Nelson Zelaya

BA Graphic Design

DESIGNER STATEMENT: Nelson Zelaya is a Latino American graphic designer based in Washington, D.C. Beyond his cultural roots, he is a designer that prioritizes research and collaboration to strengthen the visual language of a brand initiative, a responsibility that drives his curiosity to solve creative problems that range in engagement, growth, and sustainability. As part of the 2021 Art & Design Senior Exhibition, I wrote and designed a book titled America’s Always Open. The book explores the journey of my mother and her siblings filtered through the foodservice industry, in our case Denny’s. The book’s themes will encompass Central America, immigration, running a restaurant, and what it all signifies towards the adage of building a better life in the United States. I hope that readers will reconsider the concept of an immigrant through the personal accounts shared in this book. My goal is not to argue for or against immigration, but instead, to provide the context to its existence and success in the United States. Furthermore, the following story should serve to inspire future and current generations of immigrants. You can succeed in the United States.