From The Desk Of: MOCA'S Eva Seta
Dec 10, 2015
Museums have a way of speaking to you - a highly curated, intriguing, inspiring way of conveying ideas to anyone who enters their doors. We sat down with Eva Seta, Communications Coordinator at The Museum Of Contemporary Art (MOCA) to discuss the way she uses communication and print to further evoke the message of the institution.
How do you start and/or end your day?
I start my day trolling art news publications and scrolling through emails in bed. I usually end it in a similar way. There are really no days off in communications. Lucky for me, I am obsessed with my job.
Describe a typical day at work:
No day is typical and that’s the beauty. One day I might be organizing a media interview between a MOCA curator and a news outlet, the next pitching the press on an upcoming exhibition, and the next approving a color proof for a printed invitation. I think the fact that everyday is a different day keeps my work fresh and me continuously learning.
What are your design inspirations?
The amazing artists that make up the foundation of the museum. The artists I research in catalogues and the emerging artists I have met during my career. They are the inspiration for all things MOCA, including our design decisions.
What do you love about what MOCA brings to its audience?
I love that the museum acts as a thinking space and as a community.
What is the importance of print in the museum setting?
Printing has always been an important part of the museum’s communications efforts. It is one of the ways we add a special level of personalization and human touch. There is something noteworthy (no pun intended) about receiving an invitation in print, in the mail, tailor-made, just for you.
What career moves and/or aspirations brought you to the museum?
Putting in the work. Being humble but also sure of myself. Always knowing what I want. I think once you have a clear goal, the rest is just the “work hard and be nice to people” quote.
Describe your personal aesthetic in three words:
Smart, experimental, contemporary.
In your pocket/purse/backpack, we’d find:
Organized chaos. Headphones, 3 shades of lipstick, blush, keys, a notepad, receipts, parking validations to all three MOCA locations, my wallet, and swapped business cards from my weekend encounters.
When do you feel like you’re at your best?
After the daily to-do list is checked off and I can focus on the larger picture. MOCA’s strive to be the artist’s museum is exciting, I feel at my best when I am contributing to that.
What are the most exciting developments in your field?
Communication is traveling faster than ever and information is constantly consumed at an instant rate. This discovery phase is exciting because we get to play around with nontraditional ways of connecting and we are no longer tied to the usual press release.
