Meet Marina Tena i Borràs | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marina Tena i Borràs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was looking for some spark, actually. I love the concept behind design and illustration, how ever, I was working 9 to 5 every day on a design agency where I was not allowed to make any decision (dramatic as it sounds). For me, this was letargic and boring. So I started working part time on my own, slowly getting my own clients, and at some point I felt confident enough to take a risk and work as a freelancer, where I feel creatively challenged every day!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Colors make me happy. There is something inside me that makes happy quirky dances when I see a bright new combination of colors that are placed just right. I think that at some points in my life, I wasn’t as happy as I wanted to be, and I always tried to heal it by colorfully talking about this.

Looking back at my story as a freelancer I wouldn’t say it was easy, but damn, it has been fun! However, I would have loved someone to tell me sooner to trust in the process and not panic if there are no projects for a while, this time is great to rest. Creative minds must rest to excel!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Before the Olympic games, Barcelona was filled with these “Casas de comidas”. It’s something like a restaurant, where you could eat every day because it was cheap and the menus were typical and great. I’m kind of struggling at this point because it’s difficult to explain something so Spanish-catalan in another language that is not ours, but trust me, they were great. Sadly, most of them are not working anymore for many reasons I won’t bore you with.

But, there are exceptions. If any of my international friends come to visit, the first thing to do would be go to El Bar Gelida. It’s one of the last “Casas de comida” that is still open and you simply won’t find the best food in town. From the fricandó to les mandonguilles. God, I love to eat, can you tell?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It might not be work-related, but it’s something that makes me the person I am, and I truly think that this is what makes me create the way I do: In 2.002, at the age of 7 I was diagnosed with Diabetes T1. I can’t imagine my life without needles, doctors, more responsibilities than a kid can afford, or sugar in my pocket “just in case”.

This illness is deeply unseen and misunderstood, and like many other chronic diseases, it makes its patients feel very isolated.

That’s why I’ve worked on my first graphic novel. To tell the story of other kids, just like me, who felt unseen during their lives. (I can say that thanks to the worst part of my life, I found what I love the most in my career.)

And with this, I want to thank all my friends, family, therapist, and doctors who have seen me and not just my disease. Without them, I wouldn’t be here to tell it. And I also want to encourage other diabetics to speak up and create groups. You don’t deserve to feel alone! There are many people out there who will understand you and make your life easier. Go out there and find them!

Website: www.marinatena.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinatenax/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-tena-i-borr%C3%A0s/

Twitter: https://www.threads.net/@marinatenax