Boston-based graphic designer and MassArt alum Maria Lobo shares insights into her creative practice, career path, and philosophy in this installment of Meet the Artist.

A graduate of MassArt’s Graphic Design program, Lobo runs her own design studio specializing in branding and web design for small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs, helping clients distill their “secret sauce” into cohesive visual identities.

Influenced by an international upbringing and a family deeply rooted in creative practice, Lobo’s work reflects a playful, human-centered approach to design. She draws inspiration from everyday visual culture—street art, public installations, and the way design shapes daily life—rather than traditional gallery spaces alone. In the interview, she discusses using AI as a supportive tool rather than a creative replacement, emphasizing the importance of human intuition and problem-solving in design.

Lobo also reflects on the realities of running a creative business, from trusting one’s instincts and setting boundaries with clients to building a sustainable studio through community and word-of-mouth. Her advice to emerging designers: embrace your individuality, identify the problems you’re uniquely equipped to solve, and build a career that aligns with how you want to live and work.

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