I’m Mónica, born and raised in Guatemala City. My creative journey is rooted in storytelling, with my artistic identity drawing inspiration from my second name, Gabriela. While I don’t use it daily, Gabriela holds the essence of my creative self and serves as the inspiration behind “Studio Briela”—the name I use to share my creative projects.
After earning my diploma in Photography from La Fototeca in 2016, I moved to Berlin in 2017 to broaden my horizons. I completed my Bachelor’s in Communication Design at Fachhochschule Potsdam, where I’m now finishing my Master’s. My work revolves around Branding and UI Design, but I love to explore new creative avenues, dabbling in areas like motion and type design.
Being far from home for so long has shaped my work in unexpected ways. Guatemala remains a deep source of inspiration, weaving its vibrant culture and warmth into many of my projects. It’s my way of staying connected to my roots while navigating life abroad.
Most recently, I’ve ventured into illustration, inspired by my little dog Friedrich—my quirky, charismatic muse. His charm is the heart of my debut picture book, A Dog’s Nap, created as part of the Picture Book Lab at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences. The book captures Friedrich’s whimsical dream adventures when left home alone. (You can find more about the Picture Book Lab here!)
Fun Facts:
- I’m fluent in three languages: Spanish, English, and German, and currently learning French and Italian.
- I love dancing! When I have time, I enjoy taking classes like hip hop, reggaeton, jazz, urban, and afro fusion.
- I’m a passionate scuba diver and excited to keep exploring the underwater world.
- Friedrich is my little shadow—I take him everywhere I can!