ART DIRECTOR

ART DIRECTOR

Manuel Astorga

Manuel Astorga

THE ROOTS

THE ROOTS

Born in 1988 in Archidona, a white-walled town in the heart of Andalusia, my life began at the intersection of two worlds. My childhood was shaped by the analog traditions of the South, yet my curiosity was fueled by the early digital explosion of the internet. While I was winning painting contests at school, I was spending my evenings creating designs for MySpace. I didn't know it then, but I was already training my eye to understand how a visual identity could live within a digital space.

Born in 1988 in Archidona, a white-walled town in the heart of Andalusia, my life began at the intersection of two worlds. My childhood was shaped by the analog traditions of the South, yet my curiosity was fueled by the early digital explosion of the internet. While I was winning painting contests at school, I was spending my evenings creating designs for MySpace. I didn't know it then, but I was already training my eye to understand how a visual identity could live within a digital space.

THE JOURNEY

THE JOURNEY

I started my career during the 2008 crisis, a time that taught me that being a designer is, above all, about being able to adapt. In Madrid, I spent my early years working alongside people like Sergio del Puerto and Rodrigo Aguadé, who helped shape the foundations of my craft. Soon after, I took a chance on a project that changed everything: building a magazine from scratch. Though they had no budget, I saw a rare opportunity to lead. As the lead designer, I managed the entire process alongside the editors an experience that became my passport. It caught the eye of an editor in Paris, led to a redesign project in Singapore, and eventually gave me the savings I needed to move to Berlin.

I started my career during the 2008 crisis, a time that taught me that being a designer is, above all, about being able to adapt. In Madrid, I spent my early years working alongside people like Sergio del Puerto and Rodrigo Aguadé, who helped shape the foundations of my craft. Soon after, I took a chance on a project that changed everything: building a magazine from scratch. Though they had no budget, I saw a rare opportunity to lead. As the lead designer, I managed the entire process alongside the editors an experience that became my passport. It caught the eye of an editor in Paris, led to a redesign project in Singapore, and eventually gave me the savings I needed to move to Berlin.

THE PERSPECTIVE

THE PERSPECTIVE

I moved here because I fell in love with Berlins energya city that feels both historic and deeply alive. This is a place that remains the global capital of electronic music and a hub for international creative minds, and its where I truly found my rhythm. Since then, Ive launched my own startup and collaborated with people from all over the world, always inspired by the citys restless creative freedom. When Im not at my desk, Im usually exploring an exhibition or looking for objects with a past in a local flea market. Im a Millennial who has learned to look forward through every change, now using AI to bridge the gap between our design heritage and the future. I value the things that age wellthe kind of design, and the kind of life, that stays relevant long after the noise fades.

I moved here because I fell in love with Berlin’s energy—a city that feels both historic and deeply alive. This is a place that remains the global capital of electronic music and a hub for international creative minds, and it’s where I truly found my rhythm. Since then, I’ve launched my own startup and collaborated with people from all over the world, always inspired by the city’s restless creative freedom. When I’m not at my desk, I’m usually exploring an exhibition or looking for objects with a past in a local flea market. I’m a Millennial who has learned to look forward through every change, now using AI to bridge the gap between our design heritage and the future. I value the things that age well—the kind of design, and the kind of life, that stays relevant long after the noise fades.