tobeamosaic — Kayla Vicencio

To Be A Mosaic

2026

Senior Design Thesis

Creative Direction
Installation
Print

I went through my childhood with the view that growing up meant we were in a constant state of saying goodbye—to past versions of ourselves, to people we may never see again, to memories we’ll eventually forget. There’s a phrase I stumbled across a few years ago that put those long-time anxieties at ease, and it goes: “We are a mosaic of everyone and everything we’ve ever loved.”

To Be A Mosaic consists of 40 originally designed postcards, each representing a small piece of the mosaic that makes me. An ode to family, friends, culture, sports, lived experiences and childhood dreams, the visual element of this installation is an expression of personal history and identity. Postcards were designed and styled in eight sets, each with a personal description.

Select favorites:

Throwback to the unforgettable beach sunset where we witnessed a candlelit beach proposal, saw a pod of dolphins, and talked until we were shivering under our blankets. For friendship that forms in the elementary school playground and seems to start right where we left off, every time.

Swimming feels like a return to something younger, something calmer, every single time. Eight years plagued by the smell of chlorine and semi-permanent tan lines will etch the sport in a soft-spot of your soul forever.

For my Grandma Lettie. My mom said she’s the only woman she knows who can keep an orchid alive and well at home.

All eight of us cousins drawn as interconnected stars.

For the eldest daughters.

To a small town in the suburbs of LA county; the place I grew up in and called home.

Nostalgia in a bowl. Mom used to make this a ton when we were younger, and it’s one of my favorites.

Click to view full postacrd sets:

Sports (6)

My experience in sports has, and continues to, inform a lot of who I am and how I think. I grew up a competitive swimmer, ran cross country all throughout high school, and am now an avid climber, something I started in college. A pair of postcards for all three sports, with a message of what each era represents to me now.

The sport that would get me up in the morning during high school, where I met some of my closest friends to this day. A level of happiness that had me questioning if I could ever replicate it.

Showed up as a freshman to my college’s rock climbing club, completely out of my element. It changed my life and has since become my favorite activity.

Family (9)

A token to my Filipino family — the home-cooked meals, staples brought to family functions, relatives I grew up alongside, and the words that are more than just titles. Stars are incorporated throughout as a nod to the symbols on the flag.

Nostalgia in a bowl. Mom used to make this a ton when we were younger, and it’s one of my favorites.

Something that has remained a constant in my family during all of my 21 years of existence, is my dad's love (obsession? addiction?) for coffee.

Filipino food made by my Lola and Lolo will always hit different, and I think many of us share the same sentiment within our own families.

One thing my mom, dad, sister, and I can all agree on, is that sushi is a top 3 favorite food.

Auntie Dary’s famous thai tea that she brings to the family parties, even bringing boba and non-dairy creamer so we don’t end up in the bathroom for hours :)

All eight of us cousins drawn as interconnected stars.

We got pictures of us in cribs and at sleepovers and 13th birthdays and now college grad parties. Cheers to my Ninangs and Ninongs for birthing some of my favorite people.

I love being “Ate KK.”

An original, hand drawn sun mandala as an ode to the Filipino flag. Drawing on the yellow, red, and blue colors, as well as the stars etched within.

Friendship (8)

Eight postcards for some of my most impactful friendships, representing a distinct memory or shared similarity between the two of us.

Flowers (5)

This set of five illustrated flowers is dedicated to women in my family tree—my grandmas, lola, mom, and sister.

For my Nanay Ochie. Her full name was Rosalina, but friends and family called her Rosie.

For my Grandma Lettie. My mom said she’s the only woman she knows who can keep an orchid alive in the house.

For my Lola Evelyn. Since both of my grandmas passed when I was young, she’s been that role for me since.

For my mom, who hates receiving flowers but will never part with her potted plumeria.

For my younger sister, Emma. Snowdrops bloom around the time of her birthday.

Younger Self (6)

Words that I’d say to younger self. Messages were written by hand <3.

Greetings (3)

To all the cities I’ve been lucky enough to call home.

To a small town in the suburbs of LA county; the place I grew up in and called home.

To my college life. Five semesters in this city and I love it more each year.

To the city of study abroad, and the best time of my life. A place I yearn for and a version of me I’ll never get back.

Ocean (3)

Growing up a competitive swimmer, one could say that my interest in the ocean came from the extensive hours spent in water, however, I believe the true catalyst was seeing Dolphin Tale (2011) in second-grade. I’ve been a long time love of water sports, marine life, and the color blue ever since.

Postcards traditionally serve as a tangible reminder of one’s travels and experiences. The idea of using them as the physical building blocks for this concept came from the collection that has been growing on my bedroom wall since my first semester of college. In exploring the decline of written mail and handmade gifts in a digital age, there remains something uniquely genuine about tangible, handwritten communication. It’s the duality between something priceless and something inexpensive, turning an ephemeral object into a keepsake.

I sought out 40 volunteers to contribute to the backside of each postcard, asking each of them to “write a letter to someone or something that isn’t currently present in their life, but remains a piece of their ‘mosaic.’” The postcards were displayed on a large acrylic panel to give attendees a standing view of both sides. Whether it was addressed to a passed loved one, long distant friend, or their younger self, these letters allowed my project to become something larger than one person—a physical, communal expression of love to all the pieces that make us who we are today.

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