Ariadna Alomia, Bodies of Color - Geographies of Form. Digital media. 18 x 24 inches. Florida International University, USA, 2026.
Project Statement
This project explores how cultural identity is expressed through the visual language of the female body, shaped by geography and environment. Instead of focusing on the body itself, I chose to represent this idea through clothing, specifically a flowing dress inspired by garments commonly found across Colombian, Indian, and African cultures. As someone from Colombia working alongside peers from India and Africa, I wanted to create a piece that brings these cultures together and highlights how womanhood can be expressed through textiles, patterns, and color.
The dress becomes a symbolic space where these identities merge. Each section incorporates patterns and visual references inspired by the three cultures, creating a visual blend of different traditions within a single form. The phrase “Shaped by place, defined by culture” reinforces the idea that identity is deeply connected to place and heritage. Through this composition, the female body is not shown directly, but instead suggested through the garment, becoming a cultural symbol that reflects place, memory, and shared human experience.
Self reflection
This collaborative experience was a really valuable opportunity for me. I truly enjoyed interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds and learning more about their perspectives. It was especially interesting to learn about South Africa, since it’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit, so hearing directly from someone there made the experience feel more personal and meaningful. Overall, it felt very different from the usual projects I’ve worked on, and it helped me step outside of my own cultural perspective.
Working with others from different countries also helped me expand my understanding of how culture influences design, identity, and visual language. I learned not only about specific cultural elements, but also about the reasons behind them, which made everything feel more intentional and deeper. This experience pushed me to think more globally and be more aware of diversity when creating. It also showed me how collaboration can lead to richer ideas and more thoughtful outcomes, especially in a creative field like design.
Image of the process, Sketch. Courtesy of the designer Ariadna Alomia. Florida International University, USA, 2026