Attending college outside your home country can be daunting, but Mexican-born Humberto Martinez Amaro (Graphic Design ’10) tackled this challenge to study at Pensacola Christian College. Since graduating, Humberto’s work has ranged from creating eye-catching advertisements to conceptualizing exhibits for museums, including the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. Now, he is an exhibits manager at Pensacola’s National Naval Aviation Museum. His career lets him channel his passion—telling stories through design—to glorify God.
Searching for a Christian College
Unlike most PCC undergraduates, Humberto already had degrees when he enrolled. In Mexico, he earned an associate’s in administration and an associate’s in advertising. He then accepted a marketing job where he became proficient in Photoshop. Seeing his talent, the company’s graphic designer encouraged him to study the field.
“I looked at many art schools but really wanted to attend a Christian university.”
As his passion for graphic design as well as the Bible grew, Humberto felt God leading him to get a degree at a Christian college. PCC’s graphic design concentration was the perfect fit. Humberto shared, “I looked at many art schools but really wanted to attend a Christian university. [At PCC], I was able to study graphic design and Bible at the same time, both things that I love.”
At college, Humberto built a strong interdisciplinary foundation. “I had great teachers. Not only art teachers but also English, Bible, history, science, math, and even economics.” Primarily a Spanish speaker, Humberto grew his English skills at PCC. He found guidance in supportive faculty members, including Dr. Robert Achuff. “When I received my first A on an English test, I looked at [Dr. Achuff], and he nodded in approval. Simple but powerful.”
Upon graduation in 2010, Humberto accepted a designing job in PCC’s Advertising department. Since he and his wife had just welcomed a newborn, the position was the perfect opportunity to jumpstart his design career. On the job, Humberto created marketing designs for PCC affiliates like Abeka, and he even produced the cup branding for PCC’s on-campus café, Common Grounds. Humberto shared, “Working in Advertising gave me experience and growth. I really got to use, improve, and grow my design skills.”
From the Ark to Aviation
In 2014, Humberto became a graphic designer at the Creation Museum, an outreach of Answers in Genesis. This Christian, Kentucky-based ministry answers tough questions about creation, defending the Bible’s authority. A perfect match for Humberto, the position led him to combine his love for design with his love for the Bible.
At Answers in Genesis, Humberto applied his skills in a new way: creating exhibits. He even helped design the Creation Museum’s sister attraction, the Ark Encounter. Humberto said, “I was one of the original designers that worked at the Ark. [It was fulfilling] to teach people about the Bible in a world-class attraction.” Since 2016, the 510-foot-tall replica of Noah’s Ark has invited over ten million visitors to experience life onboard, prompting them to consider the Bible and the gospel. Humberto helped populate the Ark with exhibits that ranged in topic from the Tower of Babel to the Ice Age.
Creating his exhibits takes brainstorming, blueprinting, and no small amount of teamwork. In a workday, Humberto meets with colleagues, sketches concepts, and makes 3D models. To take an exhibit from prototype to product, Humberto collaborates with fabricators, videographers, marketers, installers, architects, operators, educators, and many others.
“I always say that I do my work for the Lord, and He sees it. It is for His glory.”
Even with qualified professionals onboard, the team cannot finish every exhibit. Space, external approvals, and other factors can stall progress. Humberto commits the outcomes to God. “Not every design you create will come to completion. I always say that I do my work for the Lord, and He sees it. It is for His glory.”
After designing for Answers in Genesis, Humberto worked for a science museum and a credit union. Then, his interests led him in an unexpected direction—flight school. He became a private pilot, but he soon missed designing. In his current position, minutes from his alma mater, he combines his love for design and flight as an exhibits manager at Pensacola’s National Naval Aviation Museum. Pensacola’s flying heritage is evident, as the museum is the performance base of the famous flight demonstration squadron, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
During three years at the museum, Humberto has shared American history with Pensacola. One of Humberto’s exhibits is the Return with Honor, Vietnam POW Exhibit. The interactive design allows guests to journey through the Hanoi Hilton—a Vietnamese prison where American pilots were detained. The walk-through concludes by showing how some POWs reunited with their families. The powerful design highlights human perseverance through hardship.
Trusting God’s Design
Over his career, Humberto has been fulfilled by his work’s impact. “I love watching people exploring [my exhibits] and seeing their reactions. I love to tell stories through design. I feel like we take after God. He created everything and gave us that imagination to create things.”
“I love to tell stories through design. I feel like we take after God. He created everything and gave us that imagination to create things.”
Humberto is excited to continue living his calling—telling stories through design—while trusting in God, the greatest designer. Humberto said, “After PCC, [my family and I] have lived in four different states. I have worked for four different museums, and God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and four amazing children.” In all these adventures, Humberto knows God has been leading. “I always say that I walk by faith. God has been with me always and has taken me to places that I never dreamed of.”
Read more about how God is directing and working through PCC faculty and alumni.