This is the first episode in a 5-part guest lecture series, speaking with a diverse range of design and typography pros from across North America!
Welcome Fiorella Granda is a freelance designer, illustrator, and content creator from Lima, Peru. Her work spans from pioneering the design of Canada's first WNBA court, to creating impactful illustrations advocating for Women's sports. Fiorella studied architecture at the University of Toronto, where she also played Varsity Basketball for four years. Basketball has been a lifelong inspiration for Fiorella, instilled by her mother, who played professionally. Her enduring love for sports seamlessly intertwines with her creative endeavors. Currently, Fiorella resides in Toronto, Canada. Her journey as a designer, athlete and proud Latina her fueled her mission to push the boundaries of design for the greater good.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Fiorella’s relatively recent shift to full-time illustration, her creative process and the way passion projects fuel her work with big brands (including details about her project in Toronto with the WNBA). You’ll also learn about Fiorella’s love/hate relationship with social media, tips for pricing and licensing your work, as well as the magic to be found in showcasing your heritage to others.
You can find visuals and links discussed in the show notes at www.talkpaperscissors.info.
This episode was recorded as part of a guest lecture series in GCM 806 - Advanced Typography in winter 2025 at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Let’s listen in…
About Our Guest:
Fiorella Granda is a freelance designer, illustrator, and content creator from Lima, Peru. Her work spans from pioneering the design of Canada's first WNBA court, to creating impactful illustrations advocating for Women's sports. Fiorella studied architecture at the University of Toronto, where she also played Varsity Basketball for four years. Basketball has been a lifelong inspiration for Fiorella, instilled by her mother, who played professionally. Her enduring love for sports seamlessly intertwines with her creative endeavors. Currently, Fiorella resides in Toronto, Canada. Her journey as a designer, athlete and proud Latina her fueled her mission to push the boundaries of design for the greater good.
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Music:
A Kwela Fella - John Bartmann licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License
Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle