The Antigua Side
At Antigua Design Services, there’s more than meets the eye. At the heart of it all is Pedro Munoz Jr., the founder and creative force behind Antigua, who brings a thoughtful, story-driven approach to every project. Whether designing a massive installation for a music festival or fine-tuning the texture on a custom monogram, his work is rooted in intention, clarity, and curiosity. We sat down with Pedro to talk about where it all started, what inspires him, and how he hopes to shape the future of design—one bold idea at a time.
Q: What is your personal definition of good design?
A: Good design, for me, is about more than just making something look nice. It’s about clarity, purpose, and intention. A design needs a strong concept at its core, but it also has to communicate that concept clearly. One of my professors once told me, “Let the drawing speak for itself,” and that stuck with me. I really believe in creating work that doesn’t need a big explanation, it just feels right. The best designs are the ones that speak for themselves, that blend technical skill with creativity in a way that feels seamless.
Q: What role does storytelling play in your designs?
A: Storytelling is everything. It’s what gives a design depth and meaning. Every project starts with an idea. When you’re designing for events, you’re creating a full experience, and that experience should take people on a journey. The story doesn’t need to be loud or obvious, but it should be present. That’s what makes a design feel personal and memorable.
The story doesn’t need to be loud or obvious, but it should be present.
Q: What does Antigua represent to you?
A: The word “Antigua” means ancient in Spanish, and I’m really drawn to the idea of timelessness. I want our designs to feel like they have staying power, like they could exist outside of trends. There’s something special about creating a space or a moment that people look back on and remember. I want the work we do to live on in those memories—to become a part of someone’s story in a positive, lasting way.
Q: What goes into making something immersive?
A: Immersive design is about engaging all the senses, not just sight. As a designer, I obviously focus a lot on visuals, but I also think about how a space sounds, smells, and feels. Texture is especially important to me. Whether it’s through materials, lighting, or even the way something is layered graphically, I want people to feel pulled in. Immersive design invites people to slow down and really experience the space around them.
Q: How do you balance creativity and functionality?
A: Functionality is essential. No matter how creative an idea is, if it doesn’t work in practice, it’s not doing its job. When I’m designing something like a table or a canopy, it has to be sturdy and practical—but it also has to look and feel intentional. I’m always thinking about how something will be used, how it fits into the space, and how it supports the event. Finding that balance between creativity and function is where the real magic happens.
Q: What makes a project exciting for you?
A: I love the early stages of a project—the concepting, the experimenting, the piecing things together. Picking out colors, fonts, patterns, textures… that’s the part that gets me fired up. It’s like solving a creative puzzle. When all those individual elements start to click and you can see the vision taking shape, it’s a really rewarding feeling.
Q: What does Antigua actually do?
A: We do a little bit of everything, including custom graphics, spatial planning, floor plans, 3D renderings, and concept development. We also handle technical drawings for custom builds, like canopies, stages, or installations, as well as design branding elements like monograms and logos for events. From concept to execution, we’re here to bring big ideas to life.
Q: Tell us a bit about your background. How does it inform your work today?
A: My background is in art history and architecture. I studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago and got my BA in Art History. Then, I earned my Master’s in Architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Even though I didn’t end up practicing traditional architecture, those years gave me a solid foundation in design thinking and spatial awareness. I’ve always been drawn to event spaces and how people move through them. That mix of technical training and creative curiosity definitely shapes the way I approach my work today.
Q: What sets Antigua apart from other design studios?
A: I think what sets us apart is our ability to think in three dimensions. We don’t just stop at the surface level—we’re thinking about how the design lives and breathes in a space. With my architectural background, I approach each project with a sense of structure and flow, considering things like height, volume, and materiality. We bring a custom-built perspective that adds depth and texture to everything we do.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
A: Without a doubt, it’s seeing the final result in person. There’s something really powerful about taking an idea that started as a sketch or a digital rendering and seeing it fully realized in the real world. Watching people interact with a space you designed and seeing it come to life is such a satisfying moment. It makes all the hard work worth it.
Q: Can you share a collaboration that inspired you in a new way?
A: Every collaboration teaches me something new. I’ve worked with people who move fast and want to make decisions quickly, and I’ve also worked with folks who really like to sit in the process and think things through. I appreciate both approaches, and I’ve learned to adapt depending on what each project needs. The ones that involve multiple layers like custom builds, graphics, and spatial planning in full execution—those are the most inspiring for me. It’s like building a world, and I love that challenge.
Make it stand out
I’ve always been drawn to event spaces and how people move through them
Q: Where do you see Antigua in the next five years?
A: I’d love to see Antigua continue to grow—not just in size, but in scope. I want to keep building strong collaborations and expanding what we’re capable of. A big dream of mine is to open a fabrication studio and print shop where we can produce our designs in-house. That would give us even more creative control and open up new possibilities for the kinds of projects we take on.
Q: If you could design anything without limits, what would it be?
A: Music festivals are always a blast to design for. There’s just so much creative freedom. But if I had no limits at all, I think I’d want to design a house. Something personal and completely tailored to the way someone lives. A space that blends form, function, and personality all in one.
Q: Who inspires you?
A: I’m really inspired by art and architecture from the past. Philip Johnson is someone I look up to a lot. I also love design movements like Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Those influences definitely show up in my work, especially in the branding side of Antigua. That mix of history and modern creativity is something I always come back to.
Q: What's a piece of media that says something about who you are?
A: I’ve always been a big sci-fi fan. Star Trek: Voyager and The Next Generation are two that really resonate with me. I still watch them to this day. And I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer too. Those shows have such strong storytelling and characters. They’ve stuck with me over the years and definitely say something about my personality and what I value in a good story. Also, this isn’t media, but I love to go bowling at least twice a month, and I try to see the Griffins play as much as possible. I think those are a couple more outlets that say something about who I am.
Q: Favorite Grand Rapids restaurant?
A: I’d say Winchester is my go-to. They have a rotating menu, but their burger is always good. A cold Coors Banquet is a necessity on the side. I also really enjoy Black Napkin and Harmony Brewing. Those are all great spots.
Q: What’s your go-to hiking spot with Sunny?
A: Definitely Saugatuck Dunes. It’s peaceful, scenic, and Sunny absolutely loves it. It’s our little escape when we need to recharge.
Q: Favorite travel destination?
A: Lately, I’ve been drawn to Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is a favorite, but I want to visit Mexico City next. There’s just something about the energy and the design culture there that I can’t wait to experience more of.
Q: Favorite thing to cook?
A: Pasta is my go-to. It’s simple, comforting, and easy to dress up or keep classic. There’s a lot of room to play with flavors, which I love.
Q: Red or white wine?
A: White. Dry.
Q: Favorite song right now?
A: “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. It’s been stuck in my head lately for whatever reason. I like her “Midwest Princess” image that she has - Sunny is a Midwest Princess too.
Q: Who are you, and what should someone know about you if they’ve never met you?
A: I’m Pedro Munoz Jr. I’m honest, I’m frank, and I love what I do. I like to bring good energy to every project, and I care a lot about the people I work with. If we’re collaborating, you can count on me to be thoughtful, creative, and probably cracking a few jokes along the way.
