
Dividing Panel
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART: YEAR:
University assignment Individual Concept, 3D Model, Presentation February 2022



Woody is a capativating project that reimagines playtime for kids aged 3 to 6 years old, blending the natural beauty of amorphous wood shapes with the enchantment of light and shadows interaction. The focal point of this innovation is the wooden board that becomes a canvas for boundless creativity, promoting unlimited play and imaginative exploration. - Maximum autonomy and

WOODY
Kid’s Interactive Board
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
University assignment
Group 3ppl
YEAR:
Research, Concept, Sketching, Formalisation, Presentation February 2023



Taking inspiration from Chinese Shadows plays, the dynamic shadow play encourages artistic expression and allows kids to explore the visual arts in an engaging way.
The wooden shapes magnetically attach to the board, and they don’t have a specific identity to make the game free from any cognitive bias.




PROTOTYPE PROCESS


Materials:
Poplar plywood
Ayous solid wood
Tanganyika wood veneer sheets
Tanganyika ennobled wood

Woody it’s an invitation to a world of play, where children can experiment, create, and learn in a visually captivating and sensorily rich environment. This project embodies the belief that play is a powerful tool for fostering imagination and creativity, laying the foundation for a future generation of innovative thinkers.
FOTO


KIDS INTERACTION


Overcloud borns from the demanding by Chicco of creating a night lamp different from everything on the market. It is designed for being a construction game during the day and a tool to accompany children to bed time by being a cosy nightlight.
Kid’s Night Lamp
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
University contest with Chicco Group 4ppl
YEAR:
Research, Concept, Sketching, Formalisation, Presentation February 2024




TOT SIZE: 148 x 184 x 87
AVERAGE PIECE: 122-162 x 82 x 42
BACKLIT TABLET: 148 x 184 x 15
GIOCO
DAY TIME




The “cloud” is the base tablet and light for the pieces. Everytime a block is placed onto the base it lights up based on the color of the piece. When all of them are placed, the light becomes warm to indicate that it is bedtime and the game has ended.
The backlit tablet is made of matte white recyled pvc “opal”. LED lights are the main light system.
tavoletta
retroilluminata
Backlit tablet



Each Overcloud piece has a specific color, texture and characterization. The effect of distantly resembling an animal is wanted to make the kid freely assign a description or personality to each one without any set identity.
5 pezzi gioco caratterizzati
5 characterized game pieces
Each piece is made of transparent recycled pvc. The pieces when put together, they overlap creating each time new colorways.
BED TIME



TEXTURES COMPLETE

alcuni esempi delle molteplici
combinazioni possibili

escape
L’ARTE DI VIAGGIARE

ALTA BADIA
LECCE
VIENNA
CAPPADOCCIA
GIORDANIA
FUGHE DALLA QUOTIDIANITÀ
ANTICO FORNO Roscioli, storia di famiglia
PETIT DEJEUNER
Cafè parigini imperdibili

ESCAPE
Travel Magazine
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
University assignment
YEAR:
Individual Research, Cover Art, Layout Formalisation, Presentation July 2023
Escape is a travel lifestyle amied towards a young audience with big ambitions of traveling around the globe, starting from Europe Capitals to foreign countries with striking landscapes. The magazine follows a clean land simple layout, the cover arts are specifically drawn to.








“La














MIXOLOGY
Playing cards deck
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
Personal project Individual Illustrations, Layout, Presentation
YEAR:
September 2023
This playing cards deck is the result of countless game nights with friends, where each animal represent a specific drink. The layout is based on the Neapolitan playing cards.











































YELLOWPECORA
Tshirt brand project
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART: YEAR:
Personal project Individual Concept, Graphics, Materialisation October 2023


Yellowpecora is a brand with the aim to make people feel stylish and fresh wearing graphic t-shirts inspired by the most loved cocktails.



ALEA means “Dice” in Latinum, the direct meaning of the concept beside the experience. The main platform tells the archeological history of the site, with colors, stained glass and interactive elements. The purpose of the experience is to stimulate the visitors and leaving in their mind a fun memory, inspired by the games in ancient Rome. The newest technologies and ways of interaction with the visitors where applied to each artifact.
ALEA
The exhibition
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
University assignment
YEAR:
Individual Concept, Graphics, Formalisation, Presentation February 2023
ALEA is the exhibition designed to show the ancient wonders of the archeological park of Santa Basilica di Gerusalemme in Rome (Italy), where there used to be domuses and a circus. with the newest technologies and interactions with the visitors.

The analysis done after the inspection of the site, revealed a clear lack of seats, walkable pathways and a waste of space to tell interestingly the history of the place. The information panels were just a few across the field, besides the absence of maintenance.
The main cube has stained glass windows and interactive informational boards attached. The floor inside is also walkable
Colored bench:
Visual colorful projectionsare are played from under the seats to show the palette of the exhibition and of the ancient domuses

Glass interaction:

Columns:
This artifact stimulates the hearing. Each columns plays different tracks: ancient roman music, AI made atmoshpere sounds and Imperor’s voices storytelling the history of the site
The artifact is made of two faces; one with a mirror, the other one is a stained glass window. The user is attracted to the relationship between the colored flashing lights passing through the glass and covering the mirror.

Dices:
The dices interact with the checkered platform, making a tile light up when a dice is placed on it.


Illustrations
Drawing and sketches
FOR WHO:
TYPE:
MY PART:
YEAR:
Personal project Individual Sketching, Coloring December 2022 - on going







It’s raining cats and dogs... but in reverse?
Experimenting with different techniques...






CANVA
Crying a the Discoteque by Alcazar
Architectural
sketches done during my first year at Architecture School



