Tell us about yourself:
Batsheba Castro Martinez is a Mexican American, queer, designer, illustrator, and artist. Based in Kansas City, they create vibrant, culturally connected art that fosters joy and/or empowerment in viewers. Though their full-time gig is being a UI/UX designer for VML, they enjoy taking on community-focused public, illustrated, and digital design projects.
What is the inspiration behind your poster design?
When thinking about what “Embracing Togetherness” meant to me, I thought about all the different people who come into our lives.
For some, family can be a sore subject, but it is integral to what shaped you, regardless of how we relate to it. It shapes our traumas, joys, and journeys. It is embedded deep within us, and we carry it with us every day.
Then, I thought about chosen family. As a nonbinary person, this is central to my story—as it is for many others. It doesn’t replace the bonds built by blood and DNA, but it has the power to embrace you and heal parts of yourself that you didn’t understand needed healing.
Growing up, I visited Oaxaca, Mexico, often because my grandparents still live there. Early in life, I learned about Muxes, a recognized third gender in Zapotec culture in Oaxaca. Like me, Muxes live beyond the societal confines of gender. They dance between male and female characteristics, sometimes wearing a resplandor headdress from their communities.
In my composition, I wanted to envelop a nonbinary person in the light of the resplandor, chosen family, and their blood relatives, embedded in their skin. Embracing togetherness creates the light we surround ourselves with… it gives us the energy to keep us going. It is as essential as breathing—humans cannot exist without togetherness.
Please tell us why you think inclusivity and solidarity are essential in our society…
I believe inclusivity and solidarity are essential to nurturing resilient, thriving communities.
Having diverse perspectives that don’t always mirror our own is incredibly important for looking beyond ourselves. It helps us challenge our routines and broaden our view of the world.
It creates a well-rounded perspective rather than sitting stagnant in the walls of our own brains and echo chambers. We must uplift others to give our communities a clearer vision of the inclusive future we desire… a future where everyone is represented, valued, and celebrated.
How can we create a more inclusive design world and ensure that everyone is represented?
Confront your assumptions. Examine your attitudes closely and daily, as bias can lead to poor decisions. You don’t magically become unbiased out of the blue… we all need to do the internal work every single day.
After examining your internal attitudes, if you have privilege, share opportunities and mentor emerging talent who might not have had the same advantages. That guidance matters deeply—I know it firsthand. (Shout out to Sam Yates, Edwing Mendez, and Selina Kendall!)
If you’re not in a position to spread the love, remember that, as a designer, you control the images the world sees. Choose imagery that represents people of all shades and sizes in your work.
In addition to considering representation, we must take impairments into account when selecting our colors and ensure compliance with ADA and WCAG (web) standards. Many people struggle with visual impairments in particular, and many of us will experience this disability in our lifetime, so it’s good to keep this at the top of mind.
