Were you individualized or did you choose a designated path?

Individualized titled Multimedia Design.

What drew you to choosing your creative path?

I love helping others and I love art. Helping others in the typical medical field was not the best fit for me, as I was miserable in biology. So I decided to combine my two passions and help people through artistic expression.

Why did you choose Juniata College?

I chose Juniata for its prestigious women’s volleyball program.

Post-Grad:

Where are you currently employed and what is your current position title?

I was recently employed as a contract designer for a political consulting firm called The Pivot Group.

What is your favorite thing about your current position?

Working with a creative team under the creative director was really enjoyable.

How long did it take you to find a job after graduation?

A month and a half.

What are your main sources of inspiration?

I see inspiration in my surroundings. Currently, I find inspiration in mural work, TEDTalks, tattoos, Instagram pages of my favorite artists, and also autobiographical books of people that inspire me.

How would you describe your art/design style?

Right now I would say it’s very bright, warm colors, hand-illustrated if not animated in some way. I’m very inspired by textures and patterns, the depth that comes with those elements, and geometric shape patterns as well.

How do you balance your work life and home/social life? Any tips for soon-to-be grads?

Well, my first job out of school was a remote job, working from home and that was pretty difficult due to the pandemic, it made sense but it was difficult in terms of taking care of myself and understanding that my work is outside of my room although they occupy the same space. It was just learning how to separate the two. That’s when I stopped working I could turn this part of my brain off in order to give my full attention to the things outside of work that I enjoy when I have time. My job required late hours so I did not have much time after work to do the things I love so that was difficult but I made a huge effort in order to make time.  But with that said if you like your job then you won’t mind putting in late hours and working on the weekends it all depends on the work you’re doing and if you truly love it. 

Any final thoughts?

I think creative jobs ask a lot of you in terms of working late and putting in late hours especially on the weekend when deadlines come close and fast so in an effort to take care of yourself I would prioritize your time very wisely. Especially since creativity stems off of clear and bright minds and your mind balanced energy as a creative is your tool as well as your emotional well-being this is very important and if either is out of whack then the workflow may not come. Being uninspired and in a creative rut is real and it happens. I’ve seen it happen to my whole creative team and to combat this you find things that feed you mentally and emotionally so you can reprogram your brain to think creatively again. Some people can work under such stress. I cannot, so I prioritize that over what is asked of me for my job and explain that to them. If your job like mine was very accommodating then you take advantage of that and do what you can so you can show up for work and do what is asked of you. And if they are not accommodating in that way then you need to find a new job.