With hard work and dedication our tote bag collaboration with schuh is now ready to be purchased in schuh stores around the UK… grab yours while you can as they have been flying off the shelves!
You may be surprised but We are raya are actually a creative duo. Roxanne Gonzales and Anna Marie Cabanlig specialise in illustration, branding and 2D animation. Graduating from The Bartlett School of Architecture in 2019, they have continued to work together and are best known for imagining real-life spaces into playful illustrations through colour, pattern and hidden Easter eggs.
Why did you decide to enter the competition with Blueprint for All and Schuh?
Embodying real moments, spaces and experiences are what inspires our illustrations. The brief sparked an immediate interest for us being that the subject of “empowerment” was the underlying message behind the art they were looking for.
What was your favourite moment of creating the design?
Creating the concept! We wanted to portray a community that really showcases the words “we all have the power to make a difference” and believed that the skate community resonated with this.
Did you have any challenges and how did you overcome them?
A key aspect of our illustration style comes down to bright and bold colours. We were limited to 7 colours for this brief and had to be very selective with our decision. The goal was to include a diverse group of skaters so after prioritising this, we were able to choose complimentary colours for the clothes and accents whilst remaining in the limit.
Did being a part of the collaboration help you develop? If so, how?
This was our first opportunity to have our work in stores and it pushed us to design with the buyers in mind. We think this is a key skill in the field we’re trying to break into and is something that we can utilise in the future.
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
Making sure that everyone feels seen.
Do you want to get your hands on one of our tote bags?
Buy a tote bag today for just £3! Proceeds will be donated back to Blueprint for All to help other creatives and young people of diverse ethnic heritage have a fairer chance at finding the right career path for them.