A closeup of Rina Alfonso in a denim jacket and standing outside in front of tropical plants
Faculty

Museum Exhibition Planning & Design (MFA)

Rina Alfonso is an adjunct professor in the Museum Exhibition Planning and Design MFA program, and a multidisciplinary designer, artist, and small business owner.

Biography

Rina Alfonso is founder and creative director of Studio Aorta, Washington, D.C., a boutique, multidisciplinary creative agency and certified women- or minority-owned business enterprise with expertise in exhibit and graphic design. Studio Aorta uses a collaborative, storytelling-first approach which transforms untold stories into unforgettable experiences for clients. Alfonso leads the studio, ensuring that all its work embodies the synergy of narrative, design and art. She is passionate about uplifting marginalized stories and voices through thoughtful and artistic design.

Experience

Prior to Studio Aorta, Alfonso has worked as

  • an exhibition and graphic designer at The Design Minds in Fairfax, Virginia;

  • a museum exhibition designer at Dumbarton Oaks Museum in Washington, D.C.;

  • an environmental graphic designer, CannonDesign; and

  • an exhibition and graphic designer for Howard + Revis Design in Washington, D.C. 

Visit Studio Aorta’s website. 

Follow Studio Aorta on Instagram: @studioaorta

View Rina Alfonso’s LinkedIn profile. 

View Studio Aorta’s LinkedIn profile. 

We should be unafraid to venture into uncomfortable spaces and to embrace our discomfort to create truly empathetic and welcoming spaces, physically, cognitively and emotionally.

A freestanding and white exhibition gateway featuring yellow and red banners and blue and red and yellow that say The Week the Mail Stopped
Rina Alfonso teaching a class in front of a whiteboard that displays a layout design and sketch of human silhouettes with the words Strike No Mail No Pay No Benefits at the bottom
The exterior of the National Archives Museum decorated with banners in a red and yellow and purple and blue gradient with white text that displays the name of the museum