Azucena Romá is a Guatemalan-American designer and visual artist that calls New Orleans home.

After double majoring in sociology and communications from the University of New Orleans, Azu went on to study graphic design at Loyola University New Orleans. Searching for a way to blend her interests in art, design, and social behavior, Azu was drawn to the field of interaction design. She enjoys thinking about the relationship between design and users in social and cultural contexts and imagining design’s capabilities to impact social issues and contribute to communities, locally and globally.

Prior to joining SVA’s IxD program, Azu divided her time between freelance clients, teaching design as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola New Orleans, and creating art installations. Her art practice focuses on questions of personal identity and transient moments of change and discovery through reinterpreting traditional Guatemalan folk art with influences of design, lettering, and street art.

Azu has served on the board for AIGA New Orleans and exhibited at SCOPE Art Fair. In her free time, she can be found listening to podcasts, yelling “who dat?!” during football season, and spoiling her emo pet hedgehog Huevo.