Mariana Astete: Be Open to Feedback
Designer
by Elizabeth Lavis
|13 Jun 2025
Mariana Astete’s personal philosophy is always to be open to feedback and remember that you’re not always right. “Humbleness comes from experience,” she says. “Try to always remain in the back seat, think before you speak, and write notes.” Astete also notes that it’s crucial to balance your mental health while pushing yourself, especially at the beginning of your career. “It’s really important to make sure that you love what you do,” she says.
Astete is from Santiago, Chile, and her country and city of origin certainly influenced her style. “I’m inspired by the patterns of the metropolitan city,” she says. As a child, Astete wanted to be a fine artist specializing in interdisciplinary work, including ceramics and printmaking. Since she’s always loved every art form, design was a logical way to express her passion and creativity. “I went to grad school, which taught me how to push further but achieve balance with studying my passion,” she says. “I learned how to put family first and work after, which helps my mental health.”
"FOUR+", Mariana Astete
Astete balances her workload without getting burned out by taking long walks and working out. She’s also not afraid to indulge in her guilty pleasures. “I like watching The Office and working on Blender,” she says. Staying open to different creative passions helps Astete stay sharp, too. “Printmaking inspires me,” she says. “I had my first design experience in screen printing, seeing how things can mend together physically before becoming digital.”
She considers her design style unique and not comparable to any other artist, musician, director, or writer. “My design is very different, it’s all over the place,” Astete says. “My fine art style is also very different and focuses on immigration and cultural differences.” Her average design campaign takes between three and four months, giving her ample time to really pour her efforts into every project and ensure that the team is in sync. “I also keep my team meetings to 30 to 40 minutes,” Astete says.
She also keeps a close eye on design trends and isn’t afraid to take chances with her work to improve. “Looking at trends helps me to stay creative under pressure,” Astete says. She’s also enjoying an uptick in her motivation and creativity from her recent Indigo Design Award win. “It’s boosted my momentum for sure,” she says.
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