Thoughtform is happy to announce that Alessandro Sosa has joined us as a design intern for the Summer of 2025! We sat down with Alessandro to talk about the importance of identity in design and the beauty of the New York Subway Map.
Tell us a bit about your background
I’m a Puerto Rican | Peruvian design student who values the importance of communication, culture, and family. I’m a 4th year studying Communication Design at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP). I specialize in motion design, publication design, and creating visual identities thoughtfully.
What excites you about the field of design?
I get excited when I learn, and I have been taught (and continue to appreciate) the importance of a diverse perspective and an open mind. The ability to understand the importance of identity is how I as a designer can design in a more meaningful and thoughtful way. The opportunity to make significant change in human communication as a designer is what excites me even more when I study within the field of design.
What’s an example of design you admire today?
Massimo Vignelli’s New York Subway Map from the 70’s inspires me today. The ability to effectively communicate the complexity of commuter travel in the big apple all on one page inspires me to strive to create useful and effective communication with interesting and appealing visual forms. Creating engagement through the map’s function and visuals while limiting any frustration of miscommunication inspires my work as a designer.
What advice do you have for someone starting down a similar career path?
Design is a field with so many branches. What you learn in school and on co-ops provides you with a foundational level of knowledge that may lead you down any number of career paths. The advice I would give is that while you might be tempted to specialize in one area of design, being versed in many different fields allows you to be a well-rounded designer.
Who’s currently on your work playlist?
When I work, I need two things: consistency and high energy. So, the music I listen to differs from what I normally like. Disco, salsa or even good dance music really helps me focus when I work. I prefer when the music is repetitive and non-lyrical because I don’t want to fight the urge to sing along. “A Fifth of Beethoven” from Saturday Night Fever is a good example of the type of sound I’m looking for.