GDES Professor’s Work Showcased Internationally

Bocanegra Martinez, who has taught in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) since 2022, has recently been featured in several international juried shows and publications, for his work that encompasses collage, photography and poster design.

“Much of my creative practice begins with ordinary, unusual and sometimes difficult-to-manipulate objects and materials,” he said. “This approach helps me reimagine how light, shadow, shape and typography can be experienced through photography.”

Recently, Bocanegra Martinez received a Gold Award in the Graphis International Poster Awards 2027 for the design he created for SIGD’s inaugural William Dunlop Lecture. His winning design is showcased in the publication’s annual, alongside 192 other international works.

In its September issue, design magazine Slated featured a selection from his project “Tipográficos,” an ongoing photography series exploring new abstract typographic expressions through the translucent stage of an overhead projector.

“Inspiration comes from collecting a wide range of materials and objects without always knowing how I will use them,” Bocanegra Martinez said. “I enjoy using the camera as an exploratory tool rather than simply as a means of documentation.”

His project “Combinados” has been accepted into both a virtual exhibition and a juried showcase. The project—a set of collages that pulls images from his abstract Luz Assemblage photo series, along with found paper ephemera and textures generated through spray paint, markers and inks—is showcased in Torn, an online exhibition juried by design legend David Carson for Juniper Rag, and is on display in Int’l All Media, an exhibition at Walter Piehl Gallery in the Northwest Arts Center in Michigan from August 20 through October 3.

“I am interested in work that feels active and slightly unresolved, where something new can be discovered,” he said. “I hope people see the value of nonlinear visual exploration and recognize that meaningful ideas can emerge when we remain open to uncertainty, chance and discovery.”

Continuing his collage experimentation, he also created a piece entitled “Residual Structure” that will be featured in the inaugural Blight Collective quarterly publication by Twentytwomedia.

“These recognitions are meaningful because they affirm that work rooted in personal inquiry can connect with audiences beyond my own studio or classroom,” he said. “Having my work recognized nationally and internationally through awards, exhibitions and publications gives me confidence to continue taking creative risks and developing an approach that feels authentic to me.”

Bocanegra Martinez’s personal work bleeds into the courses he teaches, encouraging his students to try new materials, processes and ideas that follow their intuitions.

“Design education can sometimes create the impression that every decision must be explained or justified immediately,” he said. “While critical thinking and intentionality are essential, I also want students to understand that intuition, play and experimentation are legitimate parts of a thoughtful design process.”