Highlighting Women in Coffee Design: Part Two

We continue our series showcasing women artists working in specialty coffee.

BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured artwork courtesy of Veronica Velazquez-Aviles

On Thursday we released part one of “Highlighting Women in Coffee Design,” an article series dedicated to showcasing some of the incredible women artists working in the specialty-coffee world. Today, in part two, we’re featuring the artwork of three more talented individuals: Veronica Velazquez-Aviles, Jenny Usi, and Fatima Bejarano.

Veronica pulls inspiration from café goers, often drawing customers at the shop where she works or fellow patrons at shops she visits. Photo courtesy of Veronica Velazquez-Aviles.

Veronica Velazquez-Aviles

Chicana illustrator, photographer, and curator Veronica Velazquez-Avilez was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and is currently based in Los Angeles. Veronica works as a full-time barista by day and freelance illustrator by night, and she cites the customers who come in and out of the café where she works as a big source of inspiration.

More artwork by Veronica, entitled “Coffee Brings Me Warmth.” Photo courtesy of Veronica Velazquez-Avilez.

“Even though life can get pretty stressful at times, coffee is a great part of the remedy,” she shares. “I’m constantly inspired by the customers at my workplace … the fellow guests sitting next to me at my favorite coffee shops on my days off … I just know that we all have something in common here: our love for coffee amidst the daily grind.”

Veronica continues, “My experience working in an art/museum environment and a barista environment has inspired me to establish Coffee Contemporary—a passion project that brings together a collective of coffee-loving creatives and individuals. The mission here is to provide a platform for artists of all mediums to share their work by organizing thematic group exhibitions. It’s definitely a fusion of my past job experiences but also my overall love for coffee. So far I have collaborated with other coffee shops to showcase exhibits and I design all the logos, flyers, and other visual identity of Coffee Contemporary.”

Jenny Usi

Born and raised in San Francisco, Jenny Usi is a graphic designer currently working as Ritual Coffee’s digital marketing specialist.

“(The role) allows me to blend my love for design with my passion for storytelling,” Jenny shares. “I’ve been fascinated by ads and billboards since I was a child, so it’s fitting that my career consists of telling stories through marketing.”

Ritual Coffee’s Baggu tote featuring artwork by Jenny Usi. Photo courtesy of Jenny Usi.

When asked what her creative inspirations are, Jenny cites music and her Filipino background as powerful driving forces. “Music is (an) essential element in my creative process; each design I create is intertwined with the rhythm and melody of my favorite songs,” she explains. “Lately, I’ve (also) been on a journey to reconnect with my Filipino heritage. I’ve explored ways to incorporate my parents’ native dialect, Kapampangan, into my typography. It’s been rewarding to connect with others with the same cultural background and engage in meaningful conversations about our heritage.”

Fatima Bejarano

Born and raised in Coahuila, Mexico, Fatima Bejarano currently resides in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. She started her career in coffee about 15 years ago. During the pandemic, she co-created Coa Coffee, through which she and her husband roast and trade specialty coffees primarily from Mexico.

“My inspiration comes a lot from nature (and) the coffee industry,” Fatima shares. “I try to (create) in such a way that the images connect coffee with the people and environments that produced it.”

More of Fatima’s artwork. Photo courtesy of Fatima Bejarano.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.