MJ Balvanera is a Brand Designer, Riso Publisher, and Art Director

Publications Selection

Publication and editorial design
Self-publishing and in-house work

A selection of publications ranging from self-published works, risograph printed zines and books, with varying types of binding, to offset printed publications. For more publication work visit impresomexi.co.


Tamarind emerged within the context of the artistic residencies at the Women’s Center for Creative Work (WCCW), which typically culminated in an exhibition. Given the lack of infrastructure for an institutional catalog, this piece functions as a self-managed, low-budget version.

The vibrant colors of the paper and the use of spot colors in Risograph printing are a deliberate reference to the work of artist Adee Roberson. It was through this project that my personal commitment was born: to integrate, into every practice, typefaces designed by members of the queer, trans, BIPOC, women, and non-binary communities.


Tamarind by Adee Roberson, with texts by Essence Harden, Treva Ellison, and Adee Roberson.

Edited by Sarah Williams.

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for the Women’s Center for Creative Work. womenscenterforcreativework.com.

Set in Sofia Pro by Oliver Gourvat, Soya by Good Type Foundry, and Matrix Narrow by Zuzana Licko.

40 pages, 1/1 and 2/2.
5.5" × 8.5" (14cm × 21.6cm).
Saddle-stitch binding.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

Printed by MJ Balvanera on Neenah Astrobrights and Domtar Earthchoice paper using Fluorescent Pink, Medium Blue, and Green Risograph inks on a Risograph RP machine.

First edition published in May 2019. 

Edition of 200 copies.

Printed on the occasion of tamarind, an exhibition and installation by Adee Roberson at the Women’s Center for Creative Work, Los Angeles, CA.



The creation of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication by meenadchi was a process of radical collaboration. Through constant communication with the author, editor Nicole Kelly, and illustrator Hana Ward, we established a horizontal working methodology. Decisions were not made unilaterally or in isolation; on the contrary, they were reached through consensus, allowing each member to contribute to the conversation from their own personal and professional expertise.


Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication by meenadchi.

Edited by Nicole Kelly.
Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by Hana Ward.

Spiral bound by Cynthia Navarro of Tiny Splendor.

Set in Sofia Pro by Oliver Gourvat, Agentur Regular by Good Type Foundry, Ovo by Nicole Fally, and Adobe Jenson Pro by Robert Slimbach.

92 pages, 2/2.
5.5” × 8.5” (14cm × 21.6cm).
Spiral bound.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Domtar Earthchoice using Orange and Black Risograph inks on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in March 2019. Edition of 200 copies.

Second edition published in June 2019. Edition of 500 copies.

Third edition published in December 2019. Edition of 700 copies.

Fourth edition published in March 2020. Edition of 1,750 copies.




We understand accessibility not only as a visual criterion but also an economic one; the cost of a publication is a design decision. Following the commercial success of Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication, we decided to open calls for submissions to amplify new voices and communities. To make this sustainable, we developed an editorial system based on a reusable template. This model allowed us to streamline production and reduce costs through a design optimized for a single ink and an efficient format for Risograph printing, ensuring that the speed of publication did not compromise the project's viability.

Experiments in Joy: A Workbook Compiled by Gabrielle Civil with contributions by Call & Response Artists Gabrielle Civil, Duriel E. Harris, Kenyatta A. C. Hinkle, Rosamond S. King, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Miré Regulus and Awilda Rodríguez Lora.

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by Hana Ward.

Binding by Women’s Center for Creative Work volunteers and Southgate Bindery.

Set in Ogg by Lucas Sharp and Greg Gazdowicz of Sharp Type, Adobe Jenson Pro by Robert Slimbach of Adobe Originals, and Neue Haas Grotesk Text by Christian Schwartz of Monotype.

64 pages, 1/1.
5” × 7.5” (12.7cm × 19.05cm).
Saddle-stitch binding.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Domtar Springhill using  Flat Gold Risograph ink on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in August 2019. Edition of 300 copies.

Second edition published in December 2019. Edition of 500 copies.

Third edition published in October 2020. Edition of 500 copies.



The Creative Black Woman’s Playbook by Veronica C. Ratfliff

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by Hana Ward.

Binding by Women’s Center for Creative Work volunteers and Southgate Bindery.

Set in Ogg by Lucas Sharp and Greg Gazdowicz of Sharp Type, Adobe Jenson Pro by Robert Slimbach of Adobe Originals, and Neue Haas Grotesk Text by Christian Schwartz of Monotype.

60 pages, 1/1.
5” × 7.5” (12.7cm × 19.05cm).
Saddle-stitch binding.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Domtar Springhill using Fluorescent Pink Risograph ink on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in September 2019. Edition of 300 copies.

Second edition published in June 2023. Edition of 500 copies.





slow and soft and righteous improvising at the end
of the world (and how we can make a new one) by sonia louise davis

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by sonia louise davis.

Binding by Women’s Center for Creative Work volunteers and Southgate Bindery.

Set in Ogg by Lucas Sharp and Greg Gazdowicz of Sharp Type, Adobe Jenson Pro by Robert Slimbach of Adobe Originals, and Neue Haas Grotesk Text by Christian Schwartz of Monotype.

86 pages, 1/1.
5” × 7.5” (12.7cm × 19.05cm).
Perfect bound.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Domtar Springhill using Teal Risograph ink on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in May 2021. Edition of 500 copies.





the monumental misrememberings by mimi tempestt

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by mimi tempest.

Binding by Women’s Center for Creative Work volunteers and Southgate Bindery.

Set in Ogg by Lucas Sharp and Greg Gazdowicz of Sharp Type, Adobe Jenson Pro by Robert Slimbach of Adobe Originals, and Neue Haas Grotesk Text by Christian Schwartz of Monotype.

88 pages, 1/1.
5” × 7.5” (12.7cm × 19.05cm).
Perfect bound.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Domtar Springhill using Purple Risograph ink on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in November 2020. Edition of 500 copies.



The success achieved with Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication granted us the opportunity to access larger budgets for future publications, allowing us to increase the technical and material complexity of our projects. Under this new scale, Maintenance Required: Basic Auto Care Workbook and Resource Guide warranted a larger format that aligned with its nature as a practical manual; therefore, we opted for two-color printing and a special spiral binding designed to facilitate heavy-duty use and easy consultation in work environments. Far from being an editorial imposition, all format and design decisions were made through horizontal collaboration with the author, ensuring that the book’s materiality was not only visually appealing but responded directly to the needs of those seeking to learn about automotive care in a self-managed way.


Maintenance Required: Basic Auto Care Workbook and Resource Guide by Sarah Lyon.

Edited by Nicole Kelly.

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by Sarah Lyon.

Spiral bound by Women’s Center for Creative Work volunteers.

Set in Filosofia by Zuzana Licko for Emigre and Bell Centennial Listing Alternate by Matthew Carter.

64 pages, 2/2.
7.5” × 9.5” (19.05cm × 24.13cm).
Spiral bound.

Printed by MJ Balvanera on 90gsm Bond paper using Yellow and Black Risograph inks on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in November 2019. Edition of 300 copies.

Second edition published in August 2023. Edition of 500 copies.



The final publication with Co—Conspirator Press was Tenderness: An Honoring of my Black Queer Joy and Rage, by Annika Hansteen-Izora. As a work celebrating the author’s Black identity and culture, the project became a space for deep graphic and material exploration. This process led to the development of abstract illustrations that visually translate the duality of joy and rage—a complexity reflected technically through the use of four inks, paper changes that provide diverse textures to the touch, and a subtle binding that nonetheless carries a vibrant color presence.


Tenderness: An Honoring of my Black Queer Joy and Rage by Annika Hansteen-Izora.

Edited by Aliyah Blackmore.

Editorial design by MJ Balvanera for Co—Conspirator Press, a publishing imprint of the Women’s Center for Creative Work.

Illustrations by MJ Balvanera.

Spiral bound by Southgate Bindery.

Set in Savon by Fanny Hamelin, Be Vietnam by Gabriel Lam, Tony Le, Vietanh Nguyen and beGroup Vietnam, and GT Super Display by Noël Leu for Grilli Type.

72 pages, 4/4.
5” × 7.5” (12.7cm × 19.05cm).
Spiral bound.

Printed by Neko Natalia on Neenah Paper Astrobright and Springhill Digital using Yellow, Fluorescent Pink, Aqua, and Black Risograph inks on a Risograph RP machine.

Printed on-site at the Women’s Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles, CA.

First edition published in November 2021. Edition of 750 copies.

Second edition published in October 2024. Edition of 750 copies.



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