Marlene Cabada

Artist statement

The daughter of immigrant parents, spent a whole semester studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea with her focus area being Graphic Design and Korean culture immersion. She obtained higher knowledge of not only a different culture than her own but while studying graphic design there, she immersed herself in a visual culture that challenged and expanded her understanding of design principles. Experiencing Seoul¡¯s dynamic blend of tradition and modernity, she encountered a design philosophy that emphasized harmony, minimalism, and bold experimentation. Her exposure to Korean typography, color theory, and visual rhythm transformed her approach in design. Encouraging her to balance clarity with emotional resonance. Her current work reflects this synthesis of perspectives, merging the structured precision often found in Korean design with the expressive freedom of her American roots. Through this cross-cultural lens, Marlene continues to explore how design can bridge aesthetics, meaning, and human experience. To demonstrate the importance of sharing the knowledge you obtained back to your community. Music is incorporated in these pieces as it ties very closely to design and artwork.

While American design is experimental, bold, and unstructured, Korean design style can be rooted back from its influential culture and the profound impact it has had globally. Its culture is a major influencer of the world and has shaped the manner in which music can be perceived from an outside perspective. With their synchronized light sticks at music culture and overall, its unique concert culture. There is undoubtedly an aesthetic to it that can be visually appealing. More so, it is deeply rooted within their designs as their traditional and modern approaches are woven throughout each piece. While American culture and design can be bold and straightforward, Korean culture and design can be revelationary, traditional, and modern. Which alludes more to its playfulness and its imaginative appearance. Korean style, like any style in the world, can project a certain image but, as you start to unpeel its layers, you start to notice that there is more to it than what meets the eye. That right there, is the true beauty of design and art.