At just 19, Maria Gaitan is already crafting stories that move and connect. Growing up in Suceava, she transformed everyday moments into creative fuel, blending empathy, curiosity, and bold imagination. From theatre and debating to charity campaigns and real-brand projects, her work spans social media, filmmaking, branding, and strategy - always rooted in emotion, authenticity, and cultural insight. Guided by intuition and a love for human stories, Maria sees creativity as both a tool for connection and a form of freedom, aiming to build work that inspires, challenges, and resonates.

1. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? 

Being with the people who I love and who truly know me, feeling free to exist exactly as I am, and doing things that bring joy to my inner child. These are the moments when everything feels aligned, when I feel my heart literally buzzing with joy. 

2. A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY

One of my earliest memories is from when I was about three years old, when I took my mother’s lip balm and drew a mural across my parent’s bedroom wall, as high as I could reach. Instead of scolding me, they left it there. That small act of acceptance encouraged me to continue filling the walls of our house with drawings and doodles, all of which still exist today. It was my first lesson in creative freedom and unconditional support, and probably the moment I understood that expression was something to protect, not restrict. 

3. BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS 

When I need an idea for a project, I usually take a walk outside with music in my headphones, chosen to match the mood I want to explore. That’s how most of my ideas are born. It allows me to disconnect from structure and reconnect with intuition. At the same time, I find inspiration everywhere: in public transport, in coffee shops, in overheard conversations, and in the simple observation of people and their habits. Inspiration becomes constant once you learn how to slow down and truly look. 

4. THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST 

My favorite project was a campaign for Ursus called In the Glass Bottle Era. The brief challenged us to motivate consumers to choose glass bottles over PET, and I approached it by reframing glass as a social symbol that once connected Romanian neighborhood communities, using early 2000s nostalgia and hyper-local visuals for each major area. It was challenging, fun, and deeply rooted in Romanian culture, and it reminded me how powerful storytelling can be when it feels personal. 

5. THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST 

One of the most successful projects I worked on was a collaboration between 5TOGO, a popular romanian coffee chain and INVATAde10, a business in education, where we designed a five-minute quiz students could take while waiting for their coffee, helping them revise for their final exams. The simplicity of the concept, combined with engaging social media content, generated strong organic engagement and even viral traction. It proved how education, when paired with creativity and relevance, can become genuinely attractive. 

6. THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCAL CREATIVITY IS

Romanian humor, without question. We have a very specific way of making fun of even the worst situations. It’s shaped by our history, our language, and our collective mindset. You can’t quite translate it. You just feel it. 

7. BEST STATEMENT OF LOCAL HUMOR

 Lucian Prună’s oil paintings. His 90s post-communist nostalgia captures Romanian life with honesty, irony, warmth, and humor. He manages to transform ordinary scenes into powerful cultural commentary. His art perfectly describes what it feels like to grow up here. 

8. ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO LOCAL CREATIVES 

Think of Romania as Eastern Europe’s hidden creative lab. Creativity is deeply ingrained in the Romanian mindset: sharp insights, bold ideas, precise execution, and a remarkable ability to achieve a lot with very little. On top of that, the country benefits from strong creative schools and top advertising agencies, forming an ecosystem that continuously pushes talents forward. 

9. BEST PLACE IN THE CAPITAL 

Calea Victoriei may sound like an obvious choice, but it’s the place I feel most emotionally tied to. It’s the first street I remember exploring as a child, and returning there always brings a wave of nostalgia. It carries a special energy and contrast, and it’s where Bucharest feels most honest, vibrant, and alive. 

10. BEST PLACE IN YOUR COUNTRY

Bucovina, without a doubt. Not just because it’s where I was born, but because it feels like time slows down there. Its landscapes, traditions, gastronomy, and warmth create a sense of belonging and nostalgia. Every time I return here, I feel grounded and truly present. 

11. MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT YOUR COUNTRY, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS

The idea that Romania is unsafe is something I hear often whenever I mention that I grew up there, and it always feels deeply misleading. In reality, Romania is a very safe country, especially in everyday life. 

12. YOUR COUNTRY SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR 

Romania should be known for its people. Living abroad, in a multicultural environment, made me realize just how special Romanians truly are. We are resilient, witty, emotionally intelligent, hardworking, and talented. There is a rare mix of warmth and strength in the way we connect, support, and adapt. I believe the true identity of Romania lives in its people, in their humor, kindness, ambition, and ability to transform even the hardest circumstances into growth. That is what I am most proud of carrying with me everywhere I go. 

13. YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

I am deeply guided by spirituality in my everyday life. I believe that the universe responds to what we think, say, and do, and that this exchange of energy shapes our reality. This belief motivates me to act with intention, kindness, and awareness, trusting that everything we put out eventually finds its way back to us. I rely strongly on my intuition, and most of the important decisions in my life were made instinctively and that has never led me wrong. I am constantly attentive to signs and don’t believe in coincidences. Whether they truly come from the universe or not, this way of seeing the world keeps me grounded, hopeful, and deeply connected to myself. 

14. YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY 

Money is necessary for comfort, safety, and freedom, but it should never come before values, relationships, or personal growth. I believe in earning well, living fully, investing in experiences, and never letting money define my worth or direction. 

15. AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE (A BOOK, A DESTINATION, A MOVIE, FOLLOWING SOMEONE RELEVANT ON SOCIAL-MEDIA) 

My honest advice is to go back to something you loved as a child: a place, a movie, a book, a game. That is where imagination is still pure, curious, and fearless. When we grow up, we often lose touch with that magical way of seeing the world, but it never truly disappears. Sometimes, all we need to do is allow that child inside us to come out and play again. 

16. A LOCAL BASED FEMALE TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE PROMOTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AS EXPONENT OF LOCAL CREATIVE SPIRIT 

Blanca Doba (@notblankdesigns) is a local Romanian graphic designer. She stands out through her refined branding intuition and coherent visual storytelling. Her visual systems are bold, consistent, and intentional. Despite already gaining international recognition, her creative voice and originality suggest she is only at the beginning of her trajectory.

BIO

Maria Gaitan is a 19-year-old Romanian creative currently studying Advertising in Madrid. Raised in Suceava, a small town, she discovered her passion for storytelling and visual expression from an early age, turning everyday experiences into creative fuel. From volunteering, theatre and debating to organizing charity events and developing campaigns for real brands, Maria’s journey blends empathy, curiosity, and bold imagination. Her work spans social media, filmmaking, branding, and creative strategy, always driven by emotion, authenticity, and cultural insight. Deeply guided by intuition, nostalgia and a love for human stories, she believes creativity is both a tool for connection and a form of freedom. Her goal is to build meaningful work that inspires, challenges, and moves people.