Artist Focus | Raquel Marín

last updated 10 February 2021

Raquel Marín is a Spanish graphic designer with a love of typography. Her illustrations are full of letters which she herself designs, alongside clean imagery and detailed hand-drawn elements. She has designed book covers, magazines, cans, logos, wine bottles, chocolate boxes and more. By mixing illustration and typography, she provides her designs with a unique and distinctive touch, and creates messages with a great visual impact.

Where did your love of typography and design begin?

I have a degree in history, so the world of design was alien to me. One day, I went to a talk on editorial design that changed my life. I discovered what being a graphic designer was all about, and I decided that I was going to do it. I changed my career path and went to do an internship in a studio in Barcelona where I also discovered my love for typography. I initially only went to learn the profession for a few months, but in the end I stayed for five years.

Tell us about your books.

Ortotipografía is my first book on how to write correctly, aimed at designers. In May, my second book will be published; Diccionario de Trucos Para Pulir tus Textos (Dictionary of Tricks to Polish your Texts). Soon after that, I will publish my third book, which is for children, with simple tips and tricks for little ones on how to learn to write correctly. In all three books there is a common goal; to try to get people to write more and better. I’m writing the last one with my daughter Rita, and I’m really enjoying it!

Tell us about your creative process when illustrating - how do you go from concept to finished work?

It all starts with an idea that goes around in my head, but I almost never start to develop it until I’ve thought about fully. I love swimming, so I use my time in the water to let the images and thoughts come and go; I never know when it will happen. Then I’ll pick up the tablet, and it almost always comes out on its own. If it doesn’t come out on its own, I leave it until I have the impulse to pick up the stylus again to let it out.

What subjects inspire you most in your work?

Nature, the sea, fish, branches, water, ballet, freshly baked bread, cherries, museums, cities, sensations, human beings, animals… almost everything inspires me! But I have a great appreciation for human beings and our art. I am a convinced humanist!

What led you to pursue a career as an illustrator?

I love to bring things out of my inner self; it’s a way of expression like any other. It’s a way of escape and to express things that I want to share. Since I was a child, I have always done things related to design and illustration without knowing that it had a name and was a profession, but there were always letters in my drawings!

What would be your dream client or project to work on?

The National Gallery, The Louvre and The Prado Museum, to name a few! Mixing works of art with vector illustration and lettering is my favourite, and museums are the places where I’m happiest. I also love the world of food and books in all their forms.

What are you currently working on, or what are you going to do next?

I’m currently writing and illustrating my second book that comes out in May and writing my first children’s book. I am also starting to plan out a very special children’s book! On top of that, I’m creating several covers for the publishing world, creating wallpaper and stationery for rebellious girls, as well as finishing my PhD.

Raquel is represented by Helen Biles — to work with Raquel please get in touch. You can see more of Raquel’s work in her portfolio here.