Daniel Fortuño is a Washington, D.C.-based designer and artist who designs for the stage, immersive experiences, and exhibitions. He is currently a Junior at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, pursuing a BFA in Design & Production with a concentration in Scene Design.

​​​​The power of environment drives Daniel's work. He explores how space can evoke emotion, frame experiences, illustrate the rhythm of a story, and direct audiences into worlds that intertwine imagination and reality. Daniel creates with a purpose to unveil the emotional and human depth that lives beneath his designs and a story. His work blends sophistication, elegance, and theatrical glamour to create designs that engage both visually and emotionally.

Daniel always starts with an intention and an objective. Design is storytelling that can be used to enrich and amplify a story. The structures, surfaces, and forms can all be used to communicate meaning and purpose when giving a story life. He is inspired by nature through its intricate patterns, organic silhouettes, and flowing shapes, architectural design in its symmetry, balance, scale and drama, and fine art with its rich layered significance and profound symbolic depth. Daniel strives to design not just for visual appeal, but also to provoke thought, awaken imagination, and convey purposeful meaning. His design philosophy is embedded in curiosity to explore the unknowns and create something unique in close collaboration with other creatives who share a commitment and passion for innovation and storytelling.

Whatever he is designing for, Daniel's goal is to craft spaces that do more than just serve as a backdrop and that they become a living part of a story. He aspires to invite audiences to step inside, to imagine, feel, and connect, making an emotional experience. Ultimately, Daniel's work seeks to unite artistry and narrative to create designs that live in memories and leave a lasting impression.

​In 2023, Daniel was awarded the Thespy Award for Top Scenic Design at the International Thespian Festival for his set design of Big Fish, following his win at the Virginia Thespian Festival.