Alumni
Grad is Technical CAD Designer for Footwear Brand Rothy's
Visual Communications and Graphic Design Grad Kristin Villatuya is a Technical CAD Designer at Rothy's, a San Francisco-based footwear company that utilizes specialized 3D technology to knit their shoes with a signature thread spun from repurposed plastic water bottles. Villatuya is responsible for creating each season's colors and patterns for the brand's core footwear styles. We caught up with the designer to learn more.
Tell us about your position at Rothy's: I am a Technical CAD Designer at Rothy's. I am responsible for taking our core styles and creating the color and pattern for the season. I love the challenge of taking an idea and translating it into a shoe, an object with very little real estate, and being able to edit yet still tell a story.
Rothy's is about eco-friendly materials and sustainability. How important is it to you to work for a company whose mission and values align with your own? I couldn't be more proud to be a part of a company like Rothy's. Before I joined Rothy's I was actually quite burnt out from the apparel industry and mass production but when I learned more about Rothy's - a company that makes shoes from recycled water bottles (and now handbags from ocean plastic!?) I was immediately drawn to learn more. Sustainability is a part of Rothy's DNA by being very cautious when planning how much we produce as to avoid waste. We are always finding ways to use up leftover yarn from previous seasons. Working for a company that cares about our planet makes me feel good about what I'm putting out into the world.
How did you decide on your majors and how do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you are doing now? I chose to study Visual Communications first because it had taught a great range of creative skills. From event planning, to store or set design, to fashion styling and a little bit of graphic design. Because all of these sparked my interest and I wanted to attend FIDM right after high school, Visual Communications gave me a taste of what creative options were out there in the industry.
I remember a project in one of my classes where I had to create an imaginary band and design a CD package using Photoshop. Not being the greatest hand illustrator, I was immediately drawn to computer graphics and that with a vision and the knowledge of the right tools, a computer can make it "look" like I knew how to draw! I then studied Graphic Design after I completed Visual Communications. The two majors definitely go hand in hand in my career. As a designer I am constantly doing presentations and both programs have taught me how to create professional presentations, physically and digitally.
You are a creative person—graphic designer and technical designer. Tell us about what inspires you. I love to pull most of my inspiration from nature. There are so many beautiful color combinations, textures and patterns that surround us. We can easily get caught up in the fast paced, digital world that I try to remind myself to slow down, step outside and take a look around. I am designing a product that is fashionable yet also functional—something that takes you to your destination. So I think combining inspiration from current trends but being rooted with inspiration from nature makes the end product so much more interesting.
How are you staying inspired during the pandemic? It has been tricky these past 6 months, my usual boat ride into the city and fifteen minute walk to the office was a great way to get inspired each day, just by people watching. Working remotely and not being able to build mood boards with my team has shifted the way we work. We are creatives and love the messy creative process of pinning tears and swatches on a giant mood board. Because everything has been forced to go digital, we have recreated that creative environment through digital boards and weekly coffee zoom dates where we catch up and talk about anything from what we did on the weekend to sharing fun Instagram accounts we stumbled across. I think keeping the energy and connection between my team helps us all stay motivated and the creative juices flowing.
What changes do you see in the fashion industry as a result of the pandemic? I think in the beginning of the pandemic - there were sales everywhere. People were online shopping like crazy, probably because we were stuck at home and wanted that retail therapy but I think it slowly turned into people realizing what things they "needed" in comparison to things they just "wanted". I also think with everything that's been going on, people are being more cautious about what they buy and who they are buying from. I've noticed a lot of people are trying to put their money to better use by supporting independent designers/makers and I really appreciate that. As far as trends, I see a huge rise in shopping for comfort, chic loungewear, the "2 mile shoe" and fun accessories for "Above the Keyboard Dressing" - which I just love!
What is your biggest goal right now? During this pandemic I've been trying to make time for myself away from the computer. Pushing myself creatively and trying things that are more hands-on, like painting and art project around my house.
Categories: Graphic Design Visual Communication Alumni
