She has been involved in the design field since early in her career. Today, her own studio, MJF, is located in the heart of the Palermo neighborhood, “and it’s growing day by day.”
His studies outside of Universidad ORT Uruguay
After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the architecture program at the University of the Republic. “When I finished high school, there weren’t many options; among the traditional majors, I liked architecture.” Over time, he realized that he was drawn to design.
He also changed majors in 1998. “When more options became available, I switched to graphic design, without really knowing what it was all about. I was lucky—I ended up liking it.”
The switch to ORT
He explained that the change of universities was a major and valuable step.
"If the teachers at ORT notice that you're interested in things, they pay more attention to you, and that's a good thing. I even consult with teachers from time to time. Without a doubt, the learning experience was extremely valuable for me; I have some great mentors at ORT."
Starting a Business and Studying
María José studied design and, at the same time, applied what she learned to her daily work. “I started working and putting what I learned in school into practice very early on, and that made all the difference. I spent almost my entire career working in design, and it was very helpful.”
She has worked in various places, which have allowed her to put her knowledge into practice. “I started at a magazine, Vera Dona. Then I worked at an agency, and after that I went out on my own.”
In 2001, he began building his own business, MJF.
MJF was recently recognized for its work on the AFE website. “It certainly feels special to win, knowing that there were about 35 entries and we came out on top.” The challenge in the web industry is “not just to create a good site or a visually appealing one, but to ensure the site is useful and practical.” The studio sought and achieved “a balance between good design and a clear communication objective.”
“My goal has always been to do a little better. Not to do things haphazardly, but to ensure that each project helps make the others better.”
He has some decisions to make right now. “We’re considering hiring an account executive, because this is a stage where we need to make certain changes to keep growing and meet our clients’ needs. We have a lot of work, and I can’t just turn a client down because we don’t have the capacity to deliver.”
As a designer, she understands that “every project leaves a unique mark. We’re our clients’ partners when it comes to communication. So the challenge is to create a final product that we like, that the client likes, and that, of course, achieves the intended communication goal.”
María José has earned her clients' trust. “What gives me the greatest satisfaction today is that when it’s time to send an ad to a newspaper, the client tells me, ‘Go ahead and send it—I know it’ll be fine.’”