Latina Leader Spotlight: Daniela Retana
Q: Introduce yourself! Where do you live and what is your ethnic background?
A: I’m a Mexican Born, L.A. raised artist, fashion designer, writer and tech entrepreneur currently based in Switzerland. I studied fine art at the Otis Collage of Art and Design, in Los Angeles. I also attended the California Institute of the Arts, and later went on to study fashion design at the Geneva University of Art and Design, (HEAD).
Q: Tell us about your work:
A: These days writing and type design take up most of my time, I work part-time as a freelance writer, editor, copywriter, French to English translator and social media content developer. I write for lifestyle magazines, branding agencies, and other type design companies. The rest of my time is spent developing my company.
I've been fortunate enough in my career to have been part of a multitude of projects in various branches of art, fashion, graphic design, type design, film, and music. My most recent project, I co-founded a type design company “newglyph” in 2019.
Technologically speaking It’s a very exciting time to be working in type design. Aside from the development of classic fonts, we set up projects to research and develop variable fonts, this is the latest is font technology. It was also very important for me to be a part of a company with the same social values as me. So creating a forward thinking, ecologically and socially conscious type design company felt like the right thing to do.
My company donates 30% of our sales profits to three charities: Enfants du Monde; is a Swiss humanitarian organization based in Geneva. Founded in 1968, it has been helping children and mothers in some of the world’s poorest countries for more than 50 years. The Ocean Clean up is a non profit organization based in Rotterdam, established in 2013. Their aim is to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic. And The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, this institutions purpose is to protect victims of armed conflicts. Such victims include war wounded, prisoners, refugees, civilians, and other non-combatants.
Q: What inspired you to start?
A: I discovered this fascinating world of letters and graphic design. The thrill of learning and developing something new is always very inspiring. I love working on creative projects with innovative and forward thinking people. It’s exhilarating to make something out of nothing, and this applies to all my work, writing, fashion design, or my company. Another important reason why I’m part of building a new company is was because I wanted to see more diversity in the type design industry. I’ll be the change I want to see in the industry.
Q: Who is your Latina inspiration?
A: My inspiration is everyone out there being true to themselves, people that are working hard to make their dreams a reality. Those individuals that are empowering themselves and their community. They give me the strength to continue working on being true to myself, to keep working hard and empower my communities to make a positive impact on our global community.
Q: What do you want other Latina creators to know?
A: Be the change you want to see in your communities.
Q: How can people support/keep up with you?
A: You can keep up with me on Instagram @danielafkaparty & www.danielaparty.com . You can help support and keep up with my company on Instagram @newglyph & www.newglyph.com.
