THERAMENA FERNANDEZ
WELCOME
My journey as a designer began at eight years old, inspired by YouTube’s miniature-making community. I turned a soggy sponge into a "chocolate cake" and transformed my family’s recycling bin into treasures: cereal boxes became wardrobes, scratch paper turned into mugs, and plastic bottles into fountain glasses. The real joy was in creating something extraordinary from the ordinary.
This passion for creating became my refuge during a challenging chapter of my life. After moving from the Philippines to the U.S., I struggled to adjust to a new culture and environment, feeling disconnected from my family and my past. Crafting miniatures gave me a sense of control and comfort amidst the chaos, allowing me to build my little worlds when the real one felt overwhelming.
Over time, this love for transforming the mundane into something meaningful evolved into a broader passion for design. Whether turning old clothes into practical accessories or repurposing everyday items into something exciting, I discovered the beauty in the process of creation. For me, design isn’t just about the result, it’s about the journey, the problem-solving, and the magic of transformation.
Now, as I step into this new chapter, I’m excited to share the sense of freedom and creativity that my miniature world gave me, bringing that same spark to everything I create as a designer.
RESUME
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04 ANIMATIONDESIGN 370
MUSIC VISUALIZER
This project explores the intersection of design principles and motion through a series of four studies focused on rhythm, balance, and figure/ground relationships. Each study isolates one formal characteristic—shape, scale, transparency, or color—to create a dynamic interpretation of a one-minute music clip. The goal was to use motion to transform these characteristics into rhythmic, visually cohesive compositions that align with the selected song's audio elements. By incorporating principles like pattern, unity, and emphasis, I highlighted how motion and design can create a compelling audio-visual relationship.
MIRCO ANIMATION
For this project, I created a cohesive series of four micro-animations, each demonstrating at least two principles of motion. The goal was to bring a visually unified set of UI elements to life with fluid, engaging transitions, exploring state changes and loading/progress indicators. This exercise emphasized foundational motion principles like timing, spacing, anticipation, and squash & stretch. This project not only strengthened my animation techniques but also deepened my understanding of user interface motion design, ensuring each element communicated functionality and aesthetic cohesiveness.
STOP MOTION
For this project, I created a stop-motion animation using still photography, digital tools, and sound design. The goal was to craft a narrative around an unexpected analog character and bring it to life through frame-by-frame animation. This hands-on exploration challenged me to think creatively, experiment with materials, and focus on storytelling and craft. I also discovered the power of simplicity in sets and props, allowing the focus to remain on the character's personality and actions. The hands-on process of capturing frame-by-frame photographs gave me a new appreciation for the meticulous nature of animation and how small details can elevate a narrative.
WORDS AS IMAGE
For this project, we were given a single word and tasked with either animating or designing type to represent it. I decided to create an animation based on the word "simplify." My approach was inspired by the creative work of @wordsasimage on Instagram, who skillfully transforms words into visual representations that reflect their meaning.