This is Cindy Quach here, with an interview with Vi Quach who is a graphic designer for Cooking.com in Los Angeles.
You can check out her work on her website here: http://www.viquach.com
How did you know you wanted to be a graphic designer?
V: Well, when I was little and drawing princesses I knew I wanted to be an artist. At first I thought of going into fashion but I realized it wasn’t for me because it seemed too crazy for me to handle haha. I love solving problems creatively and knew that graphic design was perfect for me.
How did you find your first job after graduating from Otis College of Art and Design?
V: One of my teachers I knew well recognized me and offer me a job at a company. It is really all about connections when you’re trying to find a job. I realized that some graduates were still looking for a job while I already landed one and I realized that the difference was networking with all the right people. Showing my work in some shows helped a lot because it was like showing your portfolio to potential clients.
So how did you find other clients while you were freelancing?
V: Networking and sometimes I would go to a temp agency to find clients . Coworkers would recommend me to clients. Networking was an essential part of successfully obtaining clients/jobs and it was a lot easier than finding them on your own.
How was the transition from college to going into the big world?
V: I was so disappointed haha. In college you were able to be do whatever you wanted with your work and let your imagination go but after working for some clients, I realized it is totally different. Clients want you to create a specific look and even though you think your piece of work is amazing; your client who sometimes has bad taste, may think otherwise. Unless you find clients that will let you freely do your work, then it’s not so bad but that had to be the biggest disappointment after graduating.
Do you have any advice for art students?
V: Network is key if you are hoping to get a job immediately after graduating. You would want to see all your classmates’ work and talk to them because eventually it will pay off. Also, befriending teachers is a great way to network since they have been in the field longer and know numerous of people in big companies. You would also want to expect a big change between school and work. Value your time in school. Every time I go back to classes, I always feel motivated and excited to keep on learning since you are never really done with learning.
