Global Spotlights
Dreaming big in Barcelona: Alumna Laura Amador merges passions for sustainability and art
Written by Katrina Sandefer
TAMPA, FL (June 16, 2024) -- When Laura Amador came to USF, she planned on staying two semesters as an exchange student from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia. She ended up loving the experience so much, she decided to stay and finish her undergraduate career in Tampa.
Earning a degree in international business with a concentration in marketing in 2013, Amador decided to pursue what she describes as her true passion: fine arts. She admittingly had no idea how the two degrees would intertwine after earning another undergraduate degree in fine and studio arts in 2016, but now says “it all makes sense.” Having a passion for branding and marketing strategies along with a love for being creative, Amador brings campaigns to life through art in her role as a graphic designer in Barcelona.
After USF, Amador started a career as a graphic designer and illustrator while also continuing her studies in Barcelona, where she’d long dreamed of living. It is “not only a cosmopolitan city where you can learn from many nationalities at the same time, but it is also full of art, design, fashion and innovation — I love it.”
Since USF, she’s earned two master’s degrees and a postgraduate degree that encompass aspects of digital arts. She works for the blockchain startup company, Plastiks, which tracks plastic waste recovery and recycling. Amador is passionate about sustainability; she loves Plastiks mission of “recovering all the plastic that has been irresponsibly disposed of in nature.” The company is based on a neutral blockchain that allows clients to see how their money can be used to recover plastic all over the world; blockchain technology allows every transaction to be traceable and verifiable. While the role is fast-paced and challenging, Amador said she enjoys keeping up with the everchanging trends around protecting the environment.
“There are a multitude of ways to be creative on every path and in every industry,” Amador said. “Dream big and follow your passion, as there are so many ways to make the world a better place through creativity, beauty, balance and harmony.”
