Analee Paz: Сommunication designer
Сommunication designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|23 Feb 2026
When Analee Paz, a communication designer and associate professor of digital media and communication design at Texas A&M International University, was unsure about her next career step, a beloved mentor gave her a piece of advice she’ll never forget. “They said, ‘Take five years, then decide.’ Now I adapt that advice to whatever the situation needs. Sometimes it’s five breaths, five minutes, or even five days,” Paz says. “Giving myself that pause helps me find clarity.”
Paz also shares this philosophy with her students, encouraging them to take five and also give themselves the time and space to find clarity. She also advises them to embrace their unique identities and make the most of their resources, leaning on supportive mentors and healthy work environments that enable their creativity to flourish.
Paz grew up right on the United States/Mexico border in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas, and the intersection of cultures has had a significant impact on her work. “I’m drawn to themes of cultural intersections, dualities, and authenticity,” she says. As a child, Paz dreamt of becoming a cartoonist and was endlessly fascinated by the art and magic of creative problem-solving. In college, she discovered her love of design when she was instantly drawn to the graphic design program.
She has formal design education from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, plus plenty of on-the-ground work that laid the foundation for her career. “Alongside my studies, I gained experience through internships and jobs that let me connect with industry pros and explore projects close to my heart,” Paz says. “I made my own opportunities, often knocking on doors that didn’t even exist.”
"Tend (Texas Emergency Network Diversion)", Analee Paz
This tenacity and grit helped her establish a strong and reputable foothold in the design world. Paz’s passion for the craft shines through in every project and client interaction, where she creates trust and rapport by ensuring her clients always feel heard. “I treat them like a person, and I remind them that I am one too,” Paz says. “When someone comes to me for help with communication, they’re choosing to work with a human, not a design generator, and I want to honor that.”
Paz balances a heavy workload by making comprehensive lists and living by her calendar. “Breaking everything down into manageable steps keeps me organized and helps me prioritize, so I’m always focused on what needs attention right now without getting overwhelmed,” she says.
She also stays creative by breaking each project into specific blocks of time and setting a timer to monitor every step. “By focusing on one task at a time, I avoid feeling overwhelmed by the whole project,” Paz says. One of the most unexpected and unique places Paz derives Inspiration is from her child. “I love relearning the world by watching my daughter discover it for the first time,” she says.
Paz herself is a lifelong learner, and one of her primary goals is to approach the world with openness and stay excited about what’s happening around her. “Recently, I was speaking at a conference in Lisbon about Bad Bunny’s visual communication, and an older gentleman in the audience truly inspired me,” Paz says. “He brought so much joy and curiosity, eager to learn and explore new perspectives even on a topic so different from his own philosophical expertise. Watching his enthusiasm reminded me of the importance of staying curious.”
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