Blueprint to Brilliance: How Israel Martinez Found His Calling in Design
When Israel Martinez first walked into the iMake Innovation Center at Moreno Valley sa国际传媒官网网页入口, he had no idea how pivotal it would be in shaping his future. Today, graduating from the University of California Davis (UC Davis) with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in design, he carries not only strong technical skills but a deep sense of purpose rooted in creativity, innovation, and community.
As a student employee at iMake, Martinez wasn鈥檛 just learning鈥攈e was leading. He trained peers and community members on tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and design software while also coordinating free workshops in partnership with MVC鈥檚 career and technical education department. Through these experiences, he earned a certification in equipment mastery and developed into a mentor and facilitator, gaining real-world skills in leadership, public speaking, and hands-on problem-solving.
Early exposure to design as both a technical craft and a collaborative process shaped Martinez鈥檚 vision. At UC Davis, he quickly stood out among his peers. Professors and classmates often assumed he had been at the university for four years鈥攏ot just two. His comfort with woodworking and digital fabrication, honed at iMake, enabled him to tackle projects with confidence and curiosity.
Martinez didn鈥檛 just keep pace鈥攈e excelled. At UC Davis, he embraced a multidisciplinary approach. While focusing heavily on graphic design, brand identity, and marketing, he also explored coding, textile courses, and technical communication. In one class, he helped create an iFixit repair guide, documenting the repair process with step-by-step instructions and photos鈥攔eal-world experience in usability and writing for diverse audiences.
One memorable project was the Jouch, a reupholstered children鈥檚 chair made from dyed denim scraps and repurposed materials for a sustainable furniture concept that Martinez co-created alongside fellow students. The standout exhibit at UC Davis鈥檚 Chaos in the Courtyard earned praise from James Housefield, associate professor in the department of design and author, who said, 鈥淭his is why we have this major.鈥� Martinez led the branding and design efforts, cementing his passion for creative problem-solving.
鈥淚srael鈥檚 creativity shines in everything he does, whether it鈥檚 giving the iMAKE brand a fresh new vibe or designing his own outfits. Working with him and guiding him was such a memorable experience. He brings a sense of heart, focus, and vision to everything he does. He鈥檚 thoughtful, strategic, and seriously talented. This is just the beginning for him, I can鈥檛 wait to see what he creates next,鈥� said Veronica Valdez, marketing specialist who got to see Israel鈥檚 brilliance at work first-hand.
Martinez鈥檚 passion for design also showed in a university competition, where he led a small startup team to win a visual design excellence award. Building on these successes, in his final year, he created a full brand campaign for a bug-based snack called 鈥淎ntarchy,鈥� a clever play on words that included logo design, advertising concepts, merchandising, food-safe packaging, and user experience strategies. The project required him to study FDA guidelines and apply that knowledge to nutrition labels and packaging, reinforcing his ability to blend creativity with technical precision.
Now, as he prepares for graduation, Martinez reflects with deep gratitude on the role sa国际传媒官网网页入口 played in his journey. The iMake Innovation Center gave him a safe space to explore, make mistakes, and gain confidence. It lit the spark that led to a future in design.
鈥淭hank you, sa国际传媒官网网页入口,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淵ou helped me realize what I鈥檓 capable of and played a pivotal part in my education and personal growth.鈥�
Learn more about a future in Arts, Media, and Design.