portfolio 2025
Caterina Mariotti
Hello, I am a Play Designer + Industrial designer & Illustrator
I create playful designs that blend aesthetics and functionality to inspire and connect people. My cheerful designs aim to improve people’s moods with a long lasting impact.
The power of my projects stands in the concept and protoyping phase as a creative and observing designer. I enjoy using differente mediums and learning new ones as I see myself as a very flexible industrial designer. I am looking forward to show my abilities as a designer and learning new skills while working.
Education
2021-2024
Design Bachelor degree - Sapienza University
2024-2026
MA Design for Play - Kolding Design School
Contact
catmar2001@gmail.com cate_dsgn www.linkedin.com/in/caterinamariotti
Experience
Feb-July 2024
Animator & Playful learning facilitator at Explora Children’s Museum of Rome
Skills
alcuni esempi delle molteplici combinazioni possibili
SEOUL
COLLECTIBLE LINE
Metroos is an art toys collectible line, which portraits people in big cities’ subways with their own car section. This first version refers to Seoul (SK) metro line where the characters are inspired by humorous and cultural cliches.
“SCHOLAR”
January 2025 - Individual project
MY ROLE: Concept, Sketching, 3D Rendering, prototype, illustrations
Hajumma Sleepy Doglover Beautyqueen Hachi
concept
“HOW MIGHT I TRANSLATE A CULTURE INTO A PLAYFUL AND RELATABLE COLLECTIBLE LINE?”
Seoul
People Collectibles
Subway
Playfulness in collecting
WHY WHO HOW WHAT Emotional connection Designer Toys
Old teens, Adults, Tourist Collect, Discover, Memory
SKETCHING
exploring
CHARACTERS DESIGN BLENDER AND 3D RESIN PRINT
Exaggeration Relatable Humour Stereotypes
Complete or Mix
3D RENDERS IN A ROOM
posters
Illustrative posters portraying the full collections and the characters.
KIDS’ INTERACTIVE BOARD
Woody reimagines playtime for kids aged 3-6 years old, blending the natural beauty of amorphous wood shapes with the enchantment of light and shadows interaction. An apparently simple wooden board becomes a canvas for boundless creativity, promoting unlimited play and imaginative exploration.
Feb 2023 - Group 3ppl MY ROLE: Research, Concept, Sketching, Formalisation
concept
Taking inspiration from shadow puppetry, it encourages artistic expression and allows kids to explore the visual arts free from any congitive bias. The wooden shapes magnetically attach to the board
WHY WHO WHERE WHAT
Children 3-6 y/o
WOODY Pannello
interattivo per il gioco libero
Woody è un pannello interattivo creato per favorire il gioco all’interno della scuola materna, il progetto vuole stimolare l’incredibile immaginazione dei bambini nella fascia d’età dai 3 ai 6 anni. L’incontro con un oggetto interamente in legno naturale e a primo impatto molto semplice, crea un effetto di stupore quando si accendono le luci ed inizia il gioco delle ombre con le forme magnetiche.
Kindergarden school Interactive board
Support cognitive development
Gruppo M3: Caterina Mariotti, Fabio Mattei, Luca Montanaro Laboratorio di Design per il Prodotto, CdL Design, A.A. 22|23 Docenti: Angela Giambattista, Paolo D’Arrigo
Tutor: Patrizio Cipollone
prototype
FOTO
MATERIALS:
Poplar plywood
Ayous solid wood
Tanganyika wood veneer sheets
Tanganyika ennobled wood
SIZE
650x650x185
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.
Laboratorio di Design per il prodotto Prof. Angela Giambattista A.A. 2022/2023
A dimmer positioned on the top of the “lid” allows the kids to control the intensity of the light.
Gruppo M3
Caterina Mariotti 1964760
Fabio Mattei 2007015
Luca Montanaro 2018762
illumina-storie
BEDTIME NIGHTLAMP
Overcloud is a project developed with Chicco us to create a night lamp who could stand in an overcrowded market. It is designed to be a construction game during the day and a tool during the night to foster children’s bed time by being a cosy nightlight.
alcuni esempi delle molteplici combinazioni possibili
MY ROLE: Research, concept, illustrations, formalisation,
SIZE: 148 x 184 x 87
AVERAGE PIECE: 122-162 x 82 x 42
BACKLIT TABLET: 148 x 184 x 15
CONSTRUCTION & DECONSTRUCTION ENDLESS SOLUTIONS STORY BUILDING REASSURING
5 pezzi gioco caratterizzati tavoletta
5 characterized game pieces
WHY WHO WHERE WHAT Bedroom Night lamp
Chidren 0-4 y/o
Nightlight supporting bedtime
BENESSERE
retroilluminata
Backlit tablet
Early childhood is key to development, with most brain growth happening in the first three years. Play, interaction, and exploration help children learn, express themselves, and build essential skills.
interaction
BED TIME
The blocks magnetically light up the “cloud” when placed on it. When they are all together, the light becomes warm to incourage bedtime.
The backlit tablet is made of matte white recyled pvc “opal”. LED lights are the main light system.
“Family portrait”
CREATIVE KIT FATHER-SON
Join Box is a creative play tool and kit designed to represent a shared moment with one’s family. It is a collaborative and creative game where customizable elements enable participants to depict themselves using the provided stickers and cardboard pieces.
July 2024 - Individual MY ROLE: Research, concept, illustrations, formalisation, rendering, prototype
concept
PROJECT “PLAY TOGETHER”
FATHERS at RISK in DETENTION: an OBTSACLE for the excercise of parental functions
COMPOSITION SELFPORTRAIT
CREATIVITY
WHY WHO WHERE WHAT Family meetings Portable kit
Children 0-4 y/o
Support convicted fathers
kit dynamics
FOLLOW THE CARD
Position the stickers as indicated, either on the background or on cardboard tiles.
SELF EXPRESSION
Freely choose which elements to place on the tracks
MAIN GOAL
Represent your family. Once complete bring your portrait home!
prototype: stickers
prototype: box
Join Box conet:
• 1 instruction manual
• 5 colored PVC adhesive sheets (A4)
• 3 paper adhesive sheets (A4)
• 12 white cardstock pieces of various sizes
• 2 guide tiles
Dimensions: 194x274x32
COSTRUISCI
escape
escape
TRAVEL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Escape is a magazine aimed towards a young adults audience with big ambitions of traveling around the globe, starting from Europe Capitals to foreign countries with striking landscapes. The magazine follows a modern layout, the cover arts are specifically drawn to be metaphysics.
July 2023 - Individual
MY ROLE: Concept, cover art, layout, formalisation
ALTA BADIA
LECCE
VIENNA
CAPPADOCCIA
GIORDANIA
ANTICO FORNO Roscioli, storia di famiglia
PETIT DEJEUNER Cafè parigini imperdibili
LA MAGIA DELL’INVERNO
L’ARTE DI VIAGGIARE
FUGHE DALLA QUOTIDIANITÀ
L’ARTE DI VIAGGIARE
LA MAGIA DELL’INVERNO
SCIARE AL
FASCINO ACCOGLIENTE
EXHIBITION
ALEA is the exhibition designed to showcase the ancient roman wonders of the archeological park of Santa Basilica di Gerusalemme in Rome (Italy), where there used to be domuses and a circus. The newest and interactive technologies are chosen to make it a remarkable visit.
July 2023 - Individual
MY ROLE: Research, concept, sketching, layout, formalisation,
concept
The site inspected used to hold a circus for ancient roman games and domuses. Therefore the name ALEA which means “dice” in Latin.
The analysis site results were a clear lack of seats, walkable pathways and a waste of space to tell the history of the place.
Struttura posizionabile su zone di viabilità evidenziate: posizione centrale rimane la più significativa
Zona d’interesse
SCHEMA GEOMETRICO PLANIMETRIA
layout
Main cube: stained glass windows and interactive informational boards.
bench: Visual colorful projection (domus palette)
Audio columns: Different audio tracks and ancient roman music draw the user into the history
Color mirror: the light coming through the stained glass bounces on the mirror wall creating interesting color interactions
Dice game: the dices interact with the checkered platform, lighting it up
Colored
PLAYING CARDS
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.
Personal project - Visual communication January 2023 Concept, illustrations, prototype
TSHIRT GRAPHICS
Yellowpecora is a brand with the aim to make people feel stylish and fresh wearing graphic t-shirts inspired by the most loved cocktails. Tshirt made with 100% cotton.
Personal project - Graphic October 2023
Concept, illustrations, final work
+illustrations
