WantedDesign Member
Discover the unique stories and creative journeys of our WantedDesign members as they share their inspirations, design philosophies, and standout work.
Aileen Judith De La Ree Valencia
ajdlrv
Designer and Maker
I am a designer and maker with backgrounds in industrial and furniture design, and a practice that spans woodworking, ceramics, printmaking, and fiber arts, among other mediums. I am committed to expanding beyond the constraints of a singular narrative, drawing from my own culture and lived experience to create narrative-driven furniture and art that contribute to a broad landscape of diverse perspectives in an increasingly connected world. My work embraces the ornate, the unusual, and the deeply personal.
Design Approach and Inspiration
My practice is guided by principles of pluralism, decolonization, imperfection, and preservation. I am inspired by historical practices, materials, and forms, particularly those that have been overlooked, marginalized, or suppressed. Each work explores how design can push beyond contemporary limits by activating the past: preserving, transforming, and breathing new life into what we have inherited while adapting it to the present moment. My process is intuitive and research-driven, valuing layering, narrative, and care over efficiency or perfection.
Get to know them better...
What’s the one item in your home that you can’t live without, and why?
AJDLRV: My bag of totes. I leave the house with what feels like a thousand totes, each carrying what I need for the many activities and identities I move through in a day.
What’s your go-to playlist or song when you need a creative boost?
AJDLRV: DtMF by Bad Bunny
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
AJDLRV: A Chef
My dream
AJDLRV: My biggest professional dream is simple: to design ethically while living a modest and stable life supported by that work. I keep this dream open, because life constantly shifts, but my guiding principle remains the same, to use design as a way to sustain myself, my family, and my community, while contributing to a future where creativity and care can coexist.