Pablo Budassi Frequently Asked Questions
(sorted by frequency)

What’s beyond the border of the Observable Universe?
There are certainly more galaxies beyond our view—likely similar in composition to those we see—but their light has yet to reach us due to vast cosmic scales and the finite speed of light. Based on measurements of spacetime curvature, the entire universe is estimated to be at least 250 times larger than the observable sphere—and it may be infinite.

The universe has no center, why are your depictions centered on the Sun or Earth?
Because they are based on our position within the universe. The observable universe is, by definition, the region of space centered on the observer.

Why does your concept of the universe look like an eye?
I promise, that wasn’t intentional! It just happens naturally when you take a slice of the cosmic web sphere and stretch it into a logarithmic scale.

Are these images copyrighted? Can I share them on socials? Can I use them on my website/video/article/book?
The content on this website is freely available for personal and educational use in articles, videos, and other formats. You’re also welcome to use the content as inspiration for your own artwork or creative remixes. When digitally shared, we appreciate you for utilizing a maximum image resolution of 2500 pixels on any side and for mentioning original author’s name. Example of attribution text:
“Image created by Pablo Carlos Budassi. Source: pablocarlosbudassi.com / @thecelestialzoo”
If you’re unsure about needing a license to reproduce the works, fill this form—I’ll advise you and, if required, provide a friendly, low-cost quote.

I’m having issues with a digital download purchased trough a link of this website
If you have issues downloading a digital file or files that you already purchased at Payhip , please let us know at pablocarlosbudassi@gmail.com and we’ll send the files in less than 24 hours. Please include the purchase email address or order ID.

I’m having issues with physical product purchased trough a link on this website
All physical products with our designs are manufactured, sold and shipped by third parties. They have great customer supports! Here some useful references for solving your issue:
If you have issues with a Redbubble purchase, please contact their friendly support heroes.
If you have issues with your purchase at Displate, visit their support page or email them at support@displate.com
If you have issues with a physical item purchased from other of our partner sellers, please head over to their website and find the contact option.

Where are you located?
Pablo is based in Mendoza, Argentina. Throughout the week, he alternates between Mendoza City, Potrerillos, and Polvaredas.

Who’s the team?
Fabián Ignacio Hualpa, Mendoza, Argentina: Research, data analysis, graphic design, brand management, Youtube social manager.
https://www.facebook.com/fabian.ignacio.263597
Malena Maya Budassi, Mendoza, Argentina: Poster design and content creation for socials. https://www.instagram.com/malebudassi/
Matias León Budassi, Mendoza, Argentina: Tiktok social manager and content creation. https://www.tiktok.com/@matiasbudassi6
Nicolás Gustavo Budassi, Mendoza, Argentina: Graphic design, photography, translations, content creation.
https://www.instagram.com/duba_feik/
Evelyn Bueno, Mendoza, Argentina: Instagram social manager and content creation. https://www.instagram.com/eve.buenoo/
Juan Pablo Acosta, Buenos Aires, Argentina: video creation. https://t.me/@Ssdfiii
Shravan Das, Delhi, India: web design and maintenance. https://shravandas.com/

What kind of projects do you dream of doing in the future?
We aspire to work on groundbreaking projects that meld art, science, and technology. Is there any venture more ambitious than mapping the entire observable universe?

What’s the project ethos?
We collaborate with brands, organizations, and individuals we deeply respect—those who are driven by a shared commitment to creating a better world. We choose to work within the arts and cultural ecosystems, as well as in fields we actively explore, such as astronomy, biology, geology, climate science, and other STEAM disciplines. At its core, Awe Eye Design is an ethically driven studio, dedicated to meaningful projects that inspire, educate, and contribute to positive change.

What are your expectations and availability in a possible collaborations?
We currently have several projects in progress as of 2025, so our availability may be limited. However, we’re always open to collaborations and partnerships if your idea resonates with us!

Can I help with the project as a volunteer?
There are many ways to get involved as a volunteer:
+ If your native language is other than English and you understand the elements of one of our graphics, you can help! Ping us down to get access to a Google Sheet containing all the text labels of the graphic(s) in question. You’ll find many languages including yours in columns. Just check the translations and fix the errors you find (it has a base of automatically translated text).
+ If you know how to use the text tool in Photoshop, you may also help at copying the translated text from the sheets to the graphic and make the translated poster look awesome!
+ Your full name as a translator (and if you want, a link) will be mentioned forever everywhere the poster is sold or shared.

Can I join the team with a paid job?
At Awe Eye Design, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals who would like to join the project. We are currently looking for:
+ A social media manager (ig, X, fb, YT, TikTok)
+ A public relations manager (we’ll provide a guide of how to connect with people in our name)
+ Someone with basic (or advanced) Photoshop skills for turning ideas into wonderful designs.
+ An advanced designer to improve and complete unfinished graphic projects related to astronomy, geology, biology, and other sciences
+ Someone who has expertise in marketing, advertising, and sales across various platforms
+ Any other ideas that you may have to improve our small business are welcome and highly valued!

What tools and software do you use?
I primarily work with Photoshop and Illustrator. Recently, I’ve been exploring AI-assisted tools like Leonardo and Recraft for texture crafting.

How is your creative process?
My creative process is all about mixing research with design. It starts with an idea—often sparked by something new I learn about the cosmos that blows my mind or a figure in a paper that catches my attention—which then moves into rough pencil sketches on paper. Next, I often create a base image by collaging existing public domain space photos or by altering own photos and textures. I dig into basic research, usually starting with Wikipedia and then moving on to primary sources. Lastly, the composition is polished by adding characters (typically celestial or other nature objects), titles, annotations, scales, and keys to help explore the graphic. I take the time to tweak the composition elements and color palette until it looks right, gather feedback from my artist friends and academics, and sometimes translate the text into two or three languages. Finally, I make it public on various platforms—including my website, social media, and Creative Commons when the graphic shows encyclopedic potential. After publication, I update the graphic whenever I find errors or new discoveries emerge.

Do you travel for projects?
Yes, I’m accustomed to traveling for projects—I’ve toured with Zona Ganjah across more than 30 countries and have an up-to-date passport and a valid USA visa, making international in-person collaborations or gigs possible. As a creative inspiration, I gave talks in Chicago at the opening of WNDR Museum in 2018 and in Las Vegas at the ASCEND conference in 2023. I also gave an online presentation at the 2024 British Columbia Montessori Teachers annual conference.

Are you available for interviews or podcasts?
Yes! I welcome interviews and podcast opportunities. Although my English is still developing, I can communicate ideas clearly enough. I also like doing interviews over email.

What languages do you speak?
Spanish (native) and English (C1).

Would you be open to a video call to explore possible collaborations?
Yes! I’m typically available on business days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays are preferred) from 8 AM to 4 PM EDT/EST.

What one advice do you have for people who want to be artists?
Dive in and start creating. Early on, you might need another job to pay the bills, but don’t let that stop you. Practice comes first—then, if there’s time, explore the theory. The key is to follow your passion and just begin!

What is the most impactful project you have worked on outside cosmic visuals?
Since 2005, I’ve been part of Zona Ganjah, where I played keyboards and sang. The band became a major force in Latin American music throughout the 2010s, resonating deeply with audiences through its conscious lyrics and unique sound. Even today, we receive daily messages from people who find comfort in our songs, using them as a source of strength to manage personal struggles. One of the most meaningful tracks, “La Vida 2020,” became a powerful reflection of that connection.

What’s your educational and artistic background?
Since childhood, I’ve been interested in music and programming. After finishing high school—and playing in various bands as a drummer, keyboardist, and vocalist—I began working as a producer for local bands. At the same time, I studied architecture and eventually graduated. Studying architecture gave me valuable insight into artistic composition, which I later applied to other creative disciplines beyond designing living spaces. I explored musical composition, scenography, stage design, costume design, poetry, visual arts, video editing. I earned a degree in musical composition from the UNCuyo Arts Faculty. In the 2005, I joined the musical project Zona Ganjah as a keyboardist, touring Latin America several times. It wasn’t until 2015 that I became a self-taught visual storyteller.

What are your broad interests outside visual art?
I enjoy entheogen exploration, philosophy, amateur astronomy, botany, and geology. I love trekking, climbing, and photographing nature. I’m always up for jamming—whether playing percussion, keyboards, or freestyling lyrics. I’m passionate about bioarchitecture, specially like domes and zomes. I restored and maintained a 1957 Estanciera Jeep for years until switching to a more sustainable car for my frequent travels through Chile and Argentina. Lately, I’ve recently revisited robotics and coding after putting them aside for a few years.

What’s an out-of-the-ordinary hobby you have?
I like to make my own musical instruments so they don’t look like ordinary ones. I made an electronic drum set where the drums are spheres that change color. It has psychedelic sound effects and is a lot of fun to play. I also like to program my keyboards and drum pads to create patterns that feel magical. I see musicians as magicians or shamans.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?
I was lucky enough to perform on massive stages at huge festivals in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. The energy of tens of thouthands of people cheering and rooting for you is overwhelming. It’s hard to describe what all that applause and excitement makes you feel. I feel very lucky and grateful to have experienced all of that and to have perspectives from so many different worlds to inspire me.

What’s something special about your town?
I live in Polvaredas, a small town near the Chilean-Argentine border. We’re around 2400 masl and just 70 km from Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia. Amid these breathtaking landscapes, our community is actively fighting against provincial plans and foreign companies—like those behind the proposed San Jorge mine—that aim to exploit our land through open sky mining. Standing together, we’ve embraced the Uspallata–Polvaredas protected natural area project as our way of safeguarding this incredible land. This project seeks to establish a protected area that preserves our singular natural setting along the western slopes of the Cordillera del Tigre and the Uspallata Valley—a unique convergence of the monte, puna (or cardonal), and altos andes ecoregions. By protecting our region’s natural richness, vital water sources, and rich cultural heritage—from ancient petroglyphs to vestiges of early inhabitants—the project offers a bulwark against destructive mining and a sustainable route for local economic growth through responsible ecotourism and environmental stewardship.

What’s your favorite movie?
I can never resist rewatching Contact—I’ve seen it over 30 times, and it still makes me cry every time.

What’s your favorite book?
The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov—i like far future science fiction.

What music do you enjoy?
I enjoy all kinds of music, especially reggae, drum and bass, hip hop, and punk. Some favorites are Pielpoljack, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Gilberto Gil, Pablo Moses, Peter Tosh, Gladiators. From Argentina I enjoy Cienfuegos and Los Brujos.

What’s a meal you always enjoy?
If it’s plant-based, count me in!

Are you married? Do you have kids?
I’m single and have four wonderful kids. Two of them are part of the Awe Eye team, making it a family-friendly creative space.

Dogs or cats?
I love all animals (even the human ones!), but I’m a bit allergic to cats—so I lean toward dogs.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I’m definitely a night owl—I love working and creating when the world is quiet, even if that means averaging about 6 hours of sleep.

What’s a fun fact about you that surprises people?
People are often surprised by my unconventional approach to playing keyboards—I play them like percussion instruments.

How would your friends describe you in three words?
Heroic night trekker.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Mendoza on August 9, 1980.

Who are your favorite creators and mentors?
Among those who inspire me on a weekly basis are Ethan Siegel (Starts with a Bang), Fraser Cain (Universe Today), Neil deGrasse Tyson, Rasmus Winther (marine biologist and philosopher of science), and Federico Soria (higher technician in nature conservation and creator of the Área Natural Protegida Uspallata-Polvaredas project).

What’s your favorite personal quote or motto?
“Where are the cartographers of human purpose?”—Carl Sagan.

Where do you stand politically?
If you consider politics a left-right spectrum, you could say I lean left. I advocate for social justice and equal rights, always siding with the oppressed over the oppressors. As a light-skinned heterosexual male, I recognize my privilege. I support movements like Black Lives Matter and Free Palestine, focusing my advocacy on those most at risk. I reject systemic sexism. I view natalism as a key driver of human progress while firmly upholding that personal choices in sex identity must remain informed and respected. I believe banning hate speech is counterproductive; cultivating education and open dialogue is a better remedy for social conflict. I see investments in quality public healthcare, education, knowledge access, and basic science as essential for our future. I respect a nation’s democratic right to set its own immigration policies, while I believe that supporting the development of poorer nations benefits everyone. I stand against systems that harm people—whether oppressive nationalism or environmental destruction—and believe in decisive action, even if it means breaking the law to protect future generations. I believe in slowing progress when it risks harming Gaia or vulnerable societies. I question the necessity of intellectual property and envision a world where its absence would lead to greater collective happiness. I’m undecided on AI’s broader role, but if it eventually surpasses me in creating science infographics, I’d gladly shift my focus to philosophy or simply enjoying nature and human connection. There’s no need to romanticize any type of work—not even artistry. I support terraforming the solar system but only after fully understanding extraterrestrial life and civilizations—exploration first, transformation later. While I maintain a cautious stance toward vaccines—advocating for transparency and ethical practices—I recognize that, at present, they might be our best strategy for preventing disease. My children are vaccinated, but I remain undecided on the ethics of mandatory vaccination campaigns. I respect those who choose not to wear a mask in small public spaces, given the uncertainty around its effectiveness, but I wear one if I think I might be infected. I’m undecided on the appropriate levels of gun control and the use of the death penalty. I support banning toxic substances in the food chain, including agrotoxics, and advocate for stricter controls on sustainable practices in areas like land use and protection, mining, oil extraction, and orbital debris. I support water fluoridation at recommended levels to benefit communities lacking access to proper dental care. While the reduced bureaucracy in authoritarian decision-making can appear efficient in theory, historical evidence demonstrates that authoritarian systems fail over time. That’s why I remain a strong advocate for democracy until conditions improve—perhaps with the advent of superintelligence. I remain open-minded about all these issues, welcoming discussion.

What is the fastest way to get in touch? How should I address you?
The best way to reach me is via email, which I check daily. Instagram is reviewed every 2–3 days, while Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and other platforms are checked less frequently—responses there may take 1–2 weeks.  I aim to reply emails within 2 business days. You may address me as Pablo or Mr. Budassi. My preferred pronouns are he and they.

Say hi at pablocarlosbudassi@gmail.com or through my social media channels. 

Pablo in 2025. ph Nicolás Budassi